Ganduje: ‘Kwankwaso was once my political boy’

Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, a former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has responded to statements credited to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, stating that Kwankwaso had been his political protégé.

In a statement issued from Saudi Arabia by his chief of staff, Comrade Muhammad Garba, where the former governor is performing the Hajj, Ganduje said the allegation was false.

Ganduje said politics is based on relationships, support and mentorship, adding that every successful politician receives assistance from others at some point in their career, according to the statement.

He said he played a major role in Kwankwaso’s early political rise, especially during his election into the House of Representatives and his subsequent emergence as Deputy Speaker.

He was quoted in the statement as saying: “I too have the right to say that Kwankwaso was once my political boy because I supported him and helped him to rise to important positions.

Ganduje also said that before that period, when he was working both in Abuja and Kano, Kwankwaso often visited his offices to discuss politics.

The former governor also urged politicians to stop using labels such as “godfather” and “political son”, adding that the focus should be on the quality of leadership and development of the people.

He also recalled the 1998 political developments in Kano where he won the governorship primary at the time but stepped down in the interest of unity and agreed to serve as Kwankwaso’s deputy.

It added that although they later had political differences, Ganduje and Kwankwaso worked together for the development of Kano State between 1999 and 2003, and again between 2011 and 2015.

Ganduje said although Yusuf once served under him, he is now the elected governor of Kano and deserves respect by virtue of the office he holds.

Ganduje urged politicians and their supporters in Kano to avoid utterances capable of deepening division, calling for peace and unity in the state.