Why Ganduje mithers over Tinubu’s meeting with Kwankwaso
Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State was heard in a leaked audio expressing displeasure over last Monday’s meeting between his predecessor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in Paris, France.
The leaked audio contained a conversation between the governor and Ibrahim Kabiru Masari, Tinubu’s vice presidential place holder before the nomination of Kashim Shettima.
Why was Ganduje so concerned about the meeting?
Ganduje’s main fear was that Tinubu may opt to work with Kwankwaso, whose party, the NNPP, won the governorship election of the state.
Ganduje was heard whining that Tinubu wanted to take Kwankwaso as an ‘alternative’ to his (Ganduje’s) camp.
Ganduje was aknowledges as one of the politicians who stood by Tinubu all through the his efforts to clinch the presidency.
There was however a controversy about the genuineness of Ganduje’s lamentation after a Kano House of Reps-elect, Abdulmumin Jibrin, claimed that the governor was privy to the meeting between Tinibu and Kwankwaso.
Jibrin debunked Ganduje’s claim, saying the governor was consulted by Tinubu before his meeting with Kwankwaso.
Jibrin, a close ally of Kwankwaso who was part of the meeting in Paris, told journalists that Ganduje informed him of the matter before the Paris meeting.
Jibrin also confirmed that the governor told him that his only issue with Kwankwaso is how he always attacked him at every given opportunity.
“They were friends for decades but I personally told the governor that he is guilty of same and they can sort things out themselves while promising to convey his message to Kwankwaso,” Jibrin stated.
In the leaked audio which went viral on social media on Saturday, Ganduje was heard blaming Tinubu for not inviting him and his camp to the meeting, even if it was symbolic.
But Jibrin debunked the claim, saying the governor is economical with the truth.
“Ganduje personally informed me that president-elect, Bola Tinubu, consulted him about the meeting and asked whether he has an objection but he told him NO. It is therefore unfair for Ganduje to try to portray the president elect in a bad light,” Jibrin added.
But Kofa is a controversial politician whose words cannot be taken for granted.
Mischievous, exaggerated publicity?
Kano State government, through it information commissioner, Muhammad Garba, issued a statement that failed to say anything tangible on the issue. The statement failed to confirm or deny the authenticity of the leaked conversation. IT also failed to offer anyinsight on the the topic of discussion in the conversation.
It only said it was mischievous to lift a story from the said phone conversation between Governor Ganduje and Ibrahim Kabiru Masari.
Garba said the governor and the president-elect have since realised this mischievous attempt to cause disaffection between them, and would not allow the “sound working relationship which has been waxing stronger, particularly at this critical time to be destroyed by some self-centered individuals.”
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