In Kaduna, war drums beat too early

A Friday that would be good is judged by the Wednesday pre­ceding it, so goes a popular Hausa saying. That saying is apt in describing last Monday’s violent clash between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State, and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The clash, no doubt, would also pass for an early warning sign of what would likely be the aftermath of the presidential and governorship elections in the state.

Apart from Jos, the Plateau State capital, Kaduna is, perhaps, another state in the North where mere political squabbles within a political party and between rival political parties assume ethnic and religious dimensions. It is, therefore, no wonder that like most states in the North, Kaduna had its fair share of the 2011 post-election violence.
Interestingly, at the time, a Christian was at the helms of affairs in Kaduna, while a Muslim was then angling to replace him on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC).
But today, both the incumbent, who is aspiring to return, and the major candidate angling to kick him out on the platform of APC, are not only Muslims, but are all from the famous Zazzau Emirate. This, perhaps, may explain why last Monday’s clash was seen largely as a political one, without necessarily giving it any religious or ethnic colourations.
But who drew the first blood? Daily Sun gathered that Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero’s convoy was on the fateful Monday stoned by persons suspected to be APC supporters in Birnin-Gwari and Udawa, during his campaign rally.
It was gathered also that when the governor again returned to the city of Kaduna that same day, some persons, who were alleged to be members of the APC, booed him around the Panteka and Bakin Ruwa areas of the city.
These persons, Daily Sun further learnt, were said to be chanting a no confidence slogan in Hausa: “Ba Mu a so -we don’t want,” while Yero’s convoy drove pass the areas.
The open rejection of the governor by this set of people, forced other PDP sympathizers, especially within the Bakin Ruwa area, to mobilize. They then began attacking anybody and anything bearing any insignia traceable to the APC. It was at this point that the clash became a free-for-all. And in the end, it left many people injured, just as it sent residents, most of who are still contemplating whether or not to remain in the state or relocate before February 14, panicking.
However, another set of residents told Daily Sun that the fracas occurred when some buses conveying PDP supporters, who were passing through Rigasa and Bakin Ruwa, were attacked by some thugs suspected to be sympathizers of the APC. They were said to be returning to Kaduna city after a campaign rally in Birnin-Gwari Council of the state.
Giving his own version of what really transpired, the governor, who spoke through his media aide, Ahmed Maiyaki, noted that it was the APC thugs who attacked his campaign team at Bakin Ruwa area of Igabi Local Government Area.
He said: “The thugs were obviously hired by the opposition party to attack the convoy with the sole aim of throwing the state into confusion.”
But in an attempt to demonstrate his love for peace, the governor reiterated his commitment to a peaceful electoral process. He was, however, quick to warn that government would not fold its arms and continue to watch persons he described as the “violent minority” to seek to intimidate the majority of the people into submission. “Government will deal decisively with anyone trying to harass innocent people over elections. Every Nigerian is entitled to one vote and no one can deny the people this constitutional right.”
He went further to say that it was unfortunate that the APC that was mouthing change had resorted to violence and threats, a thing he noted was an indication that the party was desperate. He said the APC was already afraid of an imminent defeat in this month’s polls.
Yero went further to condemn what he called the “negative antics of the APC in influencing youths to take to violence. ”
But in a swift reaction, Kaduna State Coordinator of the Buhari/Osinbajo for President and member of the state Campaign Council for Nasir Ahmed El- Rufai, Senator Mohammed Saleh, who currently represents Kaduna Central Senatorial District, alleged that it was the state governor who supervised hoodlums that went on rampage against residents and their property.
He further claimed that the thugs destroyed the billboards of the APC presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), and that of the governorship candidate, El-Rufai, in the Bakin-Ruwa and Kabala-West areas of the state.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday at the NUJ Press Centre, Kaduna, on behalf of the APC, Senator Saleh reminded Nigerians that Yero had, during the launch of his campaign last month, incited his supporters to violence by threatening the property, liberty and freedom of movement of its governorship candidate. He noted that on the fateful Monday, there was a reported protest by the people of the area against the governor’s failure and incompetence by angry citizens. This, he said, occurred when the governor was returning from Birnin- Gwari Council, and Udawa, in Chikun Council.
“So, on their return to Kaduna town, the governor’s thugs decided to punish citizens who were screaming ‘Ba maso- we don’t want,” said the Senator.
He further claimed that the thugs destroyed campaign billboards of General Buhari and Mallam El-Rufai at Bakin Ruwa and Kabala-West areas of Kaduna.
He further informed that when some residents challenged the act of wanton vandalism, they were attacked and beaten up by the thugs. “It is worst that Yero was in the motorcade as his henchmen attacked persons and property with a ferocity that claimed lives. Yero’s security details got into the unfortunate action, shooting at citizens, who happened to be in the area,” he asserted.
Explaining steps taken by the party to avoid clashing with the PDP, the APC chieftain further said: “Despite the fact that our campaign itinerary had long been concluded, with a zonal rally for Kaduna Central fixed for Saturday, 31 January in Kaduna, we delayed the conclusion of our Zone 2 tour once we learnt that the PDP had scheduled a presidential rally for the same day.
“We followed up the suspension of campaign activities in Kaduna by running massive radio announcements to advise our supporters to stay off the streets during the PDP’s rally to avoid being the victims of the callous shoot-at-sight order given to soldiers and security agents.
“We also shifted our campaign activities to Zone 3, three days earlier than scheduled, precisely to deny and frustrate the PDP’s plan to unleash violence and blame it on us.
“You can therefore imagine our outrage that Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero supervised hoodlums and thugs on a rampage against people and property.”