Abdullahi Ganduje, Governor of Kano State, has voiced dissatisfaction with a recent meeting between Rabiu Kwankwaso, a former governor of the state, and President-elect Bola Tinubu.
The governor voiced the statement in a leaked audio that was confirmed by insiders to be the voices of Mr Ganduje and a former APC ‘placeholder’ vice presidential candidate, Ibrahim Masari.
In 2018, Mr Ganduje was seen in smuggled films tucking bundles of cash into his gown, which was thought to be a bribe from a contractor.
Mr Tinubu recently met with the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, in the 2023 general election as part of the former’s attempt to build a “unity government,” according to the DAILY NIGERIAN.
During the encounter, the president-elect was said to have extended a hand of friendship to Mr Kwankwaso and stated his willingness to cooperate with him.
Although sources indicated the leaders will meet again to finalize the agreement, Mr Kwankwaso was reportedly offered a ministry position by the new president.
However, Mr Ganduje was heard complaining to Mr Masari in the leaked audio clip that the president-elect was being unjust to him by asking Mr Kwankwaso to a meeting in Paris.
Mr Masari can be heard on the tape calming Mr Ganduje and telling him not to be upset by the incident.
He requested that the governor keep cool till he met with Mr Tinubu on Thursday.
Mr Ganduje began the interview by saying, “There is noise all over Kano [about the Paris meeting].”
However, Mr Masari, a close ally of Mr Tinubu, stated that he had already suggested to him [Ganduje] about the potential of the meeting.
“I told you about it, but you asked me to dismiss it,” said Mr Masari.
“Even if it was true, as you suggested, was there anything I could have done to stop him?” “Nothing,” Mr Ganduje said.
“You should have confronted him at the very least to confirm for yourself,” Mr Masari said.
“There is no problem if he [Tinubu] now sees Kwankwaso as an alternative to us because we lost the election,” Mr Ganduje stated in an emotional tone.
Mr Masari, on the other hand, urged the governor to relax and remain calm, adding that he warned Mr Tinubu about the repercussions of the meeting without informing Ganduje.
“I feel your anguish. Even your adversary recognizes that he was unjust to you, but please be calm till you get [to Abuja],” Mr Masari reassured Mr Ganduje.
“Even if it was only for symbolic purposes, he should have invited us to the meeting.” And we even lost Kano because of him, bemoaned the governor. And one thing he [Tinubu] didn’t realize is that power belongs to God. And these are extremely incorrect calculations,” he stated.
In response, the previous placeholder VP candidate stated that Mr Tinubu was giving the incorrect signal, causing people to lose trust in him.
Mr Ganduje used the example of Kwankwaso and former President Goodluck Jonathan falling out over corruption charges.
“I spoke with Mr President earlier, and I bemoaned the situation to him.” He (Tinubu) told me that the meeting was organised by SLS [Sanusi Lamido Sanusi] through [Gilbert] Chagoury (a Franco-Lebanese business billionaire and Mr Tinubu’s buddy). And when I inquired if you were notified prior to the meeting, he (Tinubu) responded no. I will sufficiently brief you when we meet, as you are aware that phone calls are not secure. “Just keep your maturity on display by remaining silent,” Mr Masari said.
The governor, on the other hand, stated that he obtained a security report indicating that the meeting was part of a strategy to scuttle the APC governorship case at the election petition tribunal, with which Mr Masari agreed.
Mr Tinubu, he argued, did not have the authority to scuttle the election case.
“Yes, that game plan exists, but it is outside of his purview, but your Excellency.” I beg you to be calm till you come around. Let’s not talk about it on the phone. You understand how dangerous our chat may be.
“Anytime you come around, we will have our usual meeting and present our resolutions to him,” Mr Masari added.
When asked to comment on the audio clip, the governor’s spokesman, Abba Anwar, claimed he was driving and would call back later.
“I’m currently driving, and as you can hear, I’m in a noisy area, so please give me a little time to call you back,” Mr Anwar explained.
He, on the other hand, did not return my call after more than two hours. He also did not return following phone calls.
