House of Reps summons police IG, commissioner over alleged intimidation

- Rabiu Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano state, has two major political battles before him which may have pitched the police against his men

- The House of Representatives has however summoned Inspector-General of Police over the alleged intimidation of political groups in Kano

The House of Representatives has reportedly summoned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, over the alleged constant harassment of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, a political group loyal to the former governor of Kano state, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Just like Sule Lamido, the former governor of Jigawa state, Kwankwaso is believed to be eyeing the presidency and has been making consultations and building his team ahead of 2019.

Also summoned by the House is the Kano state commissioner of police, Rabiu Yusuf.

The House also constituted an ad-hoc panel to investigate the real reasons the supporters of the former governor are being intimidated and harassed. It is expected to report back in three weeks.

The move by the House, according to Daily Trust, is to avert violence in the state where its governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, is reportedly in a bitter rivalry with Kwankwaso.

The motion on the issue was brought before the House by Aliyu Sani Madaki, an APC representative from the state.

He explained that some members of the National Assembly from the state had planned to meet with their supporters but had to shelve it because of police intimidation even though the law enforcement agency was informed.

Arguing that Nigerians have freedom to associate, the lawmakers recalled that on January 29, police officers barred some members of the National Assembly and the Kano state House of Assembly from entering the venue of the APC Northwest zonal meeting in Katsina.

The following week, according to the House, members of the Kano Assembly were invited to the state police command and asked to make statements on what transpired at the meeting in Katsina.

The House expressed shock that the police could summon the lawmakers even when the meeting had to take place in Katsina outside its Kano jurisdiction.

“The manner in which the police commissioner descended into the arena over issues that are purely political, is such that many in Kano now regard him as the de facto factional chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC),” the House said.

Source: Legit.ng