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  • ‘Your defection not a Surprise’

    Kano State Government on Tuesday described the defection of the immediate-past Deputy Governor of the state, Prof.  Hafiz Abubakar, from the All Progressive Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as long overdue.

    A Statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information, Youths and Culture, Malam Muhammad Garba, noted that, “we are aware of the event at Mambayya House on Tuesday when the former Deputy Governor finally revealed to the world his political betrayals in about three years in office as the Deputy Governor of Kano state and the Commissioner for Education.

    “To discernable minds, there is no doubt that the contentments of the 9-page text of Press Conference, painstakingly read out by Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, is not only laughable, but filled with ambiguity and confusion.”

    The statement further noted that, “for Prof. Hafiz to dissociate himself from his chairmanship of the 2015 Kano Gubernatorial Transition Committee, the findings and pronouncements he made, is a clear indication that he no longer has a mind of his own.

    Read Also: Much ado about defection

    “Going by his acclaimed political pedigree, one would have expected that Prof. Hafiz resigned his position long ago for what he described as, “political persecution and humiliation.”

    Kano State Government stressed further that, “It is kind enough of Prof. Hafiz to confirm that he was paid his entitlements even when he chose to abandon his service to the good people of Kano state and humanity.”

    According to the statement, “There is no gains saying the fact that Prof. Hafiz hurriedly left office in anticipation of a constitutional sledgehammer from Kano State House of Assembly, over his strong antagonism to policies of the State Government that have direct impact on the standard of living of the good people of Kano.”

    The Statement added that, “Finally, we wish Prof. Hafiz well in the voyage of his godfather, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, as we welcome his final exit from our great party,  the All Progressive Congress (APC), as a good omen.”

  • ‘My loyalty to Kwankwaso, responsible for my persecution’

    The former deputy governor of Kano state, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar on Tuesday in Kano dismissed claims by the state government, that he was paid over N120 million as his entitlements at one point in time.

    Abubakar, who was visibly angered by the claims, while speaking to reporters in reaction to the purported claims, said that “ my persecution by the Ganduje’s led administration was as a result of my unflinching loyalty to my political God-father, senator Rabi’u Musa Kwamkwaso which was perceived as divided loyalty by the Governor and his group’’

    According to him, all the recent claims by the spokesman of the government, Mallam Muhammad Garba are all tissue of lies and falsehood, fabricated to dent his integrity and that of his immediate family. Stressing that, it is unfortunate how or why his family should be dragged into the state’s polity.

    He however, challenged the state government to produce any document that would back their claims that, he, received the said amount and others as been claimed, pointing out that, it is on record that, those said amounts legitimately allocated for his office and official trips, were often not released to him as he often had to lodge in hotels with his entourage from his personal pocket, while on officials assignments.

    Read Also: Kwankwaso has lost political relevance – Ganduje

    “At the beginning some of the approvals were backed by cash while some just barely funded. But as time goes on both the ministry of education which was under my office and the office of the deputy governor began to suffer the worst of cash stiffing and starvation.

    The gimmick employed was to give approvals to almost all our request but withhold cash release. This creates the impression that all is well and that my ministry is fully funded by show casing approvals with no cash backing.

    “Later the cash blocked started migrating to the Deputy Governor’s office extending even into my legitimate rights as deputy governor. My DTA and that of my convoy for official trip began to suffer systematic blockade in the same manner approvals are given with no cash backing’’

    ‘’The allowances would accumulate before government selectively decide which to pay and which not to pay. In between, I had to source for funds elsewhere for myself and staff for most of my official tris then wait for months before reimbursement. As such, the state government is owing me over N 100 million.

    That, in view of the recent events which led to his sudden resignation, the former deputy governor, has officially announced his defection from the Ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), into the People Democratic Party (PDP)

     

  • Kano deputy Governor, Hafiz Abubakar resigns

    …as 31 House members sign his impeachment notice  

    The Deputy Governor of Kano State, Professor Hafiz Abubakar, on Sunday resigned his position on the platform of the ruling, All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He resigned following  hints that 31 members of the state House of Assembly, signed his impeachment notice, which would be tabled before the house on Monday.

    Abubakar  has been having a running battle with his boss over issues bordering on loyalty between the Gandujiyya and Kwankwasiyya group of his intention to resign his position.

    In a letter, dated August 1, 2018, addressed to the Governor, Dr Abduallahi Umar Ganduje, Professor Hafiz said” : I would desire to remain up to the end of our tenure in order to fulfill the aspirations and expectations of the good people of Kano State, as expressed in their joint ticket in 2015.

