There is exodus in the political camp of a former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, as three of his top political associates, Abdullahi Rogo, Ali Yako and Salisu Gwangwazo aka Alhaji Baba, dumped him for Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Messrs Rogo and Yako were at different times commissioners for Local Government under Mr Shekarau, while Mr Gwangwazo is a former minority leader of the Kano State House of Assembly.
Mr Shekarau had last year lost one of his top loyalists, Musa Iliyasu-Kwankwaso, to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
On Friday the trio of Rogo, Yako and Gwangwazo led other PDP politicians to pay allegiance to Mr Kwankwaso and declare their support for his political movement, Kwankwasiyya.
Sources at the meeting told DAILY NIGERIAN that the politicians assured him of their interest and commitment to “working together”.
The political defectors include a former chairman of Tudun Wada Local Government, Mukhtar Dankadai; a former chairman of Bebeji Local Government, Dankaka Bebeji; a former Chairman Madobi Local Goverment, Muazzam Madobi and; a former Shekarau’s a aide, Bello Bichi.
The rest are Sale Yawurma, and Mutari Gwale.
Commenting on the visit, Mr Gwangwazo told DAILY NIGERIAN that: “it is all about loyalty, we believe that Kano politics has taken a new dimension. We must work hand in hand to defeat the incumbent Ganduje administration.
“Senator Kwankwaso is a force to reckon with in Kano politics. With him, we can defeat the present government, we believe in his capacity”.
This recent exodus is a pointer to the ominous political cloud in Mr Shekarau’s camp, with insiders saying the school teacher-turned politician has dumped his political lapdog, Salihu Takai.
The inside source said Mr Rogo parted ways with Mr Shekarau because he (Shekarau) would hardly anoint Mr Takai for governorship ticket in 2019.
“We know what is happening. Malam Shekarau is not keen about Takai’s candidature in 2019. And Rogo, who is Takai’s closest political ally apart from Shekarau, is not happy with the development,” the source added.
