The rivalry between two political heavyweight in Kano politics has casted a shadow over Kano state. Once are inseparable comrades working together where at early stage of feud many not believed there would be antagonism between them.
Other viewed the rivalry as stage manage to divert their followers attention. Looking at the way both denying of the existed cracked between them until 2019, when kwankwaso perceived his followers can voted Ganduje in the election of that year by anointed his political godson to contested gubernatorial seat under PDP but Ganduje defeated him which to UAG and supporters attributed the defeat not for AYK but to his political godfather RMK.
The spilled over to the last election won by Kwankwaso’s NNPP, led to witch-hunt targeting Ganduje, anything and everybody around him has continued unabated.
The demolition spree at Filin Idi,Daula, race recourse and other places has escalated tensions further. There are allegations that the government is not just undermining former administration of Ganduje but sponsoring some of unpleasant issues again him.
Despite the potshots thrown at him, Ganduje has remained unshakeable, and ignored threats from the state government to drag him and his family to the mud or court of public opinion despite the embarrassment caused them. The NNPP led government in Kano aimed to pull him down at all cost, which has been perceived as vendetta and a fall-out of the Ganduje-Kwankwaso feud.
Dr Ganduje and his family was also embroiled in litigations with the Kano State government, after the latter dragged the family to court over corruption related issues.
For the first time in the history of the state a state governor took his predecessor, family to court over the misappropriation of public funds.
As political observer in the nation political space UAG became vulnerable to political conspiracies from home front by his political foes, and used paid fake party officials
from his ward to suspended him when the genuine party officials in his ward distance themselves. The ward party rebels were obviously acting out a script, judging by the antecedents of such dramas in the nation political space.
State party, chairman Abdullahi Abbas, dismissed the suspension as invalid, null and void. Those who called themselves the authentic leadership of the party in the ward also denounced Magwanjo as an impostor and affirmed the continued membership of Mr Ganduje and their confidence in his leadership.
So who wrote the script for the fake ward party officials seeking to suspend Ganduje? Who sponsor unsubstantiated court case against his leadership? Why NNPP-led state government of orchestrating the drama.
As God’s destiny made him the National Chairman of the ruling party the second most important position in the party after president office without lobbying for it.
As it’s appear at the end of Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s tenure,he was not keen in joining the ranks of outgoing governors of the ruling party desperation to be part of president Tinubu led cabinets. From his body language it’s seem like want to have a deserving rest at the expired of his tenure by embarked on sabbatical Leave.
In August last year, the National Executive Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) confirmed the former Governor of Kano State, as the national chairman of the party. Following the resignation of Abdullahi Adamu, resigned as the National chairman.
The choice of Ganduje wasn’t far-fetched, the party needed someone in his mould who could steady the ship of the party in a seamless and crisis-free manner, while taking various interests into cognizance.
Speaking after his emergence, Ganduje assured that his main focus would be to promote party unity, defending and increasing the number of executive and legislative seats the party currently holds.
“It’s a huge privilege and an honour and a great responsibility to take on this job and I will do it with everything I have to the best of my ability for my party and my country. We will ensure a level playing field for all party members that want to contest elections under the party’s platform. Our primary elections would be free, transparent and fair.
“Under my watch, internal democracy will be strictly adhered to with a deliberate policy to engage in wider consultations and make the party functional throughout the year
It was Dr Ganduje current National Chairman of the ruling party and former Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State were the first APC governors in Northern Nigeria to openly support Mr Tinunu’s presidential ambition. They were instrumental in persuading their governor colleagues on power rotation to the south, which made it easier for Mr Tinubu to pick the APC ticket and become president.
His bond with Mr president is believed to have began before the APC primaries. In March 2021, the then Kano state Executive Governor hosted Mr Tinubu’s 12th birthday colloquium in Conoration Hall at the state House kano.
While national chairman battle is still raging at home front perfected by NNPP led government. They went ahead to use some disgruntled members of the party who initiated the legal action at the FCT High Court of Justice has joined the fray in dragging the APC chairman to court for “illegal stay in office.
Based their grouse on a zonal arrangement “agreed” to at their 2022 national convention that ceded the national chairmanship position to the North-Central. Ganduje is from the North-West.
At this point only time will tell if Mr president will reciprocate Ganduje’s decision to stood for Tinubu when several northern politicians and governors worked against him in the buildup to the 2023 general election.
It was Dr Ganduje and former Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State were the first APC governors in Northern Nigeria to openly support Mr Tinunu’s presidential ambition and were instrumental in persuading their governor colleagues on power rotation to the south, which made it easier for Mr Tinubu to pick the APC ticket and become president.
His bond with Mr president is believed to have began before the APC primaries. In March 2021, the then Kano state Executive Governor hosted Mr Tinubu’s 12th birthday colloquium in conoration Hall at the state House kano.
Why Ganduje’s visible and invisible foes going extra miles to pull him out of the office, but remain unfazed assured his led NWC and his supporters that his suspension was fabricated and he understood it. Any attempt for removing him as APC chairman will fail and he will remain as the chairman and assured his supporters that the president is ‘solidly’ behind him in the ongoing drama.
A question need an answer if Mr president Can stand for Gabduje’s head. May likely Mr president will stand by Abdullahi Ganduje, as the national chairman of the party to reciprocate Ganduje’s gesture and costly decision for stood with Asuwaju when no one wants to be identified with him for the fears of then Cabal in Aso Villa. Let visible and invisible foes of Ganduje leave him alone to continue serving the party as some of the foes are not in the same party with him. While some disgruntled members of the party are doing other dirty jobs. Only Time will tell, in spite In politics there is no permanent friend but permanent interest.
Fouad writes in from Katsina can be reached at [email protected]
