‘He Was Once My Political Boy’ – Ganduje Trashes Kwankwaso’s Legacy Boasts

Former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has fired back at former presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, over a comment about their political trajectories.

Naija News reports that Kwankwaso, while addressing supporters at his Miller Road residence in Kano on Wednesday, maintained that several prominent politicians who rose through his political structure could not deny their past loyalty to him.

“I heard that some people said they dislike being called boys. If not for insolence, how could [former Reps] Mai Gidan Ruwa or Aminu Goro say they were not my boys politically? How could even Ganduje deny that he was once my boy?” Kwankwaso said.

In response, Ganduje, in a statement released on Friday by his chief of staff, Muhammad Garba, from Saudi Arabia, where the former governor is currently performing the Hajj pilgrimage, said Kwankwaso was once his political protégé.

Ganduje asserted politics is built on relationships, support and mentorship, stressing that every successful politician receives assistance from others at some point in their career.

He further claimed to have played a significant role in Kwankwaso’s early political ascent, particularly during his election into the House of Representatives and subsequent emergence as Deputy Speaker.

Ganduje was quoted as saying, “I also have the right to say Kwankwaso was once my political boy because I supported him and helped him rise to important positions.”

He also recalled the 1998 political developments in Kano, noting that he won the governorship primary at the time but stepped down in the interest of unity and agreed to serve as Kwankwaso’s deputy.

Ganduje urged politicians to avoid labels such as “godfather” and “political son”, emphasising that attention should instead be focused on leadership quality and the development of the people.

Speaking on Abba Kabir Yusuf, Ganduje said that although Yusuf once served under him, he is now the elected governor of Kano and deserves respect by virtue of his office.

Ganduje called on politicians and their supporters in Kano to avoid remarks that could deepen division, urging a focus on peace and unity in the state.