Dr Muhammad Adamu Kwankwaso is the Head of Department (HOD) of Education at Bayero University Kano (BUK) who served as a collation officer for the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the just concluded gubernatorial and house of assembly elections at Madobi local council, Kano State. How he escaped death following the declaration of results by the electoral umpire remains a puzzle he could bearly figure out.
Although Dr Kwankwaso worked for APC, INEC would declare the candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Abba Yusuf winner of the guber race.
Dr Kwankwaso told Daily Trust that he was traumatized by the mobs who attacked him, vandalized his property and set ablaze them under the guise of celebration. The HOD said despite uncertainties that became obvious even during the voting, voters’ participation in the election was motivating.
The aftermath of the declaration changed the narrative. “Around 7 am after the final declaration, we experienced a worse situation. My house was attacked, and then a group of hoodlums were assigned to destroy my house and kill me,” he said.
Dr Kwankwaso narrated how narrowly escape. “I don’t know how I escaped but I did by the mercy of God. I was attacked at home alongside my family members because I concluded that it was better for me to die for my family, my children, siblings and my mother. I asked them to go back home because of the previous experience that I had.
“The hoodlums broke down my gate, broke my wall and entered my house by force but I was able to escape to my neighbour’s house. In the process, they damaged a lot of things in the house,” he recounted.
The university don lamented the kind of politics some Nigerians engage in, adding that it might not be detached to illiteracy with the supporters.
Dr Kwankwaso said his family members including his wife and children were locked inside their wardrobes to escape the mob who were threatening to set them ablaze together with the house.
“Luckily, together with three of my siblings, we were able to go through the ceiling and rescue them,” he continued. “At first, I thought it was an ordinary celebration until I realised that they are after my life. It was at that point I called security.”
‘DPO RUSH TO MY RESCUE’
He later resorted to calling the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for help and “he rushed down to my village and I am telling you, if not because of him, I would have been killed by the hoodlums.”
The HOD added that the DPO and his team arrived at the scene, barricaded the area, dispersed the mob and apprehended three suspects.
According to him, other suspects are still moving around in the village unchallenged, “but the District Head had summoned a community meeting, which comprises of stakeholders.”
He commended the fatherly role played by the district head, the Makaman Karaye who vowed to partner with security agents and make sure that the culprits face the wrath of the law.
‘WE WOULD NOT SURRENDER’
He acknowledged that it was not the first tragic experience he had, hence, would not make him stop serving people.
“I mean, we the educated ones, the intellectuals, I am not saying we should be partisan politicians, but we should be participating in politics. We should not fold our arms and allow illiterates to come and dictate for us. That is wrong,” Kwakwaso said. “When you contest an election, it’s either you win or not. But government property was stolen and vandalized, especially in the area around Sabon Titi, Madobi.”
He admonished youths not to be brainwashed by politicians to go against good government policies. “They should be educated, let them participate in politics but with decorum. Nobody will prevent you from exercising your right; we should not instigate youths to do things these despicable things – this has to stop,” he said.
