The governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, has blasted a group of Kano politicians who wrote a petition to the national headquarters of the ruling APC on how he allegedly mismanages the affairs of the party in the state.
The group of aggrieved lawmakers, under the auspices of Joint Stakeholders Forum, and led by Senator Ibrahim Shekarau (APC-Kano Central), had written a petition on Wednesday to the APC headquarters, alleging that they had been sidelined despite investing to the success of the party.
According to them, despite helping APC to win elections in 2019, the party started to plunge into “devastating problems mainly as a result of the failure of the leadership of the party to manage the divergent interests of the party members and leaders.”
Reacting to their allegations, Mr Ganduje said the aggrieved politicians don’t believe in the party structure since they rejected the party leadership from ward to state level.
The governor said for people who do not believe in the ward and local government congresses, it means that they do not en believe in the delegates who elected them.
In allusion to Mr Shekarau, the governor said, “Is it fair for a leader to utter this? A leader who said he was never consulted to this kind of gathering, where decisions were taken?”
Mr Ganduje wondered why they were scapegoating him, after failing to deliver goodies to the people they represent.
Mr Ganduje allegedly that aggrieved group members had failed to bring the “the money they collected in Abuja” to their constituents.
“You have failed to deliver good projects to your constituents and you are facing problems then you accused me of your travails?
“The money you are collecting in Abuja has not come down to your constituents, and then you’re blaming me? You’re taking me as scapegoat to your problems?,” the governor asked rhetorically.
The governor thanked Mr Gaya and other lawmakers for being loyal to him, saying “I’m always with you too”.
Speaking earlier, the majority leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Doguwa, also lambasted the group, saying “as far as the true stakeholders of the party is concerned, there is no crisis within the party.”
Mr Doguwa, who represents Tudunwada/Doguwa Federal Constituency, wondered why the aggrieved group would accuse Mr Ganduje of running APC alone, while the governor carried everybody along in decision making.
According to him, any party member who said crisis would engulf the APC is not a true partyman.
He added that the governor is not in any way interfering with the party affairs at local and ward levels.
He urged the governor to take decisive measures against the accusations of the aggrieved group, saying the governor has been “too patient and tolerant.”
The House Leader noted that it was Mr Ganduje’s tolerance that tempted some members of the party to test his patience.
“If I may tell you, I’m sure Governor Ganduje doesn’t know the party leaders in my local government. This is because he has left the affairs of the party in the hands of the leaders without interference.
“Your Excellency, as far as we are concerned, you don’t have any problem. Your only problem is that you are too patient and tolerant. I want you to allow us to do the fight for you,” he stated.
Reading out the petition written by the Shekarau-led group, Mr Doguwa described their action as unfortunate, calling on all and sundry to be patient with one another in a bid to take the party to success in 2023.
Mr Doguwa, who restated that he is 100 percent with Mr Ganduje, added that they are ready to obey whatever the governor decides.
On his part, Kabiru Gaya, senator representing Kano South, said he decided to pull out of the Shekarau group because he could not fight the governor that supported him to become a senator.
He recalled that when he was a governor, he was obeyed and followed by his politicians.
Mr Gaya said it would be foolhardy for him to be a party to a group that writes a petition against his governor.
He called on the aggrieved group to come forward to apologize to the governor and the party.
