***Recalls ID Card Controversy
A Senator representing Kano State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Kawu Sumaila, has cautioned against the use of ethnic narratives in Nigerian politics, warning that those who promote falsehoods against political actors for partisan gain risk moral and spiritual consequences.
In a statement circulating online, the lawmaker said he would not remain silent over what he described as “deliberate ethnic propaganda” targeted at former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Sumaila reportedly dismissed claims that Obi is an ethnic bigot, insisting that such allegations are politically motivated and unsupported by facts.
He also addressed the long-standing controversy surrounding alleged introduction of identity card requirements for northerners in the South-East, stating that Obi was not involved in the matter.
According to him, he was part of a delegation alongside former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, that intervened in Imo State when the issue reportedly arose under then Governor Rochas Okorocha, adding that the matter was resolved after dialogue.
Sumaila urged political actors to avoid spreading divisive narratives, stressing that public discourse should be guided by truth rather than electoral interests.
The senator’s remarks have since generated reactions online, with supporters and critics weighing in on broader concerns about ethnicity in Nigerian politics and the tone of campaigns ahead of future elections.