RIGHT TO REPLY
RE: FALSE AND POLITICALLY MOTIVATED ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIS EXCELLENCY DR. ABDULLAHI UMAR GANDUJE, FORMER GOVERNOR OF KANO STATE
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu Democracy Newsline Newspaper
8th October 2025
We write on behalf of His Excellency, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CON, former Governor of Kano State and immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in response to the recent spurious allegations made by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) regarding the Dala Inland Dry Port (DIDP) project.
The said allegations, widely circulated in the media and purportedly based on an ongoing investigation by PCACC, suggest that over ₦4 billion of state funds were allegedly diverted into DIDP during the administration of Dr. Ganduje. Furthermore, they claim that members of the Ganduje family were irregularly allotted shares and that the Kano State Government had equity in the project — claims that are not only entirely false but demonstrably fabricated with malicious intent.
1. No Ownership or Involvement by Dr. Ganduje or His Family
The management of Dala Inland Dry Port Ltd, through a statement signed by its Company Secretary, Barr. Adamu Aliyu Sanda, has categorically dismissed all claims that Dr. Ganduje or any member of his family holds, or has ever held, shares, directorship, or signatory powers in the company.
Verified documents from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) — the legally recognized registrar of companies in Nigeria — confirm that neither Dr. Ganduje nor any of his family members are, or have ever been, associated with DIDP in any official or unofficial capacity.
2. Alleged Share Allotments Are Forged
The so-called “ordinary resolution” document purporting to allot five million shares each to Ganduje’s children has been exposed as a forgery, orchestrated by a former executive of the company in a desperate attempt to politicize internal business disputes. The company has disassociated itself from the said resolution and has emphasized that due corporate process was never followed, nor were other directors aware or consulted.
3. Kano State Government Never Held Equity in DIDP
It is a matter of public and corporate record that the Kano State Government has never held any equity or ownership stake in the Dala Inland Dry Port. The government’s involvement was limited to the provision of infrastructure at the Zawaciki site, a support gesture rendered through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in line with federal government policy on inland port development.
CSR does not and cannot amount to equity participation or ownership. The misrepresentation of this fact by PCACC is either a result of gross incompetence or intentional mischief.
4. Fictitious Representation on the Company’s Board
The claim that one “Abdullahi Haruna” represented Kano State on the board of DIDP has also been debunked. The company has publicly stated that no such person has ever been part of its board, management, or operations — a fact that is verifiable from board meeting minutes and official communications.
5. Political Motive Behind the Allegations
The pattern of baseless allegations, media trial, and repeated misinformation points clearly to a coordinated political campaign aimed at tarnishing the image of Dr. Ganduje, particularly in light of his national political prominence. It is regrettable that the PCACC — an institution expected to operate with neutrality and professionalism — has now become a willing tool in political witch-hunting.
This attempt to criminalize a public figure with no legal or factual basis, while ignoring verifiable corporate records, casts serious doubt on the credibility, impartiality, and ethical standing of the Commission’s current leadership.
6. Legal Redress May Be Sought
His Excellency Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje reserves the right to seek legal redress against the PCACC and any individual or organization involved in the deliberate circulation of defamatory and malicious content aimed at damaging his name and public service legacy.
Let it be on record that as at no time during his administration did Dr. Ganduje approve or facilitate the diversion of public funds to DIDP or any private venture. All government transactions followed due process, were properly documented, and subject to oversight by relevant institutions.
CONCLUSION
The allegations against Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and his family are baseless, unfounded, and politically contrived. We call on the general public, the media, and relevant authorities to disregard these false narratives, and we urge PCACC to refrain from further abuse of its mandate in pursuit of political vendettas.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu former S.S.A Print Media to His Excellency Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje CON.
