Inside story of Kwankwaso, Ganduje. Clash
Not many were surprised at the downturn of
events between the former governor of Kano
State, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso and his
former deputy, Governor Abdullahi Umar
Ganduje, which resulted in the state chapter of
the All Progressives Congress (APC), threatening
to sanction Kwankwaso over “political
misconduct.”
For months, there have been speculations about
the existence of a crack between the two political
allies, who had a peaceful and rancour-free
tenure as governor and deputy for eight years.
Reports had shown that the two had fallen out
just five months after Kwankwaso handed over
power to Ganduje, on account of disagreements
over cabinet appointments. The Kwankwaso camp
accused Ganduje of shutting out their men.
The situation has been clearer to residents of
Kano, who, on a daily basis, listen to hostile
exchange of tantrums on the radio by the
supporters of either side.
However, both Kwankwaso and Ganduje had
consistently denied the existence of any rift
between them and blamed political spoilers for
trying to drive a wedge between them.
Although they have tried very hard to downplay
the crack, the controversy that emanated from
the condolence visit paid by Kwankwaso to
Ganduje over the loss of his mother must have
put to rest, any remnant of doubts about the
issue.
Signs that there might be tension in the state
began to appear when Kwankwaso’s supporters
besieged Malam Aminu Kano International
Airport (MAKIA) to receive the former governor,
who was coming to condole with his former
deputy.
It was his first visit to the state after he was
elected senator to represent the Kano Central
senatorial zone, almost a year ago. Kwankwaso
visited four days after the demise of the
governor’s mother.
Eyewitnesses said a large number of Kwankwaso’s
supporters that thronged the airport to receive
him had broken the fence and damaged other
facilities to gain access into the VIP lounge.
The supporters, who were clad in branded T-shirts
and carrying presidential campaign posters
bearing the pictures of the former governor,
chanted his slogans, it was further gathered.
When Kwankwanso arrived, he acknowledged
cheers continuously from the army of supporters
who led him to Ganduje town in the Dawakin Tofa
Local Government Area of the state.
Eyewitnesses told Daily Trust on Sunday that
Kwankwaso’s fans brandished dangerous
weapons, including cutlasses and axes while they
escorted the senator’s long motorcade to the
town, about an hour drive from Kano metropolis.
They said the senator had stopovers at towns like
Tunfafi, Mile 9, Gangaren Dutse, Dandalama, Jalli,
Bachirawa, to acknowledge cheers from other
fans, before finally arriving at Ganduje where he
met the bereaved governor at about 3pm.
It was learnt that after sympathising with the
governor and praying for the deceased,
Kwankwaso waved at the people while the crowd
that came with him allegedly insulted Ganduje’s
commissioners and threatened to deal with his
principal private secretary, Usman Bala, a former
permanent secretary.
“My mother died on Friday, about 7am, and
announcement was made in the media for the
funeral prayer, which held after Jumu’at prayer in
Ganduje town. Immediately after she died, I sent
a text to the former governor when I couldn’t get
him on phone. Upon receiving my text, he called
and said he would send his younger brother,
Garba, to represent him at the funeral prayer.
Alhamdulilah, his brother was able to participate
at the funeral prayer. He later sent former
commissioners that served in his cabinet to
condole with me. Today, he was able to attend
the three-day prayers personally and offer his
condolence. We thanked him for that and all
those that condoled with us and prayed for the
deceased,” Governor Ganduje said while receiving
Kwankwaso.
President Muhammadu Buhari had sent the
Minister of Interior, General Abdurrahman Bello
Dambazzau (retired), who led the federal
government’s delegation to the funeral.
It is believed that Ganduje’s bitterness towards
the nature of Kwankwaso’s visit provided the
grounds for the press conference held by the
Kano chapter of the All Progressives Congress
(APC), which expressed dissatisfaction with the
development.
Beyond condolence visit
Officials close to the two sides have confirmed
that the quarrel between Kwankwaso and
Ganduje had been on long before it became
public, explaining that the condolence furore was
just the last straw.
