I’m Ganduje’s godfather, he can’t even look straight into my eyes

The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, in the 2023 general election and former governor of Kano, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has described the immediate-past governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje, as his political son who can’t look directly into his eyes.

Mr Kwankwaso stated this while responding to threats by Mr Ganduje to slap him if he met at the Presidential Villa on Friday.

Messrs Kwankwaso and Ganduje were at the villa on Friday, and separately briefed President Bola Tinubu on the recent developments in the state.

Speaking to the BBC Hausa service on Saturday, Mr Kwankwaso said the former governor was confused when he made the comment.

“I heard that he [Ganduje] saying he would slap me, but it’s an empty threat. He was just confused. These are all my boys politically. They can’t even look at me straight on the face if we meet. He was in a confused state when he said that. If they see me, they would lower their gaze,” he said.

The former presidential candidate added that the president was shocked when he informed him of the atrocities committed by the Ganduje administration.

“Some people went and lied to him [Tinubu], but when I revealed the truth of the matter to him, he was shocked. He was surprised that a governor could sell a department in a university, demolish it, and build a plaza for himself”.

He also alleged that the former governor sold plots of land belonging to the Kano Race Course, Hajj Camp, and Eid Ground to family members and cronies.

Reacting to the allegations that the state government didn’t give adequate notice before the commencement of the demolition exercise, Mr Kwankwaso said the incumbent governor was only fulfilling his campaign promises.