The Majority Leader, of the House of Representatives Hon Alhassan Ado Doguwa, has publicly apologized to Kano Leadership newspaper correspondent, Abdullahi Yakubu whom he allegedly assaulted recently.
According to reports, Abdullahi Yakubu, the journalist had dragged Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa to a magistrate court in Kano for allegedly assaulting him, when he attended a press conference at the lawmaker’s residence.
The press conference was said to be at the instance of the lawmaker who was accused of gate crashing into APC stakeholders meeting in Kano, recently where the meeting ended in crisis over his alleged harassment of some of the stakeholders including the party deputy governorship candidate in Kano, Murtala Sule Garo.
Doguwa subsequently went to the radio to apologize to Murtala Sule Garo, former SSG, Rabiu Sulyman Bichi, Wudil/Garko rep. Member, Muhammad Ali Wudil and others over his action.
Though after Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje waded into the issue and part of the condition for the resolution of the crisis, according to sources was for Hon. Doguwa to publicly tender apology.
The magistrate court subsequently ordered the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone One, to investigate the alleged assault case filed by the journalist against the lawmaker.
Appearing before the Zone One AIG, on Friday, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa said he was not aware of the summon to appear before the police authority over the assault allegation until the same Friday when he received the invitation hence his appearance.
Doguwa, a lawmaker, representing Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency, said in an interview with a local Radio station in Kano, on Saturday that he immediately apologized to the Journalist, Abdullahi Yakubu, who incidentally is his friend of over 30 years.
‘’I am a trained journalist, even after my service at the national assembly, I will still go back to my primary constituency of journalism, hence I am very sorry over the issue,’’ Hon. Doguwa said in the interview.
‘’It was never intentional because even Abdullahi Yakubu knows the kind of person I am.’’
‘’Honestly, if there has being any journalists that seriously promoted my activities, so far it is Abdullahi Yakubu.’’
‘’Even in some instances, we write the story together, whereby I correct him in some of the write-ups and we would be happy over the whole scenario.’’
“Also in some cases, I come up with write-ups and he would correct me saying professionally this is wrong in journalism.’’
‘’Just like I said earlier, I have known Abdullahi for over 30 years, so with this, I have publicly apologized to him because it was the word assault in the case against me that left me jittery. Because I am aware of human rights and that of a journalist.’’
‘’This is because journalists are like Soldiers and Police, their job is a front-line job, I have a lot of respect for them.’’
According to Doguwa, after apologizing to the journalist before the police, the issue has been resolved amicably as Abdullahi Yakubu accepted his apology.
Also, speaking, Abdullahi Yakubu, who confirmed that they have been friends for over 30 years said he has forgiven the lawmaker and would ask his lawyers to withdraw the matter before the court.
Yakubu said he had to drag the lawmaker to court to demand his right over the assault but since he has apologized and as a Muslim, he has forgiven Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa.