    ”But with the current and persistent   irreconcilable differences on matters relating to governance and government operations, personal opinions and the concept of, and  respect for democratic  ideals and values, it would be unfair to my conscience to the good people of Kano State and  you, as the head of the Government to continue to remain in my position as the Deputy Governor.”

    Abubakar, a University Professor was said to have resigned his position and will join his political godfather, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the ruling APC.

    The deputy governor of Kano State has personally refuted speculations that he had defected from the  APC to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

    The Nation earlier reported that speculations were rife in the state last Wednesday that the academic and a Professor in Nutrition at Bayero University Kano, will quit his office.

    Abubakar has been under pressure from the governor’s loyalists to resign or face impeachment.

  • Flood kills one person, destroys 40 houses in Kano state

    A heavy rainfall on Thursday claimed the life of one person and destroyed over 40 houses in Dambatta local government area of Kano state.

    The down pour which started around 4:00 p.m and lasted for four hours, also destroyed  properties worth millions of Naira.

    The local government Councillor (Danbatta East), Abdullahi Sani Dambatta, confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Friday.

    He said the one person that lost his life died as a result of building collapse at Unguwar Makafi.

    He said areas affected by the disaster include Bakin Kasuwa and Abattoir area in the town.

    He said the local government Council chairman, Alhaji Idris Haruna Zago had visited the affected areas with a view to assessing the damage caused by the flood.

    “Many of the residents have been rendered homeless as a results of the flooding,” the Councillor.

    He called on the local government Council and the state government to come to the aid of the victims.

    When contacted, the Executive Secretary of the state Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation Agency (SERERA), Alhaji Ali Bashir confirmed the incident saying the agency would dispatch its staff to the local government to assess the situation.

    “I have just been informed about the incident and we have concluded arrangement to send our people to assess the situation with a view to bringing a comprehensive report to the state government. (NAN)

  • Excitement as Saraki, Tambuwal, Ortom, Kwankwaso, others attend PDP NEC

    There was excitement on Thursday at the Abuja national secretariat of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki attended the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

    It was the first NEC meeting Saraki would be attending since his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP last Tuesday.

    Also in attendance were the Governors Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Samuel Ortom of Sokoto and Benue States respectively. Similarly, former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Senator Barnabas Gemade who returned to the PDP last week, also attended the meeting.

    Speaking at the opening session of the meeting, Saraki attributed events of the past week to the “mercy of God”, saying that it was beyond human wisdom.

    Saraki said, “Anybody that believed this could happen based on the wisdom of just human beings does not know or is not being realistic. It is by the mercy of almighty God that this has happened.

    “So, today, as we thank the Almighty God for allowing us to be alive to witness this, for allowing those that are able to be here today, those of my colleges who had a long journey, tough journey, tortuous journey to be here, those on the side of PDP who made it possible for it to happen, it was because of the intervention of the almighty God.

    “We will have a day for speeches; we will have a day to say many things. But for me, I am happy to be back to the political party where I started my political journey. For me, I am back.

    “I am happy to see some of my colleagues here who have given me faith in this country, who have made me believe there are still men of character, that there are still men who are still ready to make sacrifices for this country”.

    The Senate President explained that his defection was a sacrifice he had to make, saying he did it for the sake of the country.

    Continuing, Saraki said, “This sacrifice that we are all making, is just the first part because we are doing this for Nigerians and that exercise will not be complete until we make a better country for our people.

    “So, I want to appeal to all of us, all of you who are here, to please receive us from the bottom of your hearts not only here but down to our local government and wards, many people who will join.

    “Because what we are learning in the history of politics is that everybody is important, everybody is important in this journey we are embarking on and no sacrifice is too much for us to make to reach that promised land.

    “It is only when we reach that promised land that this sacrifice we are making comes good, when we see a better tomorrow for our people. Because it is easier here in Abuja.

    Read Also: APC to Saraki: resign now

    “But when we get back to our constituencies, please, let us continue to open our arms and receive the numbers that will give us victory come February 2019 because it is for a better tomorrow for the lot of Nigerian people.

    “Once again, on behalf of all of us that just joined this party, those who we have met, we are so happy to be back here. And I assure you on behalf of all of us that we will work tirelessly and courageously to do what is right to put this country in the right place where it should be and we will not stop.