According to a former adviser to Kwankwaso, the
relationship between the two had since hit the
rocks because of his former principal’s bitterness
over the manner his successor had shut him out
in running the state.
He said the situation had degenerated to the
point where Kwankwaso was no longer answering
calls from Ganduje or approving his request for
visit.
“He does not pick Ganduje’s calls, and whenever
the governor wants to see him, he will have to
bump into his office to do that, otherwise
Kwankwaso will not give him an appointment,” he
said.
It was Ganduje, according to the former official,
who had been striving to keep the relationship
from falling apart.
He disclosed that Kwankwaso did not intend to
pay a condolence visit to Ganduje over the death
of his mother, but was prevailed upon by some of
his loyalists to change his mind.
According to him, one of the issues that further
ruined the relationship between the governor and
his former boss was nominations for board
appointments, which the federal government
channeled through the state.
“Kwankwaso was not happy about it because he
considers himself the leader of the party in the
state. In addition to this, he was angered the
more by the way the governor allocated a few
slots to him,” he said.
He also mentioned a purported letter from
Ganduje to President Muhammadu Buhari,
appealing to him to consider a particular zone,
different from the zones where the state
governor and his deputy came from, when
appointing ministers.
“That request hurt Kwankwaso because his goal
was to be appointed the minister of the Federal
Capital Territory (FCT), hence heeding to it would
automatically deny him the post. But the
President made his choice.
“When Ganduje came in, he revoked plot
allocations that were done in the last minute of
the Kwankwaso administration. Some of the
allocations, which shouldn’t have been made at
all, were given to relatives and cronies. For
instance, he revoked the plots allocated in front
of the Kofar Mata Stadium, which everybody
supported.
“He also reduced the number of ministries and
stopped some projects and policies initiated by
Kwankwaso. Some of them were seen to be
aimed at feathering the nest of the former
governor’s 2015 presidential ambition, like the
issuance of thousands of job offers, free
education, etc,” he said.
The former aide said that all these, together with
what Kwankwaso regards as the abandonment of
90 per cent of reliable political allies who worked
for the success of the Kwankwaso/Ganduje tickets
over the years, have continued to eat at the
bonds between the two.
“Maybe Kwankwaso would have been
comfortable with a Ganduje that would seek his
advice and guidance before taking any major
decision in the state,” he added.
Another official who is close to the two sides,
however, supports Kwankwaso on the issue of
loyalists, saying Governor Ganduje should have
retained a significant number of them in his
government because their loyalty was not just to
Kwankwaso, but also to the administrations the
two had headed.
“I don’t blame Kwankwaso when he is fighting for
the party’s supporters to be carried along. Why
should you set out to destroy the achievements
of your former boss if you don’t want to court
trouble,” he said.
Suspension dangles over Kwankwaso
The state chapter of the APC has already said it
would investigate Kwankwaso over the unruly
conduct of his supporters during the visit to
Ganduje town.
Addressing journalists, the state chairman of the
party, Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa, accused
Kwankwaso and his supporters of exhibiting
unruly character during the condolence visit.
Doguwa said the party would formally lodge its
complaint to the APC national headquarters.
According to him, the political misconduct shown
by Kwankwaso’s supporters was childish and
unacceptable, and was not in conformity with the
religion, culture and norms of Kano people.
He alleged that during the visit, Kwankwaso
mobilised political thugs who stormed Ganduje
town, brandishing all sorts of dangerous weapons
and chanting anti-Ganduje slogans, thereby
politicising the condolence.
He said: “The APC and the Elders Committee in
the state were not informed about the former
governor’s visit, therefore, they condemned and
dissociated themselves from the unruly manner
and texture of the visit.”
He said many dignitaries had paid condolence
visits to Governor Ganduje, but no one behaved
the way the former governor and his supporters
did.
He said that as a peaceful party, the APC would
not condone such attitude in the state and would
not support any of its members to promote
disrespect to its leaders at all levels.
