Northern cleric Dahiru Bauchi warns CJN Ariwoola not to trigger civil war by removing Abba Yusuf as Kano governor

Ahead of Supreme Court’s verdict on Kano State governorship election, popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, has advised the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kayode Ariwoola, to ensure that the Appeal Court’s verdict sacking governor Abba Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party from office was reviewed by the apex court with justice and fairness.

The cleric in a letter addressed to Mr Ariwoola, which was stamped “received” by CJN’s office on December 18, seen on social media, described Kano as “commercial and religious centre of the entire Northern Nigeria,” warning that a judgement against the will of the people could snowball into violence.

“Kano State has since been the commercial and religious centre of the entire Northern Nigeria. It’s pertinent therefore, that peace, unity and order that have woven Nigeria together ever since the dark days of Nigerian civil wars should be maintained at all cost, no other time than now as the world undergoes economic turbulence,” Mr Bauchi said.

The cleric said northern clerics, elders and populace would unanimously conclude that Kano people’s vote was stolen if the Supreme Court uphold Appeal Court’s verdict sacking Mr Yusuf, warning that “Nigeria cannot, at this moment, afford another civil war; which is mostly ignited from unattended agitations of the people.”

“I therefore, write to reiterate that the proceedings of the review of the Appeal Court should be administered with utmost fairness and justice without fear nor favour against the will of the people explicitly expressed through their civic rights, so they may not feel their votes have been stolen nor swept away,” Mr Bauchi said.

“Your Lordship, this indeed is the unanimous opinion of the scholars and clerics as well as the concern of the northern elders; above all, the view of the northern populace and Nigerians at large.”

The Court of Appeal in Abuja had sacked Mr Yusuf as governor of Kano State, upholding the decision of the election petition tribunal that earlier nullified the governor’s election.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the NNPP seeking affirmation of its candidate, Abba Yusuf, as governor of Kano.

Mr Bauchi’s letter comes months after retired Justice Muhammad Dattijo, during his valedictory speech, made scathing remarks about the judiciary, explaining why Nigerians hate the judiciary.

Mr Dattijo, 70, echoed criticisms against the judiciary, lamenting that “public perceptions of the judiciary have over the years become witheringly scornful and monstrously critical.

“It has been in the public space that court officials and judges are easily bribed by litigants to obviate delays and or obtain favourable judgments,” he said.