The immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, has given reasons why he was unavoidably absent during President Bola Tinubu’s condolence visit to Kano on Friday, saying it was due to a pre-scheduled personal engagement in London.
The personal engagement commenced five days after Dr Ganduje’s resignation from the party’s leadership.
A former Chief of Staff to the APC National Chairman, Malam Muhammad Garba, made the clarification in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday.
He said contrary to media speculations suggesting that Ganduje was either unwell or deliberately excluded from the President’s entourage, the former National Chairman had travelled to London for a personal engagement that had been arranged well in advance.
He explained that the visit by President Tinubu, which was aimed at paying condolences to the family of the late business mogul, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, was communicated to Ganduje “but unfortunately, despite frantic efforts to reschedule his flight and itinerary, the logistics made it impossible for him to return in time.”
“Dr Ganduje made every effort to adjust his plans but was unable to do so.
“However, despite being abroad, Dr Ganduje remained in constant communication virtually every hour or two with key party leaders, including the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, and the APC Kano State Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, to ensure smooth coordination for the President’s visit,” Garba further explained.
Garba emphasised that Ganduje’s resignation as APC National Chairman in no way affects his cordial and longstanding relationship with President Tinubu, a bond built over years of mutual respect and political alignment.
“The APC in Kano remains fully united, loyal, and committed to the vision and leadership of President Tinubu,” he said, reaffirming the party’s strong support for the Renewed Hope Agenda.