Doguwa added, “For the presidential campaign
started by Kwankwaso’s supporters, we wish to
categorically state that there is no vacancy for him
in 2019. Our loyalty and commitment is still to
President Muhammadu Buhari, and our leader in
Kano is Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. This is
the stand of the APC in Kano.”
Kwankwaso acted in good faith - Ally
However, in his reaction, a former chief of staff to
Kwankwaso, Dr. Yunusa Adamu Dangwani,
maintained that the senator made the
condolence visit in good faith. He frowned at what
he saw as a deliberate attempt to misinterpret
the former governor’s gesture.
He said Kwankwaso’s decision to stay away from
Kano since he handed over power to Ganduje has
been to enable him focus on the important
business of governance.
“Gentlemen of the press, since May 29, 2015 when
the then governor of Kano State, now the senator
representing Kano Central, Rabi’u Musa
Kwankwaso, handed over the mantle to Abdullahi
Umar Ganduje, the distinguished senator has not
visited Kano so as to give the new governor space
and time to settle down and consolidate on
successful programmes and projects of the APC.
“The news of the demise of Hajiya Fatimma Umar
Ganduje came to Senator Kwankwaso as a great
shock, which, according to traditional norms,
necessitated the visit to Kano. The visit was very
important, especially considering their close ties
as his former deputy for eight years and special
adviser as minister of defence. He, therefore,
found it pertinent to personally visit Kano to
condole with the governor, his family and the
people of Kano State.
“He deliberately gave a short notice for the visit,
but he was pleasantly surprised at the turnout of
the people of Kano to receive him.
“On this note, on behalf of Senator Kwankwaso,
we wish to use this opportunity to thank the
people of Kano for the show of support and
solidarity. We also commiserate with those who
lost loved ones, especially to fire outbreaks in our
markets and schools. We assure them that very
soon, Senator Kwankwaso will personally visit
Kano to commiserate with them. Against this
backdrop, at Ganduje town, we were surprised
that some local people brandished local weapons,
not minding the somber occasion. It is
unfortunate.
“It is, therefore, appalling that the good gesture of
Senator Kwankwaso has been mischievously
interpreted wrongly.
“It is apt at this juncture to call on the Kano State
government to concentrate on the enormous
challenges of governance and earn the respect of
the people,” he said.
But another political associate of Kwankwaso,
Alhaji Alin Jallaba, said it was wrong for the
former governor to politicise a condolence visit.
Jallaba, a die-hard supporter of Senator
Kwankwaso said: “Although I am an ardent
supporter of Kwankwaso, I totally condemn what
happened in Ganduje town during the former
governor’s visit. Such a visit should be peaceful.
What the Kwankwaso’s supporters did was
unfortunate.”
He alleged that the former governor directed his
close associates to mobilise youths from all the 44
local government areas of the state to receive him
at the airport, after which they proceeded to
Ganduje town for the condolence visit.
“I reliably gathered that text messages were sent
to the supporters of the former governor across
the state, inviting them to come to Mallam Aminu
Kano International Airport to receive him and
subsequently escort him to Ganduje town,”
Jallaba said.
He recalled that Kwankwaso occasionally came
out from his car and waved his supporters,
noting, “This is to tell you that he enjoyed and
supported what his supporters did.”
He, therefore, appealed to the executive of the
APC in the state to set up a disciplinary committee
to punish anybody who had a hand in the
incident.
But a senior security officer in the state told Daily
Trust on Sunday that Kwankwaso’s intention was
a low-key visit that would not ruffle any political
feathers.
“His security team had hinted us of the need to
make the visit secret, but his supporters got wind
of it and converged on the airport in their
thousands, two days before he set his foot in
Kano.
“When he finally arrived, traders closed shops and
people blocked roads to receive him,” he said.
When contacted, the state Commissioner for
Information, Alhaji Muhammad Garba, said he
could not comment on the issue because it was
purely a party affair.
