Kaduna, Kano blasts threaten Nigeria’s unity

A Northern-based human rights activist, Mallam Shehu Sani,  has said the bombing in Kaduna, in which a former Head of State, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu  Buhari (retd.), and a prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, narrowly escaped death, is not only a threat to Nigeria’s unity and curtailment of freedom but against the nation’s democracy.

The twin bomb blasts that the rocked the state capital at Alkali/Isa Kaita Road and Kawo on Wednesday claimed over 75 lives while scores of people suffered varying degrees of injuries, but the government put the death toll at 44

In the blast, Buhari had alleged  assassination  attempt.

“I was personally involved in a clearly targeted bomb attack today at about 2.30pm on my way to Daura. The unfortunate event, clearly an assassination attempt, came from a fast moving vehicle that made many attempt to overtake my security car, but was blocked by escort vehicle,” he said.

However,  Sani, who is the President of the Civil Congress of Nigeria,  in a statement in Kaduna on Friday said the attack, if  successful, could have triggered a serious civil unrest, noting that the attempted assassination was a clear demonstration of the danger  faced by the Nigeria state.

Sani added that the prevailing security situation in the country required the concern of all and not trading of blame.

He argued that it was utterly wrong for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to have accused the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress or anybody of linking President Goodluck Jonathan and the Federal Government to the attack.

While stressing the need for national unity  and solidarity to tackle the menace, Sani insisted that the ongoing insurgency and the overall security situation in the land should be of  concern to all Nigerians.

The activist added that with the attacks on the two prominent Nigerians, it was a clear indication that everybody was vulnerable to the current security situation in the country.

Sani, who condemned the despicable act, said, “The multiple bombings in Kaduna and Kano, which targeted Muhammadu Buhari and Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, stand unreservedly condemned.

“The assassination attempt once again demonstrated the annihilating danger faced by the Nigerian state. The attack, if successful, could have triggered a serious civil unrest which the architect must have intended to achieve.

“The series of campaign and violence are the most imminent and concrete threat to Nigeria’s unity, freedom and democracy.

“There is the absolute need for national unity and solidarity in tackling the menace.”