Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has received the decamped state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Rabiu Sulaiman-Bichi and other allies of former governor Rabiu Kwankwaso into the fold of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.
Recall that shortly after Mr Ganduje’s victory at the Supreme Court on Monday, Mr Sulaiman-Bichi disclosed his intention to leave his longtime political associate, Mr Kwankwaso.
However, sources close to the party chairman said he took the decision to leave the party long before the judgement of the Supreme Court.
“The decision of Rabiu Sulaiman Bichi was not related to the outcome of the Supreme Court judgement. It was purely based on principles and personal conviction,” a close political associate who preferred not to be named said.
Receiving Mr Sulaiman-Bichi, former Mr Kwankwaso’s spokesperson, Binta Spikin as well as Kwankwasiyya coordinators in the 44 local government areas of the state at the State Government House on Thursday, Governor Ganduje commended them for taking the bold political step towards liberating themselves from what he described as self-centred Kwankwasiyya political movement.
He said: “Even during the 1999 period when Military regime then lifted the ban on political activities. We contested primary election in the PDP and it was very clear for all those who participated in that process that, it was me, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje who emerged as the winner of that primaries, but numbers were changed in his favour.
“That time I revolted that another fresh primary election be conducted. But I was advised to shun my call for another election, so as to give peace a chance. I succumbed to that and let the matter die a natural.
“I accepted in good faith. When he was trying to make it as if he was doing a favour to me for that, I told him point-blank that he was not doing any favour to me to be his running mate.
“I made him understand that my wish and point of interest was to conduct another fresh primary election. Just ask him what transpired then between me and him. Elders like the late Alhaji Lili Gabari consoled me again,” Mr Ganduje stated.
On his part, Mr Suleiman-Bichi disclosed that his decision to defect to the APC was to answer Mr Ganduje’s call on the opposition parties and politicians to come and join hands and move the state to the next level.
“We believe in Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s genuine commitment in developing our dear state, that was why when he invited all other opposition elements to come and join hands with him in moving the state forward we have resolved to come forward and contribute in developing the state,” he said.
