Abba Dukawa and Isiyaku Ahmed
Irked by the current national crisis engendered by anti SARS demonstrations and, inspired by his desire to see peace and tranquillity in Nigeria, Kano state governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Gnduje OFR, held a peace dialogue with journalists in Kano.
During the dialogue, Ganduje appealed to journalists to be patriotic and ethical in discharging their duty.
The governor admonished media men and women to always take into consideration the security implications of what they write or broadcast, adding that since Nigeria the project is not negotiable, it is the business of all to consolidate the nation’s unity.
Commenting on the anti SARS demonstration and protests, the governor said recently the country witnessed #EndSARS protests which was hijacked by unpatriotic elements amongst the legitimate Protesters to ransack public and private properties.
According to him, Kano has its share of that unfortunate development but quickly brought under control.
Reading ulterior motive into the entire affair, the governor said that since the Protesters called for an end to Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) which the federal government suspended across the nation, there was no justification continue the protest.
President Muhammadu Buhari, he said, ordered the Police IG to disband SARS as the first step of his administration commitment to police reform in order to ensure that the primary duty of the police and other law enforcement agencies remains the protection of lives and property, yet, the protesters refused to listen to the voice of reason.
Notwithstanding the good will of Mr President, the boys and girls vowed to stay on the street until their demands are met.
According to the Governor, “even after the disbandment of SRARS protests continued erupting in various cities as unpatriotic elements, hoodlums and criminals in disguise used the opportunity to break into shops, government warehouses and private houses of individuals to loot”.
Shielding more light on Kano incident, the governor emphasized that notwithstanding the peace the state has enjoyed for a long time, some unpatriotic elements in the Sabon Gari area of Kano metropolis capitalized on the protest to loot, adding that, with the prompt response by the state government to curtail what would have degenerate into a major disaster, the situation is now normal in the state.
He said, Kano is a cosmopolitan state and most populated state in the country with different ethnic nationalities leaving in harmony.
On the basis of this, no responsible and responsive government will allow hoodlums to make life unbearable for law abiding citizens in the state.
‘’ If not for the prompt response from our administration, the story could have been different by now. We have instituted various measures to safeguard lives and property of people in the state because, Kano is our state and we don’t have other state than it.
Kano is peaceful, base on this, I called on all to live peacefully with one another as there is no alternative to peace”
According to the him, since the unfortunate incident, the state government has been meeting with various stakeholders to concretize peace in the state, adding that his government is also working very closely with security agencies to ensure the state continue enjoying peace, saying “we are happy that they are working with good synergy among themselves which is why we are living peacefully in the state”.
The governor further explained that on the state government held meetings with leadership of different ethnic nationalities in the state with good assurance that, they would do everything possible to talk to their people to continue living peacefully with other people.
Governor Ganduje who appealed to all for calm said peoples should continue to uphold the peace profile of the state by not taking laws into their hands, adding that it is unfortunate that some unpatriotic elements attacked public property and facilities which took government and taxpayers many years of sacrifice and struggles to build.
Governor Umar Ganduje urged the journalists to continue to educate members of public on the importance of peace and law abiding, adding that the state government is grateful to journalists for the tremendous contributions they have made in the progress of the state.
The governor said he is not oblivious of the fact that these commendable roles of media men and women toward the success of his government is largely made possible by having a renowned journalist, Comrade Muhammad Garbage as Commissioner of Information.
The governor thanked journalists in the state for the support and cooperation rendered to the administration and used the forum to commend Honourable Malam Muhammadu Garba for job well done as he appreciates his services to the state and the government toward promoting government activities.
Commending the commissioner further the governor stated “I know him for more than 30 years and work with him closely right from my commissionership, Deputy Governor and today as Governor.
He has in deed, proved himself to be a journalist of international repute,” he added.
The peace parley had journalists making suggestions and recommending peace strategies to the government.
