’Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and immediate past governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has taken a swipe at his former political ally, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, as well as incumbent Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, accusing both of inconsistency in politics and lack of proper direction in governance.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ gathering of APC leaders in Kano on Thursday – his first major appearance since leaving office – Ganduje dismissed growing rumours about Kwankwaso considering a defection to the APC. The event was reported by BBC Hausa and monitored in Kaduna at the weekend.
According to the former governor, Kwankwaso has a history of inconsistency and could not be trusted politically, especially after openly deriding the APC in the past.
“We too have heard the speculations, but we don’t attach importance to them. In a democracy, there’s hardly a difference between a fake cleric and a thief,” Ganduje remarked.
He recalled Kwankwaso’s past comments where he declared that “only a madman would join APC” and even mocked President Bola Tinubu’s presidential ambition, reducing his achievements to only Lagos State. Ganduje added with sarcasm: “Now they want to come back. If they do, we will receive them as madmen who swallowed their vomit.”
On whether reconciliation with Kwankwaso and another former governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, was possible, Ganduje admitted that it could happen, noting that the three of them share governance experience that could benefit the present administration if unity was required.
Turning his attention to the current Kano governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, Ganduje launched a blistering attack, describing his government as “clueless and vindictive.” He accused Yusuf of squandering resources and running a leadership with no sense of direction.
“When I assumed power, I never wasted precious time probing my predecessor. Governance does not end with one government. But Abba Yusuf came in with a government of probes. Up till now, what have they uncovered?” Ganduje asked.
He further claimed that Yusuf’s administration had received more revenue within six months than his own government did in eight years, yet had little or nothing to show for it.
“This administration has no grip on governance. Compare a messenger to a permanent secretary and you’ll understand. Theirs is a government of bandits, clumsy and confused. They spend recklessly on projects without value for money,” he declared.
Addressing his removal as APC National Chairman, Ganduje clarified that it was purely an internal arrangement based on zoning and rotation, insisting that President Bola Tinubu had no hand in it.
“The President has done no wrong. Leadership is the will of God. He grants power to whoever He wishes at His appointed time,” he stated.
On the strength of the APC, Ganduje dismissed insinuations that the party was shrinking, stressing that despite isolated defections, the APC remains Nigeria’s biggest political platform.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Senator Kwankwaso nor Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had issued any response to Ganduje’s stinging remarks.
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