Stop Attacking Abdullahi Gwarzo
By Umar Hamza Gwangwazo
It has come to my notice of some sponsored hirelings under pseudo guise of “Renewed Hope Ambassadors Forum” have initiated a media assault against the person of the former Minister of State Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Tijjani Muhammad Gwarzo, demanding he stop criticising the President over his ministerial removal.
First off, a simple online check will reveal absolutely nothing substantial about them. This proves that it is a makeshift-sham group created by Deputy President of the Senate Barau Jibrin to sabotage the All Progressives Congress in Kano. This unregistered, unrecognized outfit has one purpose: to spread chaos and destruction, serving as Barau’s personal attack dog. No legitimate person or institution takes them seriously. Their legitimacy is a joke, their agenda is as clear as daylight and their true intentions are as transparent as glass.
Contrary to the groups claims, the former Minister hasn’t publicly criticized the President since his removal. It is never in his character as a politician to go down so low for any political gain or fame and this principle aligns with his established political demeanor, marked by a reluctance to engage in contentious debates or verbal sparring for political advantage.
The former Minister is a disciple and mentee of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he said in an interview with BBC Hausa that the President singlehandedly nominated him to serve in his cabinet and he therefore sees no fault when he relieved him of his appointment even though he has informed him of his reason to do so. He rather thanked the President for the opportunity to serve his country.
One of the reasons given was that Kano North is overloaded with appointees and there was the need to appoint someone from Kano Central but Gwarzo questioned the decision to appoint Ata instead of Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna who was the Gubernatorial candidate of the party in 2023.
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And to be fair to him, Gwarzo was right in making that suggestion looking at their credentials and antecedents, Gawuna is politically more equipped than Ata. It is clear that Ata lost even in his ward, local government and senatorial district during the 2023 election; he worked wholeheartedly against the party for losing the primaries against Aminu Sulaiman Goro.
These were Gwarzo’s baseline arguments, so attacking him and accusing him criticising President Tinubu is nothing more than a well brewed lie for political opportunism. Gwarzo remains President Tinubu’s mentee and disciple and has not yet renounced him, so how could he ever criticise his mentor and benefactor?
To this moment, Gwarzo has consistently expressed his unwavering respect and admiration for the President, affirming that his loyalty will remain unshakeable, regardless of circumstances.
Even those who worked for his removal are aware that Gwarzo is the number one loyalist of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu followed by the APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje.
It is unarguable that Gwarzo ranks among the top five loyalists of the President in entire Northern Nigeria, alongside notable figures such as Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Ibrahim Masari, and Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Senator Barau Jibrin’s claim of loyalty to the President seems to be just lip service, as his track record suggests he’s a self-serving politician who only values relationships when they benefit him. Barau’s history reveals a pattern of using people for his own gain and discarding them when their usefulness expires.
The President should exercise caution in dealing with Senator Barau Jibrin, given his history of betraying those who helped him rise to power since 1999. Now, he’s attempting to leverage his office to deceive the President into believing he has complete control over Kano politics to make the President think he has more power than he actually does.
Barau cannot defeat AT Gwarzo in Gwarzo, he cannot do that to Murtala in Kabo, Abubakar Kabir Bichi in Bichi, Sani Bala in Tsanyawa and Ghary, Hamisu Chidari in Dambatta and Makoda and Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe in Dawakin Tofa, Tofa and Rimin Gado, same thing goes to Bagwai and Shanono.
He hides under the umbrella of these individuals to win the election not because of his capacity but because of the platform and the aforementioned names.
People like Senator Barau are only loyal to you when you’re in power. The President should ask his predecessor Muhammadu Buhari about people like him.
Gwangwazo, a member of the All Progressives Congress writes from Kano Municipal
