Abubakar Siddiq Ibn Usman
Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has dismissed claims by Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso portraying him as a political subordinate, insisting that political relationships should be built on mutual respect while urging the former governor to accord the same respect to Abba Kabir Yusuf.
In a statement released on Friday through his Chief of Staff, Muhammad Garba, Ganduje argued that political careers are shaped by mutual support and mentorship, making it inappropriate to reduce long-standing relationships to claims of superiority.
The former Kano governor, who is currently in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage, said he played a significant role in Kwankwaso’s early political advancement, particularly during the period that led to Kwankwaso’s emergence as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
According to the statement, Ganduje provided political, moral and financial backing to Kwankwaso during that phase of his career and could, by the same logic, have described the former governor as his own political protégé.
Ganduje also reflected on their earlier interactions, recalling that before Kwankwaso’s rise in politics, he frequently visited him while he served in senior government positions, including as a top civil servant in the Federal Capital Territory and later as Kano State Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport.
He maintained that political leaders should avoid reviving narratives that distract from governance and development, stressing that citizens expect elected officials to focus on addressing public concerns rather than engaging in personal political disputes.
The former APC chairman further revisited events surrounding the 1998 governorship primaries in Kano State. He claimed that many party stakeholders believed he had won the contest but that senior political figures persuaded him to step aside in the interest of unity and accept the position of deputy governorship candidate alongside Kwankwaso.
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Despite those developments, Ganduje noted that both men went on to work closely together, serving as governor and deputy governor between 1999 and 2003 and later collaborating again from 2011 to 2015.
He also referenced the political journey of Abba Kabir Yusuf, noting that although the governor once served as a personal assistant to Kwankwaso, he now occupies the state’s highest political office and deserves the respect associated with that position.
Ganduje argued that leadership should not be measured by claims of dominance over others, adding that it is natural for individuals who receive guidance and support to eventually attain greater influence or prominence than their mentors.
He called on political leaders and their supporters across Kano State to avoid inflammatory remarks capable of deepening divisions, urging them instead to promote peace, unity and development.
The former governor also appealed for calm among supporters of different political camps, warning against reactions that could escalate tensions following the recent exchange of comments between the two prominent Kano politicians.
Agency News
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