“This is not a government affair; it is something
that concerns the ruling APC, and the party’s state
chairman has addressed the press on the matter,”
he said.
events between the former governor of Kano
State, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso and his
former deputy, Governor Abdullahi Umar
Ganduje, which resulted in the state chapter of
the All Progressives Congress (APC), threatening
to sanction Kwankwaso over “political
misconduct.”
For months, there have been speculations about
the existence of a crack between the two political
allies, who had a peaceful and rancour-free
tenure as governor and deputy for eight years.
Reports had shown that the two had fallen out
just five months after Kwankwaso handed over
power to Ganduje, on account of disagreements
over cabinet appointments. The Kwankwaso camp
accused Ganduje of shutting out their men.
The situation has been clearer to residents of
Kano, who, on a daily basis, listen to hostile
exchange of tantrums on the radio by the
supporters of either side.
However, both Kwankwaso and Ganduje had
consistently denied the existence of any rift
between them and blamed political spoilers for
trying to drive a wedge between them.
Although they have tried very hard to downplay
the crack, the controversy that emanated from
the condolence visit paid by Kwankwaso to
Ganduje over the loss of his mother must have
put to rest, any remnant of doubts about the
issue.
Signs that there might be tension in the state
began to appear when Kwankwaso’s supporters
besieged Malam Aminu Kano International
Airport (MAKIA) to receive the former governor,
who was coming to condole with his former
deputy.
It was his first visit to the state after he was
elected senator to represent the Kano Central
senatorial zone, almost a year ago. Kwankwaso
visited four days after the demise of the
governor’s mother.
Eyewitnesses said a large number of Kwankwaso’s
supporters that thronged the airport to receive
him had broken the fence and damaged other
facilities to gain access into the VIP lounge.
The supporters, who were clad in branded T-shirts
and carrying presidential campaign posters
bearing the pictures of the former governor,
chanted his slogans, it was further gathered.
When Kwankwanso arrived, he acknowledged
cheers continuously from the army of supporters
who led him to Ganduje town in the Dawakin Tofa
Local Government Area of the state.
Eyewitnesses told Daily Trust on Sunday that
Kwankwaso’s fans brandished dangerous
weapons, including cutlasses and axes while they
escorted the senator’s long motorcade to the
town, about an hour drive from Kano metropolis.
They said the senator had stopovers at towns like
Tunfafi, Mile 9, Gangaren Dutse, Dandalama, Jalli,
Bachirawa, to acknowledge cheers from other
fans, before finally arriving at Ganduje where he
met the bereaved governor at about 3pm.
It was learnt that after sympathising with the
governor and praying for the deceased,
Kwankwaso waved at the people while the crowd
that came with him allegedly insulted Ganduje’s
commissioners and threatened to deal with his
principal private secretary, Usman Bala, a former
permanent secretary.
“My mother died on Friday, about 7am, and
announcement was made in the media for the
funeral prayer, which held after Jumu’at prayer in
Ganduje town. Immediately after she died, I sent
a text to the former governor when I couldn’t get
him on phone. Upon receiving my text, he called
and said he would send his younger brother,
Garba, to represent him at the funeral prayer.
Alhamdulilah, his brother was able to participate
at the funeral prayer. He later sent former
commissioners that served in his cabinet to
condole with me. Today, he was able to attend
the three-day prayers personally and offer his
condolence. We thanked him for that and all
those that condoled with us and prayed for the
deceased,” Governor Ganduje said while receiving
Kwankwaso.
President Muhammadu Buhari had sent the
Minister of Interior, General Abdurrahman Bello
Dambazzau (retired), who led the federal
government’s delegation to the funeral.
It is believed that Ganduje’s bitterness towards
the nature of Kwankwaso’s visit provided the
grounds for the press conference held by the
Kano chapter of the All Progressives Congress
(APC), which expressed dissatisfaction with the
development.
Beyond condolence visit
Officials close to the two sides have confirmed
that the quarrel between Kwankwaso and
Ganduje had been on long before it became
public, explaining that the condolence furore was
just the last straw.
