Alleged bribe offer: CSOs urges Tinubu not to interfere in Kano guber tribunal judgement

From Mustapha Adamu Kano

Coalition of Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, under the auspices of Northwest Civil Societies and Anti-corruption Network has staged a peaceful protest in Kano state in the wake of allegation of bribery raised by a tribunal judge.
Recall that Flora Ngozi Azinge had recently alleged that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, was offering her a bribe in order to skew the judgment of the tribunal.
Dissatisfied with the development, the CSOs decided to organize a peaceful protest against any attempt by politicians to temper with justice in the ongoing tribunal.
Our reporter, who was covering the protest observed that hundreds of youths, carrying placards converged at Gidan Murtala, where they started procession to the government house.
The protesters carried placards with different inscriptions that include; “Give peace a chance, a word is enough for the wise”, “Allow Kano to live in peace, do not temper with election victory”, “We will defend our mandate, among others.
Addressing mammoth crowd when they reached government house, the convener, Comrade Ibrahim Waiya called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to interfere in the judgement of the ongoing governorship election tribunal in the state.
He said the purpose of the peaceful protest is to call the attention of the President not to be dragged into the judgement of the tribunal by politicians.
According to him, reports at the CSOs ‘ disposal had indicated that some politicians are banking on the President’s influence to manipulate the judgement of the governorship tribunal, warning that any attempt to manipulate justice would not augur well in the state and the nation as a whole.
“Kano is a home of democracy. Kano is a home of late Aminu Kano. Kano people have the right to elect whoever they want.
“Therefore, we call on the President not to allow himself to be dragged into the tribunal judgement. He should allow justice to prevail as any attempt to manipulate justice in the ongoing tribunal will not augur well in the state and the nation as a whole. We therefore call on the President to allow peace to reign in Kano,” he appealed.
The CSOs also delivered a letter of petition to the state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf for onward delivery to the President.
The letter reads in parts, “The fundamental purpose of writing this letter, is to present to you the concern of the good people of Kano State over the controversy surrounding the conduct of the elections tribunal in Kano State.
“We are dismayed at the tendency at which your name is systematically dragged into a smearing and perfected conspiracy promoted by some political party members in Kano, optimistically pouring a sentiment towards manipulation of the outcome of the elections tribunal at the behest of your influence
“Your Excellency, you will recall that in 2019, Kano State was overheated at what was alleged to be a gang up through the influence of the then APC led Federal Government of Nigeria, aimed at manipulating the outcome of the re – run elections and thereby usurping the rights of the Kano people to choose leaders of their desire.
“The inconclusive saga has already been written into the Guinness Book of Nigerian politics, as one of the most disastrous events in the Nigerian political history.
“Similarly, 2023 is here again, and the responsibility of upholding the mandate of every elections any way in the country does not only lie on your shoulders, but it is religiously mandatory upon you to work towards providing an enabling environment to all, especially many people believed you to be someone who struggled all his life to ensure the institutionalization of a democratic governance in Nigeria, as well as someone who believes in the best principles of democratic practice, which is born through popular participation of citizens”.