Isiyaku Ahemed
Kano State Government has rejected allegations by Amnesty International that the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, in collaboration with security agencies, is suppressing freedom of expression and arbitrarily arresting critics of the government.
The government described the allegations as a “one-sided account” of complex political and legal issues, arguing that they create a misleading impression that citizens are being arrested, detained or prosecuted merely for criticising the governor or expressing opposing political views.
The position was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya.
According to the statement, the state government recognises the constitutional right to freedom of expression and accepts the rights of citizens, journalists, civil society organisations and opposition groups to criticise government policies and scrutinise the actions of public officials.
Comrade Waiya, however, noted that such rights do not provide immunity from investigation or prosecution where individuals are alleged to have violated the rights of others or breached existing laws.
He stressed the need to distinguish between constructive criticism of government policies and conduct that may constitute an offence under applicable laws, including incitement, harassment and defamation.
“Where allegations of criminal conduct arise, security agencies have a statutory responsibility to investigate, while the courts have the constitutional responsibility to pronounce guilt or innocence,” he said.
According to him, neither the governor nor the state government has the power to determine the outcome of judicial proceedings.
Comrade Waiya also faulted the description of every arrest, investigation, prosecution or detention involving a government critic as “arbitrary” or a “sham trial”, arguing that each case should be assessed based on its specific circumstances.
He urged Amnesty International to examine the cases it cited individually, taking into consideration the allegations, applicable laws, evidence presented before the courts and decisions of competent judicial authorities.
The Commissioner further said political affiliation or criticism of government should neither be regarded as evidence of guilt nor automatically treated as proof of innocence.
He maintained that security agencies operate within the framework of federal laws and their constitutional responsibilities, adding that the circumstances and legal basis for any arrest or invitation for questioning should be examined on their merits.
Comrade Waiya accused Amnesty International of allowing itself, “consciously or unconsciously,” to serve political interests by promoting what he described as a culture of hate speech, misinformation, disinformation and fake news.
He nevertheless reaffirmed the Kano State Government’s commitment to democratic governance, the rule of law and the protection of fundamental rights.
The Commissioner said the government had no objection to its officials being subjected to accountability through lawful means, stressing that constructive criticism remained an essential component of democracy.
He called on Amnesty International to uphold neutrality and ensure that allegations concerning human rights and civic freedoms were comprehensively investigated and presented with sufficient context, including the perspectives of government authorities, security agencies and the courts.
The state government also urged the organisation to avoid conclusions that could portray legitimate law-enforcement activities as politically motivated without sufficient evidence.
Comrade Waiya said the government remained willing to engage with human-rights organisations, civil society groups, the media and other stakeholders on issues concerning civic freedoms, security and good governance.
He reiterated that Kano State would continue to uphold democratic principles and the rule of law while ensuring that the rights of all citizens were respected and treated with dignity.
