Former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has reacted to comments attributed to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, saying that Kwankwaso was once his political protégé.
Ganduje, in a statement issued from Saudi Arabia by his chief of staff, Comrade Muhammad Garba, where the former governor is performing the Hajj, 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 prominent role in Kwankwaso’s early political emergence, especially his election into the House of Representatives and his rise to become Deputy Speaker.
The statement quoted him as saying: “I also have the right to say that Kwankwaso was once my political boy because I supported him and helped him rise to important positions.
Kwankwaso would often visit his offices to discuss politics when he was working in Abuja and Kano before that time, Ganduje said.
The former governor also urged politicians to refrain from using labels like “godfather” and “political son”, stressing that the focus should be on the quality of leadership and development of the people.
He also recalled the political developments in Kano in 1998 when he won the governorship primary but stepped down in the interest of unity and agreed to be Kwankwaso’s deputy.
“The statement said that even though they later had political disagreements, Ganduje and Kwankwaso worked together for the development of Kano State between 1999 and 2003, and again between 2011 and 2015.
Ganduje said that though Yusuf once served under him, he is now the elected governor of Kano and deserves respect by virtue of the office he occupies.
Ganduje urged politicians and their supporters in Kano to shun making statements that would further polarise the state and called for peace and unity.
