Kwankwaso urges non-indigenes to remain in Kano

Thursday, July 24, 2014 8:10 pm

MADUABUCHI NMERIBEH/Kano

Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano, northwest Nigeria has declared that the two-week ultimatum given to Southerners in Kano to leave the state, by a non-governmental organization, Northern Youth Development Foundation, is null and void.

“No one has the authority to sack you from this place. Kano is your home and you have come to stay,” Kwankwaso told Kano State Non-Indigenes Forum who paid him a courtesy call at Government House.

Governor Kwankwaso pointed out that his government does not support the call as it will result in acrimony, adding that such statement “is not in the best interest of Nigerians.”

Kwankwaso: reassures non indigenes of Kano

He also cleared the air on statement credited to Imo state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, urging Northerners in Imo to register their identities, saying his colleague in Imo was clearly misconstrued and misquoted.

Kwankwaso added that the allegation heaped on Governor Rochas was false, “as the Imo state governor, being a detribalized Nigerian with substantial investments in the North could not initiate such a policy.

“I am sure Owelle Okorocha’s investments in the North outweigh the investments by Northerners in Imo state put together. Look at even the Rochas Foundation School he built here and other investments. Such intention about driving away people from his state could not have come from him”.

“I have personally spoken to Rochas and he openly and candidly told me that the there was nothing like that and the news was the handiwork of detractors who never wish him well” Kwankwaso added.

He, however, called on Federal Government to avoid measures aimed at worsening ethnic, sectional and religious discord among Nigerians, alleging that, “President Jonathan is creating unnecessary political tension in the country, which is harmful to national interests.

“Tension caused by the government is probably the worst tension; we have cases where governors are worried and concerned either about their security of lives and properties or security of their jobs so also other elected officials as well as businessmen and women across the country.”

Leader of the delegation, Dr. Jimpat Aiyelangbe said they were at the governor’s office to lodge complaint over a letter sent to them by a group of youth asking non indigenes to leave the state within two weeks.

Dr. Aiyelangbe lamented that since the letter was delivered to them, they have been having sleepless nights, noting that if government does not takes appropriate action on time, “things could get out of hand.”