In a recent development, the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, has launched a scathing attack on the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso. The criticism centers around Kwankwaso’s alleged support for controversial building demolitions in Kano.
The criticism came to light through a viral video released on Monday, in which Ganduje addressed his loyalists and party supporters from Kano State. Speaking in Hausa, Ganduje accused Kwankwaso of backing the contentious demolition of buildings in the region. He further claimed that the demolition was an outlet for him and his political associate, Kano governor Abba Yusuf, to express their frustration while masquerading it as an effort to sanitize Kano’s master plan.
Ganduje went on to suggest that Kwankwaso’s aspirations for the position of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory were at the heart of these actions. He mocked Kwankwaso’s supposed lack of knowledge about the master plan and his desperation for political gain. The video, spanning two minutes and 28 seconds, has sparked a heated debate among supporters of both the NNPP and the APC, gaining traction on social media platforms.
In response to the video, the NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Major Agbo, urged that the party should not be drawn into the personal conflict between Ganduje and Kwankwaso. Agbo emphasized that the demolition decisions in Kano were solely within the jurisdiction of the governor and had no direct affiliation with the New Nigeria People’s Party.
On the other hand, the spokesperson for the NNPP Presidential Campaign Council, Ladipo Johnson, dismissed Ganduje’s comments as an attempt to regain relevance. Johnson downplayed Ganduje’s significance and suggested that the APC chairman’s words were of little consequence.
This incident comes against the backdrop of the anticipation surrounding the unveiling of ministerial nominees for President Bola Tinubu’s proposed government of national unity. Prior to the announcement, there were high hopes that Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, along with former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and other opposition party leaders, would play prominent roles. While Wike and a few others secured spots on the list of nominees, Kwankwaso’s name was notably absent, further fueling political speculation.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, this clash between prominent figures serves as a testament to the tensions and rivalries underlying Nigeria’s political arena.
