We, the undersigned, write to unequivocally raise an alarm on a purported plan by a highly influential person in the Kano Emirate Council to file a case in court and secure an order to arrest us for posting our opinions on social media regarding the issue of the Kano emirship tussle.
First, information at our disposal indicates that the influential person intends to use the good office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to obtain the order. It is in view of this that we draw the attention of the AGF to exercise caution in handling any matter related to the ongoing Kano emirate tussle in the event the planned petition reaches his desk. The office of the AGF should not be allowed to be politicized or used by someone to achieve his personal gains. Since the Kano emirate matter is currently before a court of law, the AGF, as the highest-ranking officer in the judicial arm of government, is not expected to interfere in any matter that is sub judice.
Second, we have also discovered that after obtaining the court order, the man will use a high-ranking police officer to arrest us. As law-abiding citizens, we are not above the law, and if any authority extends a legal and genuine invitation to us on any matter, we will certainly honor it. However, we should not be denied our fundamental rights to freedom of speech or movement in order to please someone. Therefore, we are drawing the attention of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to this purported plan, which seeks to use police officers to infringe on our constitutionally guaranteed rights.
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Indeed, the police and other law enforcement agencies are meant to protect Nigerian citizens, not to intimidate them. We therefore put the IGP on notice about this purported plan by the influential person to suppress our freedom of expression.
Third, the same influential man is reportedly planning to drag the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) into the Kano emirate tussle to achieve his personal objectives. He is said to be working closely with a Kano-based renowned Islamic scholar and Chief Imam of a Juma’at Mosque in an effort to involve the President of the NSCIA in the ongoing matter.
With a high sense of humility and respect, we passionately appeal to the President of the NSCIA not to allow himself to be dragged into the tussle. The NSCIA, as the highest and most respected religious body in Nigeria, should not permit itself to be politicized or aligned with this issue. It should remain a neutral religious body, above the fray of political conflicts.
Finally, it is our hope and prayer that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and the President of the NSCIA will remain neutral on this matter and allow the court of law to do its job as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.
Signed: Muhd Tasiu Auwal Danbaba Junaidu Aminu Kilishi