Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has praised the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for their timely decision to withdraw the invitation extended to the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, following the violence that occurred during the recent Eid-el-Fitr procession in Kano.
Gists9ja reports that the violence resulted in the death of a local vigilante member.
Initially, the police had summoned Emir Sanusi to Abuja for questioning, but the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, reversed the decision. Egbetokun directed the Kano State Police Command to collect the monarch’s statement about the incident within the state. In his statement, the IGP explained that the withdrawal was made after considering the advice of well-meaning Nigerians and the need to prevent the situation from being politicized.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on April 7, 2025, Peter Obi expressed his support for the decision, stating that the invitation was unnecessary and could have escalated an already tense situation. He highlighted that there is a fully functional police command in Kano with the necessary capacity to handle such matters within the state.
Obi said, “I would like to commend the Nigeria Police Force for the wise and timely decision it took to withdraw the invitation extended to His Royal Highness Muhammadu Sanusi II. In light of the current tensions within our society, such an invitation was unnecessary and could have further heightened an already inflamed situation.”
He further explained, “There is a fully functional police command in Kano, with sufficient capacity to address such matters within the State. That is precisely why we have senior-ranking officers, including Commissioners of Police and Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs), to handle issues of this nature appropriately at the state and zonal levels.”
Obi concluded by reiterating his appreciation for the withdrawal, emphasizing that a decentralized approach would promote peace and build public trust.