According to a former adviser to Kwankwaso, the
relationship between the two had since hit the
rocks because of his former principal’s bitterness
over the manner his successor had shut him out
in running the state.
He said the situation had degenerated to the
point where Kwankwaso was no longer answering
calls from Ganduje or approving his request for
visit.
“He does not pick Ganduje’s calls, and whenever
the governor wants to see him, he will have to
bump into his office to do that, otherwise
Kwankwaso will not give him an appointment,” he
said.
It was Ganduje, according to the former official,
who had been striving to keep the relationship
from falling apart.
He disclosed that Kwankwaso did not intend to
pay a condolence visit to Ganduje over the death
of his mother, but was prevailed upon by some of
his loyalists to change his mind.
According to him, one of the issues that further
ruined the relationship between the governor and
his former boss was nominations for board
appointments, which the federal government
channeled through the state.
“Kwankwaso was not happy about it because he
considers himself the leader of the party in the
state. In addition to this, he was angered the
more by the way the governor allocated a few
slots to him,” he said.
He also mentioned a purported letter from
Ganduje to President Muhammadu Buhari,
appealing to him to consider a particular zone,
different from the zones where the state
governor and his deputy came from, when
appointing ministers.
“That request hurt Kwankwaso because his goal
was to be appointed the minister of the Federal
Capital Territory (FCT), hence heeding to it would
automatically deny him the post. But the
President made his choice.
“When Ganduje came in, he revoked plot
allocations that were done in the last minute of
the Kwankwaso administration. Some of the
allocations, which shouldn’t have been made at
all, were given to relatives and cronies. For
instance, he revoked the plots allocated in front
of the Kofar Mata Stadium, which everybody
supported.
“He also reduced the number of ministries and
stopped some projects and policies initiated by
Kwankwaso. Some of them were seen to be
aimed at feathering the nest of the former
governor’s 2015 presidential ambition, like the
issuance of thousands of job offers, free
education, etc,” he said.
The former aide said that all these, together with
what Kwankwaso regards as the abandonment of
90 per cent of reliable political allies who worked
for the success of the Kwankwaso/Ganduje tickets
over the years, have continued to eat at the
bonds between the two.
“Maybe Kwankwaso would have been
comfortable with a Ganduje that would seek his
advice and guidance before taking any major
decision in the state,” he added.
Another official who is close to the two sides,
however, supports Kwankwaso on the issue of
loyalists, saying Governor Ganduje should have
retained a significant number of them in his
government because their loyalty was not just to
Kwankwaso, but also to the administrations the
two had headed.
“I don’t blame Kwankwaso when he is fighting for
the party’s supporters to be carried along. Why
should you set out to destroy the achievements
of your former boss if you don’t want to court
trouble,” he said.
Suspension dangles over Kwankwaso
The state chapter of the APC has already said it
would investigate Kwankwaso over the unruly
conduct of his supporters during the visit to
Ganduje town.
Addressing journalists, the state chairman of the
party, Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa, accused
Kwankwaso and his supporters of exhibiting
unruly character during the condolence visit.
Doguwa said the party would formally lodge its
complaint to the APC national headquarters.
According to him, the political misconduct shown
by Kwankwaso’s supporters was childish and
unacceptable, and was not in conformity with the
religion, culture and norms of Kano people.
He alleged that during the visit, Kwankwaso
mobilised political thugs who stormed Ganduje
town, brandishing all sorts of dangerous weapons
and chanting anti-Ganduje slogans, thereby
politicising the condolence.
He said: “The APC and the Elders Committee in
the state were not informed about the former
governor’s visit, therefore, they condemned and
dissociated themselves from the unruly manner
and texture of the visit.”
He said many dignitaries had paid condolence
visits to Governor Ganduje, but no one behaved
the way the former governor and his supporters
did.
He said that as a peaceful party, the APC would
not condone such attitude in the state and would
not support any of its members to promote
disrespect to its leaders at all levels.
