The Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has declared that his predecessor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, would not win election in his own village in 2019, let alone defeat President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mr Ganduje was reacting to Mr Kwankwaso’s claim that he can defeat Mr Buhari should the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, give him ticket in 2019.
The governor said Mr Kwankwaso’s political structure has been squarely dismantled in Kano so much that he has lost grip of the realities of Kano politics.
In a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba and made available to journalists on Sunday, Mr Ganduje described Mr Kwankwaso as “a political fugitive who does not have the platform, the intellectual capability and mental ability to manage the affairs of Nigeria.”
The statement added that “Senator Kwankwaso’s latest utterances have confirmed the fact that he is now a confused politician who is grabbing every opportunity to relaunch himself back to relevance.
“For over three years, he has been sleeping at the Senate without sponsoring even a bill that will positively impact on the lives of Nigerians. This is a clear indication that he has nothing to offer. He is just being boastful.
“For over three years, Kwankwaso has been at the Senate, he has not visited Kano Central, his senatorial district. He has not executed any tangible constituency project for his people.
“Since then, he has not been around and we have been here in Kano playing the game of politics the way it should be done. The good people of Kano are appreciating our modest achievements and they have expressed confidence in us.”
The statement further stated that, “Senator Kwankwaso’s dream to get the PDP presidential ticket remains a tall one that can never see the light of the day because those he is going to meet there are familier with his antics. They have not forgotten in a hurry, the role he played in destroying the same PDP.
“I am surprise that Kwankawso is now talking about people like Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, a man he persecuted and betrayed on many occasions. I am surprised he is talking about the PDP, a party he destroyed and betrayed many of the chieftains who are still there today to pay him back with his own coin.”
Mr Ganduje emphasised that Mr Kwankwaso is no longer relevant in Kano politics, pointing out that “all his political structure has been completely dismantled. Those who know him will understand that he is overrating himself and can not be seen as a major contender in the 2019 presidential election. He is an usurper who wants power by all means. Here in Kano, the support for President Buhari and the APC is non-negotiable.”
