Kano Youths Burn Kwankwasiyya-style Caps Over Kwankwaso’s Support For Obi

Some youths in the Kiru local government area of Kano State have reportedly set red caps associated with the Kwankwasiyya Movement on fire, following former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s support for the 2027 NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi. Kwankwaso is Obi’s running mate.

Recall that parties and candidates signed the peace accord barely 24 hours ago as presidential and national Assembly campaigns begin.

The youths were seen in a viral video circulating on social media gathering on a street and repeatedly chanting, “We should burn it,” before setting the red caps on fire.

The video, which lasted about three minutes and 19 seconds, also showed onlookers wearing red caps bearing President Bola Tinubu’s infinity symbol as they watched the incident.

The development has sparked allegations that the action was sponsored by the member representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin Kofa, an allegation that could not be independently verified.

Reacting to the development, spokesperson for the Kwankwasiyya movement, Habibu Mohammed, dismissed the incident as a staged action allegedly orchestrated by political opponents.

Mohammed said, “There were gatherings in Kiru under the APC, or rather under the member there, and they chose to display something which is not exactly what it is.

“Anybody can buy any cap and put a light on it and claim to be either a former member with this and that. This is not the first time it has happened.”

He alleged that similar incidents had occurred in the past, claiming that some people were hired and paid between N1,000 and N2,000 to participate.

According to him, some of those allegedly hired later protested after they were not paid as promised.

Mohammed described the latest development as a “desperate attempt” to counter what he called the growing popularity of the Kwankwasiyya movement in the state.

He said, “Most of them resort to buying the red caps, hiring people and staging some sort of drama to show that they are catching up with the growing momentum of the party in the state.”

Attempts to obtain the reaction of the Kano State APC spokesperson, Auwalu Soja, were unsuccessful, as he neither answered calls nor responded to messages sent to his telephone line.