Doguwa added, “For the presidential campaign
started by Kwankwaso’s supporters, we wish to
categorically state that there is no vacancy for him
in 2019. Our loyalty and commitment is still to
President Muhammadu Buhari, and our leader in
Kano is Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. This is
the stand of the APC in Kano.”
Kwankwaso acted in good faith - Ally
However, in his reaction, a former chief of staff to
Kwankwaso, Dr. Yunusa Adamu Dangwani,
maintained that the senator made the
condolence visit in good faith. He frowned at what
he saw as a deliberate attempt to misinterpret
the former governor’s gesture.
He said Kwankwaso’s decision to stay away from
Kano since he handed over power to Ganduje has
been to enable him focus on the important
business of governance.
“Gentlemen of the press, since May 29, 2015 when
the then governor of Kano State, now the senator
representing Kano Central, Rabi’u Musa
Kwankwaso, handed over the mantle to Abdullahi
Umar Ganduje, the distinguished senator has not
visited Kano so as to give the new governor space
and time to settle down and consolidate on
successful programmes and projects of the APC.
“The news of the demise of Hajiya Fatimma Umar
Ganduje came to Senator Kwankwaso as a great
shock, which, according to traditional norms,
necessitated the visit to Kano. The visit was very
important, especially considering their close ties
as his former deputy for eight years and special
adviser as minister of defence. He, therefore,
found it pertinent to personally visit Kano to
condole with the governor, his family and the
people of Kano State.
“He deliberately gave a short notice for the visit,
but he was pleasantly surprised at the turnout of
the people of Kano to receive him.
“On this note, on behalf of Senator Kwankwaso,
we wish to use this opportunity to thank the
people of Kano for the show of support and
solidarity. We also commiserate with those who
lost loved ones, especially to fire outbreaks in our
markets and schools. We assure them that very
soon, Senator Kwankwaso will personally visit
Kano to commiserate with them. Against this
backdrop, at Ganduje town, we were surprised
that some local people brandished local weapons,
not minding the somber occasion. It is
unfortunate.
“It is, therefore, appalling that the good gesture of
Senator Kwankwaso has been mischievously
interpreted wrongly.
“It is apt at this juncture to call on the Kano State
government to concentrate on the enormous
challenges of governance and earn the respect of
the people,” he said.
But another political associate of Kwankwaso,
Alhaji Alin Jallaba, said it was wrong for the
former governor to politicise a condolence visit.
Jallaba, a die-hard supporter of Senator
Kwankwaso said: “Although I am an ardent
supporter of Kwankwaso, I totally condemn what
happened in Ganduje town during the former
governor’s visit. Such a visit should be peaceful.
What the Kwankwaso’s supporters did was
unfortunate.”
He alleged that the former governor directed his
close associates to mobilise youths from all the 44
local government areas of the state to receive him
at the airport, after which they proceeded to
Ganduje town for the condolence visit.
“I reliably gathered that text messages were sent
to the supporters of the former governor across
the state, inviting them to come to Mallam Aminu
Kano International Airport to receive him and
subsequently escort him to Ganduje town,”
Jallaba said.
He recalled that Kwankwaso occasionally came
out from his car and waved his supporters,
noting, “This is to tell you that he enjoyed and
supported what his supporters did.”
He, therefore, appealed to the executive of the
APC in the state to set up a disciplinary committee
to punish anybody who had a hand in the
incident.
But a senior security officer in the state told Daily
Trust on Sunday that Kwankwaso’s intention was
a low-key visit that would not ruffle any political
feathers.
“His security team had hinted us of the need to
make the visit secret, but his supporters got wind
of it and converged on the airport in their
thousands, two days before he set his foot in
Kano.
“When he finally arrived, traders closed shops and
people blocked roads to receive him,” he said.
When contacted, the state Commissioner for
Information, Alhaji Muhammad Garba, said he
could not comment on the issue because it was
purely a party affair.
“This is not a government affair; it is something
that concerns the ruling APC, and the party’s state
chairman has addressed the press on the matter,”
he said.
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