The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Doguwa, has opened up on his clash with the deputy governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kano State, Murtala Garo.
DAILY NIGERIAN had exclusively reported how Mr Doguwa attacked Mr Garo at a high-level meeting of the party at the residence of the Deputy Governor, Nasiru Gawuna, on Monday.
An insider told DAILY NIGERIAN that upon arrival at the venue, Mr Doguwa began complaining that he was sidelined by the party leaders on matters pertaining to funds, but only invited to execute difficult party assignments.
This development triggered a fight between the lawmaker and Mr Garo.
Addressing a press conference on the incident on Tuesday, the lawmaker denied going to the venue of the party’s meeting to fight Mr Garo, saying that he was only at the meeting to see the state APC chairman, Abdullahi Abbas.
Mr Doguwa, however, denied injuring Mr Garo during the fisticuffs.
He said: “I was not there to attend the meeting. I was there just to see Abdullahi Abbas and leave.
“When I arrived at the Gawuna’s residence and I entered the meeting room, I saw them having a meeting. I then cracked this joke at the deputy governor, saying that the National Assembly caucus should have had a representation in this meeting.
“Murtala just erupted, saying ‘must you be invited?’, must the National Assembly caucus be invited?’. He then started abusing me and raining insults on me, saying: “banza maras mutunci, dan uban ka ba za a gayyace ka ba”.
“I did not retaliate because I have a good upbringing. He continued to insult me and even attempted to grab my attire, that was the point I lost control and started retaliating.
“He even attempted to grab my collar. In the course of moving towards me to fight me, there was a cup of tea on the table. So Garo hit the cup which fell down and got broken.
“When he swiftly moved towards me, he slipped on the floor and fell on the broken cup and got injured. So, I did not injure Murtala.
“The news gave the impression that I injured Murtala, but I did not injure him. I did not use any material that can injure,” Mr Doguwa narrated.
While stressing that he could not tolerate any insult against his person, Mr Doguwa called on Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to take control of the party before it sinks in 2023.
Mr Doguwa also reiterated his unflinching support for the candidature of Mr Gawuna and the success of the APC in the state.
