A viral video has captured the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, mocking Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), for his failure to secure the position of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Speaking in Hausa to his supporters from Kano State who visited the APC secretariat, Ganduje alleged that Kwankwaso supported the controversial demolition of buildings in Kano. He asserted that President Bola Tinubu recognized Kwankwaso’s ambition to become the FCT Minister and emphasized that the indiscriminate demolition of buildings was a way for him and Kano’s governor, Abba Yusuf, to express their discontent while ostensibly promoting Kano’s master plan.
Ganduje stated in the video, “Isn’t it the FCT minister position that he desired? That’s why he demolished buildings in Kano under the pretext of protecting the master plan. If you ask him about the master plan, he wouldn’t be able to explain. All he says is, ‘We will reset the Kano master plan. We have promised Kano people that we will demolish houses, even if they are 1,000-story buildings.’ Look, if an ignorant person doesn’t know they’re ignorant, they are also blind. That’s his situation.”
The video clip, shared widely on social media, has ignited discussions among supporters of both Ganduje and Kwankwaso.
When reached for comment, the NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Major Agbo, urged to refrain from intervening in the personal conflict between the APC national chairman and Kwankwaso.
On the other hand, the spokesperson for the NNPP Presidential Campaign Council, Ladipo Johnson, dismissed Ganduje’s statements, describing him as seeking attention. Johnson stated, “Does anyone still take Ganduje seriously? Just because he is the APC national chairman doesn’t mean he is rational. That’s all I have to say. We won’t waste time on someone who holds no significance, regardless of what the APC thinks they’re accomplishing. It’s as simple as that.”
Before the announcement of ministerial nominees, there were high expectations that Kwankwaso, along with former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and other opposition party leaders, would play prominent roles in Tinubu’s proposed government of national unity.
