The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Doguwa, has apologized to the deputy governorship candidate of APC in Kano, Murtala Garo, over attacking him with a teacup during a party meeting on October 31.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that a day after attacking Mr Garo at the residence of the deputy governor, Nasir Gawuna, the lawmaker assaulted the state publicity secretary, Ahmad Aruwa, in his (Doguwa’s) Kwankwasiyya residence and threatened to deal with a former secretary to the state government, Rabiu Bichi.
A journalist with LEADERSHIP newspapers, Abdullahi Yakubu, had also dragged the embattled Majority Leader of the House of Representatives to court for assaulting him during a press conference on November 1.
But when the police summoned the lawmaker on Friday, he admitted wrongdoing and apologize to the journalist over the incident.
Reconciliation Meeting
DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that the governor of Kano State Abdullahi Ganduje had recently summoned reconciliation meetings at the Kano Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, during which Mr Doguwa regretted his actions.
In attendance at the meeting were the senator representing Kano South, Kabiru Gaya; the state chairman of the party, Abdullahi Abbas, a party chieftain, Nasir Aliko-Koki and; Messrs Doguwa and Garo.
After admitting wrongdoing, Mr Doguwa blamed his detractors for casting a spell (asiri) on him.
According to sources, Mr Doguwa claimed during the meeting that the major reason he begrudged Mr Garo was for describing him as a son of a butcher.
“Six years ago, when I invited Murtala and Abdullahi Abbas to Kebbi for my turbaning ceremony, I overheard him telling Abdullahi Abbas that the emirate was wrong to confer title on the son of a butcher. I pretended I was asleep and did not confront him about the issue,” Mr Doguwa said during the meeting.
The lawmaker also accused Mr Garo of meddling in the affairs of political affairs of Tudunwada Local Government, a part of his constituency.
In his response, Mr Garo denied Mr Doguwa’s claims about denigrating his father, saying everybody knew that he did not engage in such disparaging remarks against anybody.
The sources also said Mr Abbas interjected, corroborating Mr Garo’s position, and said the deputy governorship candidate never uttered anything of that nature in Kebbi or anywhere else.
Mr Garo then demanded public apology from Mr Doguwa for abusing his parents. “People cannot just see me mingling with someone who abused my parents. That will portray me as someone who does not respect his parents. He should issue a public apology first,” Mr Garo was quoted as saying.
The senator representing Kano South, Kabiru Gaya, in his response also defended Mr Garo, saying as a senator the governor did not extend his control of the political structure beyond his local government.
In his remark, Mr Ganduje identified where both Messrs Doguwa and Garo erred, and urged the party leaders to bury the hatchet and unite for the success of the party.
The governor urged them to forgive each other for peace to reign in the party.
After the marathon meeting, this newspaper reports that Mr Doguwa issued a public apology Mr Garo and all those he offended.
