The reason behind the alleged rift between Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has been revealed.
There is speculation that Kwankwaso, the leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), popularly known in Kano as the Kwankwasiya Movement, is at odds with Governor Yusuf, who came to power on the party’s platform.
Commenting on the development, Member of Parliament for Dara Federal Constituency Aliyu Sani Madakin-Zini said the apparent rift between Governors Kwankwaso stemmed from disputes related to drug contracts and state-funded scholarship programs. did.
Naija News understands that Madakin Zini, a former close ally of Kwankwaso, recently declared his withdrawal from the Kwankwasiya Movement, highlighting the growing rift within the NNPP in Kano.
Mr Madakin-Zini remains a member of the NNPP, but the district leadership announced on Tuesday that he would be suspended from membership as a member of the NNPP as he has regrouped with another faction.
However, in an address to his supporters on Tuesday, Mr Madakin-Zini made clear his demand for Mr Kwankwaso’s loyalty, saying: “The leadership of Kwankwasiyya expects complete obedience. He’s trying to maintain sole authority over everything. When we come together, he’s trying to identify who is most loyal to him.”
Mr Madakin-Zini further said that Governor Yusuf’s “violations” included his stance on investigating drug deals in the state, and that Mr Kwankwaso reportedly outnumbered any actions of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. He pointed out that he thought it was important.
Naija News understands that Mr Kwankwaso’s nephew was previously arrested by the state Public Prosecution and Anti-Corruption Commission over the aforementioned drug contract dispute.
Nephew is reported to have won contracts for all 44 local governments in the state.
The governor said he was not aware of the contract awarding process and had directed the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the allegations of wrongdoing.
Mr Madakin-Zini also referred to Mr Kwankwaso’s alleged dissatisfaction with Governor Yusuf’s choice to investigate irregularities within the scholarship programme. It was revealed that only 400 beneficiaries were sponsored, as against the 1,001 initially approved by the governor.
“Now he is even more frustrated by his refusal to remove provincial government secretary Buffa Bichi and transport secretary Mohammad Digol,” Madakin Zini said.
Both officials were suspected of being involved in a splinter group that supported Yusuf’s autonomy due to Kwankwaso’s influence, leading to their suspension by party leaders.
“Abba was brought in as a puppet,” Madakin Zini claimed.
“If what Abba has done is not enough for them, the only thing left for him is for him to lie down and be slaughtered.”
He said he advised the governor, who is also a friend, not to get involved in Kwankwaso’s case because he felt Kwankwaso was not open to discussion.
However, Kwankwaso had not yet responded to this claim at the time of filing this report.
