From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Friday declared that his predessessor and esthwhile political associate, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso has been displaced in the turf of Kano politics, with the latest victory recorded by the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the just concluded state and National Assembly re-run in the state.
Ganduje who also congratulated Senator Kwankwaso’s father and the District Head of Madobi, Musa Saleh Kwankwaso for his elevation as Makaman Karaye (King Maker) by the Emir of Karaye, His Highness, Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar 11, said Senator Kwankwaso has been boxed to forceful retirement from politics.
Ganduje spoke while receiving the four re-elected APC members in the state House of Assembly who were led to Government House by the Speaker, Hon. Abdul’aziz Garba Gafasa with other Principal Officers of the House and the State APC Chairman, Prince Abbas Abdullahi.
The four re- elected lawmakers from Madobi, Bunkure, Minjibir and Rogo constituencies presented their Certificate of Return as awarded to them by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to Ganduje.
Ganduje particularly commended Hon. Kabiru Cunkoso of Madobi Constituency for defeating the PDP’s candidate in Senator Kwankwaso’s dormain, describing him as, “part of the pillars that pushed Kwankwaso aside politically.”
Ganduje added that his victory at the Supreme Court further shattered the Kwankwassiyya Political Movement.
According to him, “some years back, when he (Kwankwaso) was warming up to contest for presidential seat, he boasted that, he would retire President Muhammadu Buhari from politics. Saying also that he would retire me from politics. But if you look at it now, who then is forced to retire?”
Ganduje also took a swipe at Kwankwasoso for making some “unpalatable” remarks during the election period, pointing out that, “our style of politics is calculative and decent. I can therefore not follow his style, that is always castigating without any decorum. We respect people and we see respect and dignity in people. Ours is not like theirs.”
He, howevr, called on the re-elected House members to “always respect party leadership and be loyal to the party. We believe that the supremacy of the party should always be observed with all intent and purposes. You should make sure that you become loyal party members.”
Speaking on why APC failed to secure the seat of the House of Representatives member representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency, he said, “we couldn’t get that seat as a result of the crisis that rocked the party at the constituency.
“The APC candidate was in conflict with the leadership of the party in the state, in the local government, with the local government administration and even with the electorate. That caused us to lose the seat, as a party.”
“But even at that, the winner of the election, who came from the opposition PDP, was in the radio announcing his resolve to work hand in hand with the administration of President Buhari and Kano state government. This is commendable.
“Indeed, this was made possible because of the hands of friendship I extended to all, urging them to come and join hands with us to move the state forward in particular and the nation in general.
“We are happy to see that so many people including the just elected member of the House of Representatives, from Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency, Ali Datti Yako, heeds to the call.”
He, therefore, seized the opportunity to congratulate the father of Senator Kwankwaso, Alhaji Musa Kwankwaso for being elevated from Majidadin Karaye to the position of Makaman Karaye Emirate, a Kingmaker in the Emirate, saying that, “he deserved the position very well.
“He is our respectful father and an elder statesman. I am congratulating him on behalf of the government and people of Kano state.
“We pray that Allah gives him all assistance to allow him discharge all his assigned responsibilities very well. Our father is very hardworking and very close to his people. That, among others will help him perform wonderfully well.”
In his remarks Speaker Gafasa assured Ganduje that, the House has two over three of the members as APC, adding that, “we are comfortably that we have enough members to back and support any government policies for the overall development of the state.”
According to the Speaker, there are strong indications that more members of the House may soon decamp to APC, pointing out that, “they too believe in how this administration is fast developing the state. With this, I can say, our Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is doing very well for the overall development of the state.”
The APC Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas commended the electorate, “for finding the party candidates as worthy of being re-elected again, adding that, “APC will continue to be the best party in any future elections to come. We are determined, through our developmental projects and policies, to continue working towards sustainable development.”
