Leaked audio: Ganduje unhappy with Tinubu, Kwankwaso’s meeting in Paris

About nine days before the inauguration of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, as the successor of the President, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, a leaked audio has surfaced which indicated that Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje is infuriated by the meeting between Tinubu and the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Progressives Party in the 2023 presidential election, Rabiu Kwankwaso, which held in Paris, France.

Ganduje known to be one of the loyalists of the President-elect was recorded venting his anger about the meeting.

The PUNCH had reported that the duo met in Paris in preparation for the start of the new administration and were reported to have resolved to hold subsequent meetings as they could not conclude on that day.

Meanwhile, Ganduje reportedly had a phone conversation about the meeting with the former vice presidential candidate (placeholder) of All Progressives Congress, Ibrahim Masari in the leaked audio published by Daily Nigerian.

Ganduje was heard expressing his grouse about the meeting, stating that Tinubu was unfair to him for meeting with his rival Kwankwaso.

However, Masari, in the telephone conversation, urged Ganduje to keep calm and not be angered by the situation at hand. 

He also noted that Tinubu’s move to see Kwankwaso behind them was a wrong signal that could prevent people from trusting him. 

Ganduje further referred to the fallout between Kwankwaso and ex-President Goodluck Jonathan over issues bordering on corruption.

Confirming the antecedent of the meeting between Tinubu and Kwanwaso, Masari said, “I spoke with Mr President earlier and I lamented to him about the issue.

He (Tinubu) told me that it was SLS [Sanusi Lamido Sanusi] who arranged the meeting through Gilbert Chagoury (a Franco-Lebanese business tycoon and ally of Mr Tinubu). 

“And I asked whether you were informed before the meeting, and he (Tinubu) said no. I will adequately brief you when we meet, you know phone calls are not safe. Just keep exhibiting your maturity by keeping mum,” he added.