Aminu Hussaini Sagagi
The events unfolding in Kano State have once again placed Nigeria’s democratic institutions under scrutiny.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), established as an instrument of law and order, now stands accused of overstepping its constitutional boundaries and undermining the legitimate authority of the Kano State Government.
The growing pattern of disregard for due process and elected leadership which was climaxed by the 1st October Independence Day Parade embarrassing snub and insubordination to the State authority by the Police calls for urgent national reflection and correction.
Kano, Nigeria’s most populous State, has long been a political and cultural bellwether. Its governance is central not only to the aspirations of its citizens but also to the stability of the wider federation.
Yet, recent episodes reveal an unsettling tension: the police, rather than acting as a neutral enforcer of law, is being perceived as meddling in State affairs – sometimes in ways that reasonably appear to subvert the legitimate powers of the elected Governor and his administration.
The Nigerian Constitution clearly stipulates that the police is to operate under federal command while maintaining respect for state institutions. The delicate balance is meant to ensure both national cohesion and local autonomy.
When this balance is distorted, as is increasingly evident in Kano, the consequences are grave. It erodes public trust, emboldens lawlessness and projects the image of a democracy struggling to uphold its own rules.
At the heart of this crises is not merely a tussle over law enforcement, it is a test for Nigeria’s democratic maturity.
A police force that prioritizes political instructions over constitutional obligations risks becoming an agent of instability rather than a guardian of peace.
For Kano, the repercussions are already palpable: heightened political tension, distrust in public institutions and the growing perception of a State under siege by the very body sworn to protect it.
This is not a challenge for Kano alone; it is a national issue. If unchecked, it sets a precedent where the will of the people, expressed through their elected leaders, can be undermined by security forces.
Such a trajectory endangers Nigeria’s fragile democracy and threatens the principle of federalism that holds the nation together.
The way forward is clear and simple. First, the Federal Government must reign in the excesses of the Nigerian police and reaffirm their mandate as impartial enforcer of the law, not a political actor.
Second, the National Assembly should assert its oversight role to prevent further erosion of democratic norms. Third, civil society and the media must remain vigilant, ensuring that arbitrary use of force does not become normalized.
Kano deserves peace, respect for its elected leadership and adherence to constitutional order. Nigeria deserves no less!
The time has come to remind the police that their power is neither above the State, nor beyond the constitution.
Their legitimacy depends not on force, but on fidelity to the rule of law. It is wisely said “When the pot boils over, it burns the cook”
Sagagi is a seasoned lawyer and Special Adviser to the Governor of Kano State on Justice/Constitutional Matters.
