Following the recent exchange of words between the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, and the minister of state for housing and urban development, Abdullahi Ata, the APC Northwest Alliance for Good Governance, has urged president Bola Tinubu to consider reinstating the former Minister of state for housing and urban development Engr Abdullahi T Gwarzo.
The group indicated that the replacement should come from the Kano axis to serve as the state’s representative in the federal executive council.
In a statement issued to newsmen shortly after an emergency stakeholders meeting in Kano, on Tuesday, the secretary of the group Auwal Shuaib, explained that they have been vindicated by their earlier claim that Ata’s appointment was a political error.
“We have clearly been vindicated by what we have said earlier, that removal of Engr Abdullahi T Gwarzo and replacing him with Hon. Abdullahi Ata is a political error, a miscalculated exercise that shortchanged and denied the Kano APC, and indeed Kano a robust representation” he stated.
It would be recalled that an earlier statement acredited to Ata, called on the party to remove the Kano state APC chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, for the party to progress in the state.
In response, Ganduje the party’s National Chairman, dismissed the claims by Ata, for which Ata declared that he was ready to resign his position as minister of state.
The group further said “just when Kano APC is enjoying relative peace and stability, and preparing for the next election, a Minister, who obviously benefits from the party, threatens to dump the party, citing mundane reasons.
“This is a man who has not even found his footing yet, and has not achieved any significant milestone since his appointment as minister, making such inflammatory statements capable of undermining the entire party in the state, and making it’s chances blurred.
“Well, this has not come to us as a surprise, because, Abdullahi Ata, is not even a loyal party man. He has a record of anti party activities, even in the last elections” he concluded accusing the minister of anti party activities.
Speaking earlier, the convener and
coordinator of the group, Abdullahi Muhammad, said, “the remarks by Abdullahi Ata, showed he lacks the political clout and acumen befitting a cabinet Minister.
“In contrast, his predecessor, Engr Abdullahi Gwarzo, would not be found making such reckless statements, which is why it is still shocking to political pundits why a grassroots mobilizer, a man of goodwill and a charitable political heavyweight like Engr Abdullahi Gwarzo, would be removed in the first place.
“Even if it becomes necessary to make political realignment to fish for someone from Kano Central, why not settle for individuals with massive political followings?
“Now, look at the unnecessary tension Minister Ata’s statement had caused. We call on His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to as a matter of urgency, reinstate Engr Abdullahi T. Gwarzo, in order to salvage the situation and keep the party intact ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Obviously, Ata has shown he is a lightweight politician who, apart from his local government of Fagge, hardly comprehends the dynamics of Kano politics, because of his short-sightedness and divisive politics” he declared.
The group further passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of the Kano APC, headed by Prince Abdullahi Abass, whom they describe as the bulwark capable of defending the party’s interest at all times.