As far as Nigeria politics is concerned, Kano State would continue to play a leading and strategic role in the calculations of political gladiators, whose ambitions are beyond state politics. The reason for this insinuation is not far-fetched; Kano State remains the most populous in terms of vote’s delivery.
The state’s numerical endowment has automatically placed it to be a determinant arena to be sought by any serious politician seeking national attention.
This therefore, means neglecting Kano’s electorate would definitely have deeper consequences of unpalatable proportion to any potential presidential aspirant. In like manner, no incumbent state chief executive would fold his arms for some people to seize the control of the political party he represents and rode to power.
Perhaps it was for that reason all the political parties were unanimous in principle to jettison the control of their respective political parties to the dictates of the president at the centre and to the Governors at the state levels.
Meanwhile, at present, the All Progressive Congress (APC) Kano State Chapter is embroiled in a messy internal feud that is threatening the survival and chances of the party in the State, come 2023, if immediate and fundamental action is not taken by the national body of APC.
The internal wrangling came to public glare when the APC Congress conducted in the state tore the party apart. As the saying goes: In politics no permanent enemy, no permanent friend, but permanent interest.
At the end of the congress, two factional chairmen emerged, following which the Ganduje’s camp produced Abdullahi Abbas as its chairman of the party, while the break-away faction led by Senator Ibrahim Shekarau has Alh. Ahmadu Haruna Danzago as its chairman.
However, any keen of Kano politics should by now be conscious of the fact that the major reason why the senator Shekarau’s camp decided to break-away from the Ganduje’s camp was predicated up on the glaring political romance between Governor Gandjue and the National leader of the All Progress Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Obliviously, the Shekarau camp is indifferent and not comfortable with the Ganduje’s support towards Tinubu’s speculated 2023 presidential ambition. Perhaps they perceived it to be an albatross to their political interest come 2023. Evidently, this clash of interest remains behind the polarisation of the APC in the state, which led to the conduct of an analogous congress of the party.
The mostly Abuja based politicians of the Shekarau camp are claiming exclusion of their members when it comes to taking major decisions of the APC in Kano State, as the reason for their disgruntled action.
However, most APC stalwarts in the state have distanced themselves from such accusations as claimed by the Shekarau faction. Hajiya. Fatima Abdullahi Dala the APC Women leader in the state had averred; “Governor Ganduje can’t risk to sideline a critical stakeholder such as senator Shekarau, who was a two time Governor of the state.”
She added that, being an experienced, focused and strategic political player of over 40 years; during the count-down to the 2019 political contest in the state, in his wisdom Ganduje extended hands of fraternity to all interest groups as well as high profile political gladiators within the boundaries of Kano State.
It was that strategy that helped in giving him the needed edge against his rivals which ultimately ensured victory for the APC both at the State and national levels.
As for senator Shekarau, who is today leading the break-away faction against the Ganduje camp; the facts are there for all to see that Governor Ganduje did not only encourage senator Shekarau to vie for the senatorial seat against the ambition of more popular candidates.
Governor Ganduje was in fact responsible for the purchase of Shekarau’s APC aspirant form as well as shouldering the entire logistics and expenses of the senator’s campaign to the last day. Despite all the above, Governor Ganduje continued to accord senator Shekarau the respect he deserved as a former Governor.
Also, the State Government usually involved him in all matters and programmes relating to government decisions and policies. This being so, where is the justification or evidence to convince the people out there that the APC in Kano as led by Governor Ganduje are sidelining senator Shekarau and his co-travelers in the scheme of the party affairs in the State.
If truth must be told, as stated in the beginning of this piece, all incumbent governors, not only that of the APC but in other platforms are the leaders of their respective political parties in their states. In this circumstance, why would that of Kano State be different? It is an open secret that as far as the political terrain of Nigeria is concerned; the president is considered as the leader of his political platform, he has the powers to influence any decision relating to his political party; while the governors also remain the deciding voices on whose tables the final decision ends.
It is also true that the governors are partly responsible for the funding of their party’s financial expenditure. Meanwhile, most members of the APC especially that of Kano State are viewing the feud between the Ganduje’s camp and the so called G-7 faction led by senator Ibrahim Shekarau, as a grand design by some disgruntled APC elements both within Kano and Abuja who are indifferent with Ganduje’s political romance with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
It is evidently clear that the breakaway faction of the APC in Kano State (G-7) is all about going against the glaring new frontiers Tinubu is opening in Kano State to advance his speculated presidential ambition with the active support of Governor Ganduje.
It is therefore, apparent that those against Bola Tinubu’s speculated presidential ambition are behind the APC crisis in Kano State. However, I am not only voicing out my view-point as a public and political commentator, I have also dug deep to further investigate and sample the opinion of political pundits in Kano, to obtain informed and reliable information relating to the Kano APC crisis.
I was in Kano last week to commiserate with the Director General (DG) Research and Documentation Directorate, Kano Governor’s Office over the demise of his father. (May his soul rest in peace), I used the opportunity to extract vital information – a handful of high ranking government officials informed me that; Ganduje’s support for senator Bola Tinubu is predicated on the need for continuity at the centre; coupled with his sterling performance when he was the Governor of Lagos State.
One of my confidants asked rhetorically; ‘if Ganduje has said his mind and openly supports the ambition of senator Bola Tinubu, is that an offence or justification for the attempt to decimate the party in the state?”
At this juncture, I will like to commend the sincerity of support extended to Governor Ganduje before and in the prevailing circumstances, by his Commissioner for Information Hon. Muhammad Garba, that of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Murtala Sule Garo, as well as the Commissioner for Rural and Community Development, Hon. Musa Iliyasu Kwankwaso as well as the Speaker Kano House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Hamisu Ibrahim Chidari.
These gentlemen have been resilient, vociferous and unflinching in their support to Ganduje, they stood and were counted upon during Ganduje’s trying moment.
Finally, if Governor Ganduje was able to keep Kano State and its 20million population peaceful despite its enormous cosmopolitan nature, I don’t think controlling the affairs of the APC family in the State should constitute any stumbling block; but for the incursion of fifth columnists and external manipulations. As for the ongoing court cases and the position of APC National Body? No comment.
Mohammed Isa Bilal writes from Jos, Plateau State. 08167989085
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