By Nurat Uthman
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has claimed that the continuous attacks on the reputation of the party’s National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, in Kano State, may have resulted in the failure of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigerian People’s Party, to secure a position in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
There were speculations prior to the announcement of Tinubu’s ministerial nominees that Kwankwaso would likely be given a role in his government, due to the close relationship between the two after the presidential election. However, Kwankwaso was not included in the list of Tinubu’s ministerial nominees, while Nyesom Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, was given a position.
Bala Ibrahim, the Director of Publicity of the APC, stated in an interview with journalists on Sunday that he believes the attacks on Ganduje’s achievements in Kano State by Governor Abba Yusuf of the NNPP and Kwankwaso’s political protégé may have influenced Tinubu’s decision to not appoint Kwankwaso as a minister.
Ibrahim said, “Kwankwaso has a significant influence in Kano politics. However, the way his Kwankwasiyya movement conducts itself has led to a gradual decline in support for Kwankwaso. This is due to the disruption and chaos that the movement brings into Kano politics and, consequently, Nigerian politics.
“The President must have taken into consideration the public’s opinion and evaluated the importance and implementation of his policies, particularly his efforts to win the support of the people of Kano. One cannot disregard the political maturity, intelligence, and experience of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje when it comes to politics in Kano.
“If we compare the two on a fair scale, the political influence of Ganduje surpasses that of Kwankwaso. I believe the President must have consulted individuals who would provide him with honest and sincere advice, individuals who accurately assess the political climate of the state, rather than those who are misled by the chaos caused by the Kwankwasiyya movement. It is in this context that I believe the President made the decision not to underestimate Ganduje.”
However, the Kwankwaso camp criticized the APC for attempting to tarnish their leader’s image. In response to the accusation, Major Agbo, the NNPP National Publicity Secretary, stated that the APC does not deserve their attention.
Agbo said, “Some of these issues are not worth the party’s response at the moment. Kwankwaso has already addressed the matter directly.”