    “I offer myself to ensure I continue to play my part, to continue to ensure that we defend our democratic principles in this country, we provide security and good leadership and good governance for everybody. But that is only possible if we are all united because not any one man or two or three can do it alone.

    “The message that I will like to leave here with is a message of let us all work together so that these sacrifices will really be worth it in the interest of our people”.

    Speaking earlier, the national chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus assured Saraki and others who defected to the party recently that their efforts would not be in vain.

    Describing Saraki as key in the renewed struggle to “free” Nigeria, Secondus commended the defectors, saying history would be fair to them.

    Said he, “The bold steps you took to return to the party where you truly belong, is a sacrifice not for yourself but for Nigeria and history will be fair to you.

    “Today is the beginning of the great journey to freedom, the great journey to free our people and rescue this country from the damage done to it by the APC in the last three years”.

    The party chairman expressed regrets that agencies of government established to protect the people have been deployed by the government to assault institutions of democracy.

    Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku also expressed dismay over the recent killings in some parts of the state, saying that situation in the county has continued to deteriorate and that Nigerians are worse off today.

    Ishaku said, “It’s time Nigeria is free or move 100 years backward. Defectors to the PDP saw tomorrow and they decided to change the situation.

    “Some of us wake up crying every other day because you see pictures of your people being killed in their homes because they don’t have AK-47 rifles. I cry more than I celebrate.

    “We must change this government because with the defectors, the PDP will do better for Nigerians. Corruption is not about stealing money alone. Killings, nepotism and allowing killers to go free are also corruption”.

    Governor Ortom on his part said he left the APC worse that he joined the party in 2014, stressing that he lost everything he brought into the APC.

    Others at the meeting include the governors of Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.

    Also at the meeting were past party chairmen, past and serving members of the National Assembly and others.

     

  • Kano 2019: The battle ahead for Ganduje, Kwankwaso, Shekarau

    Following Monday’s defection of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and about 13 other Senators from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kano State Correspondent, Kolade Adeyemi, recalls the political rivalry between former Governor Kwankwaso and his successor, the incumbent Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau and reports on the likely effects of Kwankwaso’s defection in the intricate politics of Kano State ahead the 2019 General Elections

    SINCE last Wednesday’s political drama at the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, when about 14 senators defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) there has been speculation that the development would go a long way in shaping or re-shaping political calculations ahead the 2019 general elections.

    To keen observers of Nigeria’s current politics, it was however not a surprise in the real sense of the word, though everyone seem to agree that the development would affect the politics of various states and zones differently. The Nation observes that hours after the defection of the senators, the effects have started to manifest, especially in the states where stories of political alignment and re-alignment had been heard loudly.

    In Kano, for example, the battle has been centred on three major political gladiatorsthe incumbent Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; his immediate-predecessor as governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; and another former governor of the state, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau. Though there may be other political leaders that could also spring surprises, there is no doubt that they are bound to queue behind the political lineages of these three.

    At the inception of the fourth Republic in 1999, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, on a twin-ticket with Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, won the Kano State governorship election under the banner of the PDP. As at that time, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office. His disposition over Kwankwaso’s style of leadership which was extremely critical did not go down well with Governor Kwankwaso, who in many occasions, openly showed his anger to the senior civil servant.

    Kwankwaso and Shekarua’s rift grew stronger by the day so much that at one point, Kwankwaso ordered his immediate redeployment out of cabinet office and later demoted him to a class room teacher. This development prompted Shekarau’s resignation from the civil service. He went in search of greener pastures with the Dantata Foundation.

    Free from the ‘bondage’ of civil service under a perceived antagonist governor, Shekarau in 2002 re-energised his plot of sacking Kwankwaso out of Kano Government House. Using aggressive propaganda, Shekarau who was respected for his pious lifestyle, particularly, within the religious circle, endeared himself into the heart of the Kano masses. In the build-up to the 2003 general elections, Shekarau aligned with the populist Muhammadu Buhari (now the sitting President), who was the presidential candidate of the All Peoples Party (APP). With the influence of Buhari, Shekarau clinched the APP governorship ticket and defeated incumbent Kwankwaso, in a historic election that has continued to beat the imagination of pundits. Shekarau held sway as Governor of Kano State for consecutive eight years, breaking the jinx in Kano politics. For these eight years, Shekarau tackled Kwankwaso, notwisthanding the so-called Federal might which he enjoyed as the Minister of Defence under President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    In 2011 general elections, at the expiration of Shekarau’s tenure, Kwankwaso staged an aggressive come-back and defeated Shekarau’s choice candidate, Salihu Sagir Takai of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP). At this point, Ganduje remained Kwankwaso’s deputy. Kwankwaso and Shekarau had another open political clash at the advent of the legacy party that later transmuted into the All Progressive Congress (APC). In fact, Mallam Shekarau, who came from the ANPP bloc of the legacy parties, was said to be one of the brains behind the APC merger arrangement. At this point, Kwankwaso, engrossed with his presidential ambition, became a major player among the PDP rebels that formed the nPDP.

