Nigerians have lambasted Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state for suspending his Special Adviser on Media, Salihu Tanko Yakasai who criticized President Muhammadu Buhari on Twitter over the #EndSARS campaign.
Following the series of protests organized to end police brutality in the country, Yakasai had tweeted, “I have never seen a government with zero empathy like that of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“So many times when his people are going through a difficult time and expect some sort of tap on shoulder to reassure them that he is in charge, but he failed to do so.
Read also: Buhari Finally Speaks On #EndSARS Protests, Meets IGP
“The ‘I don’t care attitude’ is on another level.
“To speak to your own people over issues that are bedevilling them has become something like a favour you are doing to them.
“Over and over again, you cannot spare five minutes to address the nation to calm them down, the same people you went to the 36 states to beg for their votes, it is heartbreaking.”
But the Kano state commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, who conveyed the governor’s directive in a statement on Sunday, said Yakassi has been suspended with immediate effect for making “unguarded utterances.”
He said that though the media aide has own up the indiscreet comment as his personal opinion, but that as a public figure, it will be difficult to differentiate between personal opinion and official stand on matters of public concern.
The governor therefore warned political appointees and public servants to guard against making statements capable of drawing unnecessary controversy and heating up the polity.
The statement reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Ganduje to the policies and programmes of President Buhari’s administration.
But Governor Ganduje has come under fire as #IStandWithDawisu continues to trend on Twitter in a show solidarity to the Dawisu for speaking up in support of Nigerians, not minding the associated threat.
- Some Takes On Twitter
You have been a loyal servant to your boss, but today you got a wrong payback for speaking with the best interest of humanity. You lend your voice and the voice is heard.
Posterity will judge you right.#IStandWithDawisu pic.twitter.com/Vv6L0edbSz— Ibrahim Ismail (@iilawaal) October 11, 2020
Suspending someone for speaking the truth tells a lot about the current state of our democracy. Looks like we no longer have freedom of expression. We have to stand together and change the narrative else, we will continue living in bondage & fear.#IStandWithDawisu
— Shams A Imam (@ImamShams) October 11, 2020
I am 100% with u @dawisu I said it and I will say it again and again nobody in @GovUmarGanduje 's aide that protect Ganduje at all coast more than what @dawisu did and loosing him is a great lost to @GovUmarGanduje administration#IStandWithDawisu pic.twitter.com/fjYV2oyycs
— Nour_Clothing_Textile ✂👕👖✂ (@NOURA_JOY) October 11, 2020
#IStandWithDawisu What happened to @dawisu now is just a pure indication that these leaders do not want us to speak the truth..You stole millions of Dollars, he stood by you during your hideous crimes but saying a simple truth for the interest of the people, he got suspended.. pic.twitter.com/vFUQMRtG3S
— ** iCons 4eva ** (@Alexmartosky) October 12, 2020
