Ganduje’s suspension and Governor Yusuf’s Focus on Governance
By Adnan Mukhtar
On Monday afternoon, news resurfaced all over the media with former Kano State governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s suspension by his ward executives of the All Progressives Congress.
When I came across the news, I told a friend that if the suspension followed due process, Ganduje should forget about that seat. He’s a goner.
Why I said this is because of the party supremacy. Every member of a political party has his roots from the ward level. In a sane democracy, the president should be seen visiting and giving maximum respect to his party chairman and other executives, likewise a governor.
I was told that when Shagari was President, he always visited the residence of the then NPN Chairman Augustus Akinloye, he could invite the Chairman to the villa but he chose to do that out of respect and honour. The party is supreme because every political officeholder rides under the platform of a political party to contest for election.
In June 2020, the ward chairman of Adams Oshiomole at his Etsako Ward 10, Mr. Oshawo Stephen reaffirmed his suspension from the party, citing reasons for his protracted disagreement with Governor Obaseki. This suspension was what consumed Oshiomole as APC National Chairman and led to the constitution of a caretaker committee led by Governor Mai Mala Buni.
In March 2023, the executive members of Igyorov ward, Gboko LGA of Benue, passed a vote of no confidence on PDP National Chairman Dr Iyorchia Ayu over alleged anti-party activities.
The LGA party executives also claimed that Ayu worked against the success of the PDP in his ward during the elections.
They alleged that he was not paying his membership fees and did not vote in the March 18 governorship and the House of Assembly elections in the state.
Since this brouhaha, Ayu left that position to his Deputy Umar Damagum, who is occupying the position at the moment.
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Some of the ward executives that suspended Ganduje did that citing reasons of a bribery case filed against him by the Kano State Government, that he should step down and face his case at the court.
Hours after the suspension, the local government chapter of the party condemned their action and sacked all the officials behind it. The sacking was ratified by the state chapter of the party under Abdullahi Abbas
A press conference was held where a vote of confidence was passed on Ganduje by the executives of his ward, local government, and the state.
The ward executives alleged that it was the work of the opposition in the state.
It’s time for governance
Since the inauguration of the commission of inquiry by Governor Yusuf, there has not been any policy direction by the state government. It’s obvious that the governor has lost attention to governance and has focused more on the political happenings in the state, exchanging bitter words with the opposition.
The state healthcare services are not functioning as expected. The conditions of our primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions need urgent concern.
It’s not about building bridges but about human development. Empowering Kanawa’s with education and skills acquisition, declaring a state of emergency in the health, security and agricultural sectors, transportation, and granting local government its full autonomy so that the people at the grassroots can feel the impact of government even though is very difficult is what should be given utmost priorities not fighting the opposition or taking pictures at the governor’s office.
We need to see the government engaging development partners, and foreign and local investors not holding weekly political meetings while we have a good three years to an election.
As time is not on the government’s side, the government must take appropriate measures that will bring the desired change and progress to the people of Kano.
Adnan is a political PR consultant. He writes from Abuja
