Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has waded into the Kwankwaso debate. Speaking from Saudi Arabia where he's performing Hajj, the former APC chairman insisted that Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was his political protégé.
Ganduje's chief of staff, Comrade Muhammad Garba, released a statement on Friday spelling out the ex-governor's position. He emphasized that mentorship and support form the backbone of politics in Nigeria.
According to Ganduje, he played a crucial role in Kwankwaso's rise to prominence. This included backing his entry into the House of Representatives and his emergence as Deputy Speaker.
"I also have the right to say Kwankwaso was once my political boy because I supported him and helped him rise to important positions," Ganduje stated in the statement. He recalled that during his time working in Abuja and Kano, Kwankwaso frequently visited his offices to discuss political strategy.
Ganduje urged Nigerian politicians to move past labels like "godfather" and "political son." He argued that focus should shift to leadership quality and genuine development for citizens instead.
He then reflected on the 1998 political moment in Kano state. Ganduje had won the governorship primary but stepped aside for unity, agreeing to become Kwankwaso's running mate.
Despite later tensions, both men collaborated for Kano's development between 1999 and 2003. They worked together again from 2011 to 2015, Ganduje noted.
Turning to Abba Kabir Yusuf, Ganduje acknowledged that the current Kano governor once served under him. However, Yusuf now holds elected office and merits the respect that comes with it, he added.
Ganduje called on Kano's political class to pull back from divisive rhetoric. Peace and unity in the state must take priority, he concluded.
