Hussaini Kafi in Kano
Civic Dialogue
The anticipated “Take-It-Back” demonstration orchestrated across several cities in Nigeria on June 12 — including Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt — failed to gain momentum in Kano, as residents and members of civil society organizations (CSOs) overwhelmingly shunned the protest in favour of civic dialogue.
An AHR correspondent who monitored the situation reports that the city remained peaceful on Thursday morning, with no major protest activity observed at designated hotspots like Gyadi-Gyadi Roundabout, Zoo Road, and Sabon Gari.
Voices from the Streets
Residents who spoke to AHR expressed skepticism about the motives behind the protest and fears over potential violence.
“I saw the flyers online, but I didn’t see the purpose. Kano has its own issues, but we prefer dialogue, not protests that come with uncertainty,” said Mallam Tijjani Lawal, a trader at Singer Market.
Another resident, Zainab Mohammed, a civil servant, said: “We are tired of being used by politicians or faceless movements. Today, I chose to go to work instead of joining a protest I don’t understand.”
One of the CSO organizers, Comrade Umar Ibrahim Umar, the Executive Director of War Against Injustice, explained the decision to withdraw:
“We have decided to withdraw from the planned protest due to the prevailing security situation in Kano. You saw what happened during the EndBadGovernance protest — there’s a real risk of this one being hijacked by political actors.”
Kano Calm, Secure
According to him, Kano has been grappling with issues of political thuggery and clashes. Therefore, they cannot take part in any protest that might escalate tensions.
Instead of street demonstrations, they resolved to organize a series of public lectures beginning Thursday at the Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Research and Training (Mambayya House), in collaboration with Bayero University, Kano.
CSO leaders also echoed similar concerns. “We were not consulted, and the objectives are vague,” said Halima Garba, spokesperson for the Kano Civil Rights Watch. “Our focus is on community empowerment, not reactionary street movements.”
Similarly, Comrade Abdulrashid Bello of the Centre for Civic Engagement said: “No serious coalition in Kano backed this. It lacked structure and transparency.”
Meanwhile, lectures officially commenced at Mambayya House on Thursday with a strong turnout of scholars, students, and civic actors. The session, themed “Political Party Defection: A Reflection on the Current Wave of Nigeria’s Political Process,” marked the beginning of a planned series of dialogues aimed at fostering peaceful political engagement.
Kano remains calm and secure. No incidents have been reported. The situation is under control.
