KANO SUPREMACY BATTLE: Ganduje replies Kwankwaso, recalls ‘paying the bills’ for his early rise
The long-standing political rivalry between two of Kano State’s most prominent political figures took a fresh turn on Friday, as the former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, fired back at Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.
Ganduje declared that Kwankwaso was once his political “boy” too, cautioning politicians against distorting history or reducing enduring political relationships to simplistic “master-boy” dynamics.
Reacting from the Holy Land where he is currently performing the Hajj pilgrimage, Ganduje spoke through a statement issued by his Chief of Staff, Comrade Muhammad Garba.
The former Kano State governor stressed that politics is built on mutual relationships, sacrifice, and mentorship, noting that no major political player achieved success without receiving a helping hand along the way.
READ ALSO: Kwankwaso rebukes Gov. Yusuf, says ‘Even Ganduje was once my boy’
In the statement, Ganduje recalled playing a pivotal role in Kwankwaso’s early political ascent, particularly during the National Assembly election that culminated in Kwankwaso emerging as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“At that time, Ganduje could confidently have referred to Kwankwaso as his political boy, having supported him morally, financially, and stood by him during that period,” the statement read.
“He used to wait hours in my office”
Going further down memory lane, the statement revealed that before their executive partnership, while Ganduje was serving as a senior civil servant in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and later as the Commissioner for Works, Housing, and Transport in Kano State, Kwankwaso frequently visited his offices in Abuja and Kano, sometimes waiting for hours to see him.
“It is therefore unnecessary and immaterial for leaders to introduce such narratives into contemporary political discussions, especially at a time when citizens expect attention to be focused on governance and progressive politics,” Ganduje stated.
The truth about the 1998 primaries
Ganduje also revisited the events of the 1998 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial primaries in Kano, asserting that it was common knowledge among stakeholders that he won the contest.
However, he explained that elder statesmen and senior political figures—some of whom are still alive—appealed to him to step down in the interest of party unity and accept the slot of deputy governorship candidate alongside Kwankwaso.
Despite that sacrifice, Ganduje noted that both men went on to forge a successful working relationship as governor and deputy governor during two terms (1999–2003 and 2011–2015) as friends, political associates, and partners driven by the development of Kano State.
Defending Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf
In an interesting twist, the former APC national chairman also jumped to the defense of the current Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Ganduje pointed out that although Governor Yusuf once served as Kwankwaso’s Personal Assistant (PA), he is today the duly elected governor of the state and deserves to be treated with the utmost respect and dignity, even by his former political bosses.
“Politics should not be about who is superior to the other. A father can nurture a child who eventually becomes greater in status and influence. That is the natural progression of leadership and human relationships,” Ganduje added.
Rounding off, the former governor urged political actors in Kano State to eschew divisive rhetoric and instead channel their energy into issues that promote unity, peace, and sustainable development.
He also appealed to supporters across different political parties to remain calm and resist the urge to spark inflammatory debates over the recent friction between the state’s political heavyweights.
