Kano government accused of obstructing opposition constituency projects

The Kwankwasiyya Movement has condemned alleged use of state institutions to intimidate opposition voices, pressure elected representatives and obstruct development projects intended to benefit communities across Kano State.

The Movement said that the reported attempts to suspend or relocate federal constituency projects, the suspension of councillors and threats against political commentators by officials of the Kano State Government represent a dangerous trend in the politics of Kano State.

Kwankwasiyya spokesperson Dr. Habib Mai Lemo, in a statement on Tuesday, expressed particular concern over correspondence reportedly issued by the Kano State Ministry of Works seeking the suspension and relocation of a federal constituency road project intended for communities in the Ungogo/Minjibir Federal Constituency.

“The Kano State Government owes the public a clear and convincing explanation of why projects facilitated by opposition lawmakers appear to attract extraordinary administrative intervention,” he said.

“Residents should not be denied a road, school, healthcare facility or any other public service simply because the elected representative who facilitated it belongs to an opposition party,” the statement added.

He challenged the government, if duplication was its genuine concern, to demonstrate that the same standard was being applied transparently to every federal constituency project in Kano, regardless of the sponsoring lawmaker’s political affiliation.

The Movement also expressed concern over the alleged suspension of three councillors in Kano Municipal Local Government Area following allegations connected with project implementation, which the affected councillors have disputed.

It further cited the suspension of two councillors from Tarauni Local Government Area, insisting that these actions followed their continued identification with the Kwankwasiyya Movement.

The statement expressed fear that more suspensions are expected in Nasarawa and Kumbotso Local Government Areas to follow.

“We have received serious complaints that these councillors are being targeted because they refused to abandon their political platform and defect to the ruling camp. If established, that would amount to a grave abuse of democratic principles,” the statement stated.

“Political loyalty is not a crime, and defection is a personal political choice. No councillor should face suspension, removal or administrative persecution merely for refusing to defect. The constitutional right to associate with a political movement cannot depend on whether an elected representative supports the government of the day,” said the statement.

The Movement consequently called for an independent, transparent and credible review of the suspensions, including the allegations against each councillor and the evidence relied upon.

The Kwankwasiyya Movement also criticised statements attributed to the Kano State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice during a political programme, in which threats of arrest were allegedly directed at political commentators, opposition members and Kwankwasiyya supporters who criticise the government on radio and social media platforms.

“Threatening citizens merely for expressing lawful criticism of government policies is unacceptable in a democracy,” Dr Mai Lemo said.

According to him, the Attorney-General is not merely another partisan actor, as the office carries a special constitutional and professional responsibility to defend the rule of law, administer justice fairly and protect citizens’ rights. He stressed that where an actual offence had been committed, the proper course was to identify the specific offence, follow due process and allow an independent court to determine guilt. He added that any allegation of political interference in judicial proceedings was serious and should be investigated transparently.

The Movement further accused the government of applying a double standard to political communication. It alleged that while opposition figures and commentators were being threatened over criticism, some government officials and political appointees, including special advisers, the Commissioner for Information and the Governor’s spokesperson, had themselves made insulting, abusive, defamatory or unsubstantiated statements against opposition figures and members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement.

“Our position is straightforward: if abusive political language is unacceptable, it must be unacceptable for everyone,” Dr Mai Lemo declared. “If allegations require evidence, that standard must apply equally to government officials. Public office cannot become a licence to insult citizens while those same citizens are threatened for criticising the government.”

The Movement demanded an immediate end to the selective obstruction of federal constituency projects; equal treatment of all such projects regardless of party affiliation; and a transparent review of the suspensions in Kano Municipal and Tarauni. It also demanded an end to threats against citizens exercising lawful criticism; accountability for defamatory or unsubstantiated statements by public officials; protection of the constitutional freedoms of expression, association, assembly and political participation; and the insulation of state institutions from partisan manipulation.

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