By Mustapha Usman, Kano
Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has said that his predecessor, Rabiu Kwankwaso is the best civilian governor of the state after late Abubakar Rimi in terms of performance in governance.
Mr Ganduje has been in fierce feud with Mr Kwankwaso since the later handed over power to the former in 2015, after spending two terms as governor and deputy.
In a live programme titled “Barka da Hantsi” on Freedom Radio, monitored in Kano by Daily Nigerian correspondent on Monday, Mr Ganduje said Mr Rimi was his best civilian governor given his tremendous contribution to the development of the state after military regime.
According to Mr Ganduje, Mr Rimi had succeeded in transforming Kano to a mega state in the second republic after the country was liberated from the hands of military rulers.
He said the late Rimi had consolidated on the agricultural foundation laid by the state’s first civilian governor, Audu Bako, adding that he even added more on the agricultural revolution in the state.
“It was Rimi who established Kano Agricultural Supply Company, KASCO, which ceased to function for about two decades but when I came on board, I revived it and if you go there now, you will see fertiliser being blended there.
“Rimi found Kano Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, KNARDA. He was the founder of the state’s television, Abubakar Rimi Television, ARTV. He founded the triumph publishing company. He had done so well to this state. He also introduced the state’s rural electrification project,” he said.
The governor however ranked Mr Kwankwaso as next to My Rimi in the pecking order of achievements.
“My second best, don’t say I am selfish, is the governor who also assumed power immediately after the military handed over power to civilian regime in 1999. Though he did not succeed in his second term bid due to so many issues such as the Shari’ah saga and the fact the leader at the top is a Christian.
“What impressed me was that my governor did not give up after he was dethroned in 2003. He returned in 2011 and had also transformed the state in to a mega city. Look at road networks, flyovers, water projects and human development.
“So, at this point, I must commend Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and he is my second best civilian governor after late Rimi,” he revealed.
The live programme was part of the state’s 50 years anniversary celebrations.
