NNPP suspends planned protest against DSS in Kano, gives reasons

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has announced suspension of a planned protest against the State Director of Department of State Service (DSS) in compliance with police order, putting on hold all rallies, processions and protests in the state.
The NNPP had earlier announced staging a mass protest in Kano today (Thursday) to express displeasure and disagreement with the continued stay of Alhassan Ibrahim as Kano Director of DSS.
The party addressed a press conference, led by the chairman of the stakeholders committee, Abdullahi Baffa Bichi in Kano on Thursday to announce that the protest had been suspended.
Bichi, former TETFUND Boss, said it has placed the protest on hold because higher authorities in Abuja have reached out to the National Headquarters of the Party and assured that steps would be taken to address their grievances.
He said the party reiterated that it is not protesting against the DSS boss overstay in Kano, but alleged that he is staying at the behest of the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.
“Our position was not only because Mr Alhassan has overstayed his mandatory service years but because he is being kept in the service and in Kano at the behest of Governor Ganduje, who is his long-term friend and ally and who Ganduje used in 2019 to steal election and subvert the will of the people of Kano state,” Bichi alleged.
“As patriotic and peaceful people, as law abiding and responsible citizens and having received a letter from the Nigeria Police notifying us that all rallies, processions and protest should be put on hold by all political parties.
“In compliance with the DIG Zone 1 of Nigeria Police, and because of the tremendous amount of respect we have for the Police force we have decided to put the planned protest on hold,” Bichi, former candidate for Kano -North senatorial district added.