    In the heat of the PDP crisis, Kwankwaso, with power and money at his disposal, struck a deal with the APC and cross-carpeted and the party structure was handed over to him on a platter of gold. Malam Shekarau who was relegated by the party leadership had no choice than to play to the tune of the PDP-led Federal Government, which compensated him with the portfolio of Minister of Education.

    However, the latest defection of Kwankwaso from APC to PDP has, again created serious dust in the political atmosphere of Kano State. The question many pundits continue to ask is whether Kwankwaso and Shekarau can work together in the PDP or if there is going to be a replay of the 2013 episode when Shekarau left APC for Kwankwaso.

    Also, the political atmosphere in Kano remains even more tensed following the irreconcilable political rift between Kwankwaso and Governor Ganduje, which started at the tail-end of Kwankwaso’s second-tenure. The unfolding drama that followed last Monday’s defection of Kwankwaso to PDP, forced Ganduje to cut short his official trip to London. Being one of the major point men to President Muhammadu Buhari and considering the strategic nature of Kano to Buhari’s 2019 presidential project, Ganduje, who made a short stop-over at Abuja, ensured that his political structure remained intact and solid. In fact, his immediate response to the already tense situation foiled a grand plot to divide the Kano State House of Assembly by Kwankwaso and his men. Ganduje’s underground work paid off as the leadership of Kano State House of Assembly, came out openly to puncture rumours that 22 of them, including the Speaker, were making plans to defect to the PDP. Addressing reporters on the development, the Speaker, Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, dispelled the rumour of defection of some APC members to the PDP and affirmed that members of the Assembly were in solid support of Governor Ganduje and President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to him, “the Assembly has 40 members from the 44 local government areas in the state and 33 of those members are solidly loyal to Ganduje and Buhari. Six members, who are staunch followers of Kwankwaso, as well as one PDP member, who clinched the mandate through the outcome of Supreme Court judgment, are still with us.  Ata further stressed that, “the defection of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso to PDP will not in any way affect Governor Ganduje’s victory in Kano State.”

    Also speaking on Kwankwaso’s defection to PDP, his cousin, who is currently serving as Ganduje’s Commissioner for Rural and Community Development, Illyasu Musa Kwankwaso, described it as a blessing to Ganduje’s 2019 return. According to him, “Kwankwaso’s return to the PDP will only succeed in capturing 60 per cent of the party’s structure. The former Foreign Minister, Ambassador Aminu Wali and the erstwhile Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, including Senator Bello Hayyatu will be left to grapple with the remaining 40 per cent.”

    Ilyasu Kwankwaso further explained that, “the implication of this is that Senator Kwankwaso will never endorse the candidature of Aminu Wali and Shekarau. He will attempt to manipulate the already existing structure for his personal gain. I want you all to wait for the next one month, after the defection of Senator Kwankwaso from the ruling APC and be on the watch out for what would happen, as there would be mass defection of numerous PDP members to the APC. Kwankwaso will neither support Wali’s candidature nor Shekarau’s candidature.”

    It is however important to underscore the fact that from the forgoing scenario, Kwankwaso’s main target is to ensure that Ganduje is not re-elected as governor of Kano State in 2019. Already, he has started perfecting his plots with the endorsement of Ganduje’s deputy, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, as a potential governorship candidate in the 2019 gubernatorial elections in the state. This plot is becoming clearer because few months ago, Hafiz openly declared that he was not interested to run as deputy governor with Governor Ganduje in the 2019 elections. Also, a fortnight ago, Prof. Hafiz and Kwankwaso were sighted in London where they held a high profile political meeting with some Kano stakeholders, where Prof. Hafiz was finally endorsed to run as a governorship candidate in the 2019 governorship election.

