By Kolawole Ojebisi
Aliyu Sani Madakin-Gini, the House of Representatives member representing Dala Federal Constituency of Kano State, has revealed what he perceives to be the reasons for the rift between Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano state and his godfather, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso
Madakin-Gini alleged that that supposed rift stemmed from issues relating to a drug contract and a state-funded scholarship scheme, respectively.
Madakin-Gini, an erstwhile ally of Kwankwaso recently announced his allegiance to another movement other than Kwankwasiyan.
Kwankwaso is the leader of both the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyan movement.
The lawmaker’s change of loyalty to another movement prompted the speculation that a wedge had been driven into the once rosy relationship between him and the former Kano state governor, Kwankwaso.
While Madakin-Gini remains in the NNPP, he has shifted his loyalty to another faction, a development which prompted his ward Party executives to announce his suspension on Tuesday.
The development also made it apparent that there’s a deepening crack within the NNPP. But in a video addressing his supporters, Madakin Gini outlined Kwankwaso’s expectations of loyalty, stating, “What the leader of Kwankwasiyya wants is total obedience. In all 44 local government areas, he desires sole authority. When we all gather, he seeks to see who is most loyal to him.”
According to Madakin-Gini, Governor Yusuf’s perceived ‘offences’ include his position on the investigations into drug contracts in the state, an issue Kwankwaso reportedly considered more serious than any actions taken by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
The drug contract saga previously led to the detention of Kwankwaso’s nephew by the state’s Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission. The nephew had reportedly secured the contract across the state’s 44 local government areas. The governor had reportedly said he was not aware of how the contract was awarded and directed the anti-corruption commission to investigate the alleged fraud in the scheme.
Madakin-Gini also cited Kwankwaso’s alleged dissatisfaction with Governor Yusuf’s decision to direct an investigation into discrepancies in a scholarship programme. According to him, it was discovered that only 400 beneficiaries were sponsored instead of the 1,001 initially approved by the governor.
“Now, he has added more grievances for refusing to sack Baffa Bichi, the Secretary to the State Government, and Muhammad Diggol, the Commissioner for Transport,” Madakin Gini said.
Both officials were allegedly involved in a splinter group supporting Yusuf’s autonomy from Kwankwaso’s influence, leading to their suspension by party leaders.
“Abba was brought in as a puppet,” Madakin Gini claimed. “If what Abba has done is not enough for them, the only thing left is for him to lie down and be slaughtered.”
He added that he had advised a governor, a friend of his, against intervening in the matter with Kwankwaso, as he believed Kwankwaso would not be receptive.
Efforts to get a response from Kwankwaso were unsuccessful. His aide, Ibrahim Adam, did not respond to calls or messages at the time of this report, though he had previously denied any discord, pointing to recent joint appearances of the two leaders.
Governor Yusuf’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, was also unavailable for comment.
However, he had earlier said the governor would be addressing these issues in an upcoming local radio broadcast.
