The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Sunday, threatened to institute a commission of inquiry to probe the administration of his immediate past predecessor and estranged political godfather, Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.

A statement signed by Commissioner of Information, Youth and Culture, Malam Muhammad Garba made available to newsmen in Kano yesterday, stated that the current government is considering the option of probing the serving senator to set the records straight.

The statement added that the government is piqued by the deliberate distortion of facts by Kwankwaso’s political associates, hence may resort to probing the former administration.

“The attention of Kano State Government has been drawn to some spurious, ridiculous, absurd, silly and bogus statements, allegations and threat of legal action against the administration and personality of His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, made by some top members of the Kwankwasiyya movement at a Press Conference in Kano last Friday.

“The statements made at the Press Conference, organised and attended by former commissioners, Special Advisers, Special Assistants, other top aides during the administration of Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso as well as the sacked Secretary to the State Government in the present administration, were indeed empty and unsubstantiated allegations of non-performance in the provision of infrastructure, education, non-completion of some projects initiated by Kwankwaso and direct attack on the personality and character of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

“This deliberate distortion of facts and spreading of falsehood is capable of provoking the government to drop its non-confrontational stance and institute commission of inquiry to probe the previous administration particularly on illegal land deals, education and infrastructure.”

On the allegation of abandoning the 5-kilometre roads in the 44 local government, Garba said the 5km roads initiated by the previous administration in all the 44 local governments in the state, it is on record that only three to four roads were completed before Kwankwaso left office, stating that many have not reach appreciable level while many have not even taken off despite the fact that 30 percent of all the contract sum have been paid to the contractors.

He further added that the project lacks proper planning from inception, poor administrative handling, irregular and suspicious financial management.

On the threat by the Kwankwassiya movement to legal action against governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje if he continues to wear red cap, the statement described the threat as an empty, laughable, clear indication of ignorance of the law and history of political struggle in kano.

“The threat of legal action against Governor Ganduje by the movement if he fails to stop wearing red cap within 48 hours is the most laughable, pathetic, clear indication of their ignorance of the law and history of political struggle in Kano. They should have known that red cap was introduced by late Aminu Kano and popularised by him, his followers and disciples for which Governor Ganduje was among. He was also at the forefront of its re-introduction during the second tenure of Kwankwaso in 2011. Who then could better claim the red cap doctrine?

“For the avoidance of doubt and without any fear of contradiction, therefore, the decision by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to continue wearing the red cap is nothing but a personal choice and manifestation of his high sense of decency, decorum, responsibility, modesty and political astuteness. These are rights and liberties guaranteed to any citizen by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and therefore, nobody has the right to deny the Governor such liberties.

“The statement and empty threat should have been backed by citing the exact provisions of the constitution, any statute, law or rules and regulations that were breached by the Governor for his action, for it to hold any water, particularly in a court of law,” the commissioner said.

He said that Ganduje secured the mandate of the people of Kano State by the will of Allah and only He (Allah) has the right to take it back, as “power belongs to Allah and He gives it to whoever He so wishes at any time.”

•Adapted from a Peoples Daily report. Photo shows Kwankwaso and Ganduje during happier times.

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