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Hundreds of women matched through the street of the ancient city
of Kano yesterday to protest what they described as the imposition of a former
state official as gubernatorial candidate of the ruling All Nigerian Peoples
Party in the state.

The women, who were mainly supporters of an influential Islamic
Cleric and governorship aspirant in the state, Ibrahim Khalil faulted the state
governor, Ibrahim Shekarau’s alleged attempt to impose the immediate past
Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Salihu Sagir Takai as the
governorship candidate of the ANPP.

The ANPP women, who all carried placards chanting pro- Khalil
slogans, later converged at the Kano State Government House to impress it on
Mr. Shekarau the need to create a level playing ground for whoever emerges the
party’s governorship flag bearer in 2011.

Security operatives denied them access to the State House, but
leaders of the group were allowed in to confer with the Permanent Secretary,
Government House, Muhammad Garba Fagge on their mission to Government House.

Mr Fagge apologized to the women for waiting at the gate for so
long and the denial of access by security agents. He, however, maintained that
the decision was hinged on the need to prevent ‘violation of laid down
protocol’ by the women Group.

Security at the government house has been beefed up across Kano,
with plain-clothed personnel and heavily armed mobile policemen taking positions
in readiness to foil any uprising since the former Director General of the Kano
State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Sani Lawan Kofar Mata, was sacked last week.

Spokesperson of the Group, Ladi Ahmad Mijinyawa told newsmen
that they were at the Government House to advise Mr. Shekarau not to intervene
in the process that will lead to the emergence of an acceptable candidate for
the party.

Go for the best

Mrs. Mijinyawa explains that Islamic teachings enjoins the
faithful to always go for the best, whenever its confronted with options and
choices.

“The decision to close the door on Khalil, an influential
cleric, is wrong, and a violation of divine injunctions,” she said.

The female activist explained that herself and the duo of Messrs. Shekarau
and Takai were students and protégé of Mr Khalil and members of the Muslim
Society of Nigeria and, as such, if he had to pick any of the candidate, Mr
Shekarau would have settle for Mr. Khalil.