S’Court verdict: You’re in trouble if clash happen in your territory again, Gaya emir warns traditional rulers

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

Dr Aliyu Ibrahim Gaya, the Emir of Gaya, one of the five first-class emirates in Kano state has warned village and ward heads against inaction over political clash in their territory.
Following the January 12 Supreme Court judgement that affirmed Abba Yusuf as the elected governor of Kano, there was a bloody clash between the NNPP and APC supporters in Kademi town of Gaya Local Government area of the state.
The clash, according to the state’s Police Command, happened on January 16 between the supporters of the two rival political parties in the state, resulting to injuries and bonfire in the town.
Speaking when the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Usaini Gumel paid a courtesy visit at his place before a stakeholders meeting over the clash, the emir, who was visibly angry, said the village and ward heads are not doing enough to check political clashes in the area.
According to him, a village or ward head would henceforth be in trouble if any political clash happen in his territory.
“You are not doing enough to ensure peace in your territories. Henceforth, if political clash happen again, the village and ward heads of that are would be in trouble.
“On our part, we have invited all stakeholders, including traditional rulers and Ulamas, may be including the suspects and their families to amicably resolve the matter and find lasting solution.
“We are not happy with what happened in Kademi, especially in view of the fact that residents of the town are those that clashed among them. They are relative and neighbors. This is madness and animal acts.
“We promise to take drastic measures to check this kind of clashes in Gaya and beyond. Whenever politicians visit this palace we caution them against unguarded utterances that lead to crises.
“Kano politics entails cross carpeting, if you fight in this party today, tomorrow you would defect to the party you are fighting. So, politics is not war. That is why we called on politicians to continue to enlighten their supporters against crisis and political vendetta.
“I called on the Kademi residents to embrace peace and choose to live peacefully with one another.
“You should keep political affiliation aside and face development of this emirate. Henceforth, we will no longer allow this stupidity continue,” Gaya warned.
Earlier in a remark, the Police Commissioner said he is at the palace to pay homage to the monarch and hold meeting with the clashing parties in order to find lasting solutions.
Gumel said he was in Gaya to address the political tension in order to allow peace reign in the emirate.
According to Gumel, Kano is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria, especially in Northern region, urging the general public to help security agencies and traditional institutions sustain the tempo.
“We must rise up collectively to secure Kano. It is evident that no state that is more peaceful than Kano. No state that has the blessing of population like Kano. Some of its neighbours are not peaceful like Katsina, Kaduna, Benue, Taraba etc. It is only Kano that stands out to be peaceful.
“We acknowledge the fact that people are coming from the insecurity areas to Kano in order to find peace. So, we urge you to cooperate to continue enjoying this peace.
“We are here to find the root of the problem and see how to resolve it amicably in order to find