    Reacting to Kwankwaso’s defection to PDP, Malam Shekarau, through his spokesman, Sule Yau Sule, welcomed him to the party and only hoped that he would abide by the constitution of the party and play the game of politics according to the rules.  “I hope the PDP has received a reformed Kwankwaso. I hope it is not the old Kwankwaso I knew. I hope he will, this time around, abide by the rules and regulations of the PDP. I hope he will not repeat what he did after he joined APC in 2015. At that time, he took over everything, leaving us with empty hands. I hope Kwankwaso is not coming to PDP to repeat the injustice he did in 2015. If everybody will be allowed to play his card according to rules of the party, that will be better for him (Kwankwaso) and every member of the party,” he added.

    However, though there were rumours that Kwankwaso and Ganduje are struggling to win the heart of Shekarau, the former Minister of Education however denied striking any deal yet with both of them, adding that he never sat one-on-one with Kwankwaso since 2015.

    Be that as it may, pundits have continued to doubt the possibility of Kwankwaso working together Shekarau as many of Shekarau’s lieutenants are said to have started piling pressure on the two-time Kano State Governor to dump PDP for Kwankwaso before it is too late. Come what may, as events continue to unfold in the weeks ahead, the compass is focusing on Ganduje, Shekarau and Kwankwaso as no one can predict, for now, where the pendulum will swing.

     

  • Kwankwaso has lost political relevance in Kano – Ganduje

    Governor Abdullàhi Umar Ganduje has said that the recent defection of a former governor of Kano State, senator Rabi’u musa Kwankwaso, and lawmakers from the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) will not any way affect the party’s chances and as such lost relevance politically in the state.,

    Ganduje, revealed this in his office during an interview with reporters on Saturday. He said he was not personally bothered by the exit of his political rival.

    “We are not scared by their exit. Their defection doesn’t constitute any havoc to our great party, the APC, at all levels. People should keep eyes (open) to what will happen during election.

    “Our dear President has been doing the needful in terms of developing the nation, coupled with his efforts in efficient service delivery. Good governance is at its peak. The war against corruption is successfully being waged,” he added.

    Read Also: Kwankwaso’s defection will not affect APC, says Ganduje

    He also said Kwankwaso’s exit will not be felt in the state: “I want you to go and study the situation on ground in Kano, his (Kwankwaso) defection does not change the political mood in the state. Nobody cares to be disturbed by their action,”

    The governor said when his predecessor was in the APC “his intention was to vie for presidency. But when it appeared to him, in black and white, that there is no vacancy in the Villa, he now decided to leave on his own.”

    He said Kwankwaso should be ready to battle it out at the polls next year.

    “When he secures a presidential ticket from the party he cross carpets to, then he should wait and see how we can slug it out with him. He will fully understand how popular and loveable our President Muhammadu Buhari is.

    “Kano will give more votes to our President, than what he got in 2015 election. From the 2015 election to date, those who could not vote because of age limit, are now grown up, meaning they will now be eligible to vote. Hence, Buhari stands the chance to get 5 million votes from Kano,” he said.

  • Defection: Kwankwaso must abide by the rule – Shekarau

    Former Governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has described the defection of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso from APC to PDP as a welcome development but urged him and his supporters to abide by the rules.

    Recall that Shekarau, a founding member of the APC had to leave the party for Kwankwaso in Kano when serving governors who dumped the PDP for the APC were asked to lead the party in their states.

    The former governor who spoke through his media aide, Sule Ya’u Sule, said he hoped Kwankwaso had changed.

    Many fear that those who defected to the PDP would have to fight for supremacy in their states where some chieftains had institutionalized themselves in the last three years.

    Read Also: Defections: The drama, the facts

    “I hope the PDP has received a reformed Kwankwaso. I hope it is not the old Kwankwaso I knew,” Shekarau said.

    “I hope he will this time around abide by the rules and regulations of the PDP. I hope he will not repeat what he did after he joined APC in 2015. At that time, he took over everything leaving us with empty hand,” he said.

    Shekarau regretted that the party they had laboured for at the end  handed over the leadership of the party to Kwankwaso in 2015.

    “I hope Kwankwaso is not coming to PDP to repeat the injustice he did in 2015. If everybody will be allowed to play his card according to rules of the party, that will be better for him (Kwankwaso) and every member of the party,” he said.

  • Kwankwaso’s defection to PDP, blessing to Ganduje – Iliyasu Kwankwaso

    The Kano State Commissioner for Rural and Community Development, Alhaji Iliyasu Musa Kwankwaso, on Tuesday described the defection of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso from the ruling APC to the PDP, as both a blessing to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and President Muhammadu Buhari.

