Some APC chieftains in Kano said that the meeting between Tinubu and Kwankwaso amounted to the dumping of Ganduje, who they claimed stood up for Tinubu in the race for the president in 2023.
Last week, President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, notified his All Progressives Congress (APC) ally and Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, of his intention to meet with the candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, in Paris, France.
After the meeting, Rep Abdulmumin Jibrin, who purportedly arraigned the meeting, responded to the problems sparked by the meeting between Tinubu and Kwankwaso, particularly on the side of Ganduje and his supporters in Kano.
Some APC chieftains in Kano said that the meeting between Tinubu and Kwankwaso amounted to the dumping of Ganduje, who they claimed stood up for Tinubu in the race for the president in 2023.
DispleasureÂ
In addition, Ganduje expressed his displeasure with Tinubu and his Kano political challenger in a leaked audio tape.
The Kano State government, on the other hand, has rejected the voice note, describing it as a ploy to cause discord between Ganduje and Tinubu.
However, Jibrin said in an audio tape yesterday that the controversies surrounding the meeting were unwarranted.
In an audio exclusively obtained by The Nation newspaper, this was due to Tinubu consulting with Ganduje prior to the Paris meeting.
He also downplayed concerns that the President-Elect may abandon people who helped him win the election.
“I, like every other Nigerian, was shocked when I heard that audio.” But I believe the most essential thing to confirm is that Governor Ganduje was consulted, which he acknowledged to me.
“Ganduje told me in no uncertain terms that the President-Elect invited him and that he plans to meet with Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
“He asked Ganduje if he had any objections, and Ganduje told me that he answered the President-Elect that he did not.
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“So, it is extremely unfair to the President-elect to be portrayed in a negative light in front of the public by Governor Ganduje, who knows full well that the President-elect consulted him prior to that meeting.
“He stated it clearly to me. It’s extremely unjust to the President-Elect,” Jibrin stated.
Long History Of Friendship
According to him, the Rep-Elect, a former chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, stated that Tinubu’s meeting with Ganduje was intended to foster national unity, integration, and development.
“Tinubu and Kwankwaso had a long history of friendship, dating back to 1992, when the former Kano State governor was deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President-Elect was chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriation.
“He added that they got along well as governors in 1999.
“The two men maintained their friendship from 2003 to 2007, while Kwankwaso was still a minister of defence and Tinubu was still the governor of Lagos State, he went on.
“The relationship lasted until 2011, when Kwankwaso was re-elected governor and Asiwaju was a leader in the opposition movement, and both of them worked closely to establish the APC (All Progressives Congress).
“I believe these are the parameters within which they wish to define their relationship and proceed from there.
“Ganduje verified to him that the President-elect instructed him that he will meet with Kwankwaso.
“The outgoing Governor stated that he has no objections to the meeting and that he has with his predecessor in office.
“Ganduje stated that his only beef with Kwankwaso is that he has recently attacked him.
“I promptly informed him that he was also guilty of the same offense because he had been bashing Kwankwaso in various forums.”
Also, he said he had told Ganduje that that as leaders, both of them could sort themselves out.
“I promised him that I would relay his message to Kwankwaso, and that was the end of our conversation,” he added.
