A prominent figure within the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, has called upon President Bola Tinubu to intervene and resolve the ongoing political conflict between Rabiu Kwankwaso, leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), and Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the APC National Chairman.
Lukman made this appeal in a statement titled “Ganduje: The Indefensible Moral and Political Burden,” which was released in Abuja on Tuesday.
The former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the APC also emphasized the need for President Tinubu to consider the larger picture beyond the bribery charges of $413,000 and N1.38 billion brought against Ganduje by the Kano State government. The two former Kano governors, Ganduje and Kwankwaso, were previously allies but have since become estranged due to political differences within the state.
Recently, there was widespread media coverage of Ganduje’s suspension by the Legal Adviser of his ward in the Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano, Halliru Gwanzo. Gwanzo cited the bribery allegations as the reason for the suspension. However, both the National Working Committee of the APC and the Kano State chapter of the party criticized and invalidated the suspension, asserting that Gwanzo and the implicated party leaders lacked the authority to impeach the national chairman. The ruling party also pointed fingers at the NNPP-led government in Kano State, suggesting their involvement in the matter.
Lukman strongly urged the President and other influential stakeholders within the APC to swiftly facilitate a reconciliation between Ganduje and Kwankwaso, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the party’s influence in Kano and the broader Northern region. He even suggested exploring the possibility of negotiating an alliance if necessary.
According to Lukman, “As progressives, we must be honest and acknowledge that Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and his NNPP enjoy a stronger support base in Kano State. It is crucial to revisit the issues surrounding their disagreement, considering their past affiliation with our party. We should not confine our engagement with the challenges solely to the bribery allegations against Dr. Ganduje.”
He further elaborated, “If it means engaging in another round of negotiations for a political alliance or merger with Kwankwaso and the NNPP, our leaders should act accordingly. President Tinubu and the APC should seize this opportunity to reestablish and strengthen the support base of our party. It is a chance for President Tinubu to showcase his progressive and political acumen. This low-hanging fruit could also help salvage Dr. Ganduje’s political career.”
Lukman concluded by acknowledging the mismanagement of politics in Kano State and warned against harboring unrealistic expectations, stating, “If we were unable to secure victory in Kano State when we had control of the state government, it would be unwise to expect a different outcome.”