    While reacting to the defection of Senator Kwankwaso to the Opposition party, (PDP), Iliyasu Kwankwaso, said his defection is longer news because he has been echoing it for the past six months, as such, his sudden defection will not affect the fortunes of Governor Ganduje’s re-election, come 2019.

    According to him, Kwankwaso’s dumping the APC for the PDP is rather a blessing in disguise for the ruling party in the state, because Senator Kwankwaso’s ploy politics is to capture the already established structure of the PDP in the State, as well as installing his preferred candidates.

    Kwankwaso’s return to the PDP will only succeed in capturing  60 per cent of the party’s structure, pointing out that the former Foreign Minister, Ambassador Aminu Wali and the erstwhile Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim  Shekarau, including Senator Bello Hayyatu will take the remaining 40 per cent.

    Read Also: Kano has over Three Million out of school Children – Ganduje

    The implication of the development, he said is that Senator Kwankwaso will never endorse the candidature of Aminu Wali and Shekarau, just as he emphasized that the embattled Senator will attempt to manipulate  the already existing structure for his personal gain.

    He said: ”I want you all to wait for the next one month,  after the defection of Senator Kwankwaso from the ruling APC and be on the watch out for what would happen, as there would be mass defection of numerous PDP members, as Kwankwaso will neither support Wali’s candidature nor Shekarau.”

    He  said: ” I have re-echoed about six months ago that Kwankwaso is no longer a member of our party, the APC and here we are today, my projections have been confirmed.

    Kwankwaso’s presence would only end up driving away a lot of people from the PDP, as it has always been the case wherever he goes.”

    Similarly, he noted that Kwankwaso would attempt to impose a gubernatorial candidate, as well as other key positions on the people of Kano and once that is achieved, he would end up using the party to his own advantage going by his antecedents and this, would bring about great misunderstandings within the party, leading to mass exodus of supporters of PDP, whom will end up with the APC.

    He said, Kwankwaso would attempt to change PDP structures in the state, and I am telling you that this would force major stakeholders to move out of the party.

    ”Let me make it abundantly clear to you that Kwankwaso is just deceiving the public, with his Presidential ambition, what he’s after is to maintain his Senatorial seat.”

  • I remain Eze Ndigbo (V) in Kano – Igwe Akpudo

    Eze Ndi-Igbo in Kano, His Royal Highness, Igwe Ikechukwu Oliver Akpudo (Eze Di Ora mma V) on Monday in Kano laid to rest the controversy surrounding a court case involving the Igbo traditional throne in Kano, insisting that he remains the authentic Traditional Ruler of the Igbos resident in Kano, against rumours that he was defeated at the Court.

    Igwe Akpudo who addressed Reporters in his frowned at reports in a section of the media which involved him in a purported court case between the late Igwe  John Chiejina Nnaji (Eze Di Ora Mma IV) and Chief Boniface Ibekwe who is also laying claims as Eze Di Ora Mma IV in Kano.

    Igwe Akpudo pointed out that, “At no time did I institute any legal case against Mr. Boniface at the said Kano High Court.”

    According to him, “my attention has drawn to newspaper publications indicating that I was defeated in a Kano High Court by one Mr. Boniface Ibekwe who is falsely laying claims as Eze Ndigbo in Kano.

    He described the said reports as sponsored and, “a cheap propaganda and a calculated attempt to smear my name and the integrity of Ndigbo in Kano state.”

    Read Also: Court bars Kano from collecting consumption tax

    He insisted that, “there is no legal tussle, whatsoever, disputing my title and its nomenclature, by Mr. Ibekwe or any other person for that matter.”

    Igwe Akpudo, however, advised Mr. Boniface Ibekwe, “to desist from using blackmail and propaganda to gain cheap popularity at the detriment of the sanctity, integrity, respect and royalty of Ndigbo in Kano and the Igbo nation.”

    He added that, “I remain, His Royal Highness, Igwe Ikechukwu Oliver Akpudo, Eze Ndigbo in Kano (Eze Di Ora Mma V).

    “I was duly and constitutionally installed as the fifth Eze Ndigbo in Kano, in line with the Igbo Community Association (ICA) Constitution, after the normal burial rites were accorded to Eze Di Ora Mma IV, the late Igwe John Chiejina Nnaji.”

    He, therefore, advised Ndigbo in Kano to remain peaceful and law-abiding, “as steps are being taken to resolve any problem the embarrassing stories must have caused my throne and the generality of the Igbos in Kano.”