“Reckless, Baseless, and a Sign of Incompetence”: Ganduje Fires Back as Kano Political Tensions Deepen
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu, Democracy Newsline Newspaper – November 29, 2025
The political climate in Kano State entered yet another turbulent chapter on Friday as former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and immediate past Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, lashed out at the Kano State Government over its recent call for his arrest.
The government had alleged that Ganduje made statements suggesting the creation of a militia group—comments which, according to officials, coincided with a bandit incursion into a rural community.
But in a sharp and fiery counterstatement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Dr. Ganduje dismissed the allegations as reckless, baseless, and symptomatic of what he called “the governor’s desperation and incompetence.”
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According to the statement, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s focus on Ganduje rather than on addressing the “escalating insecurity ravaging the state” reveals a pattern of abdication of duty.
“Instead of confronting the growing threats in Bagwai, Shanono, Tsanyawa, and other communities, the governor is chasing shadows,”
Olofu wrote.
“His continued absence in critical moments speaks volumes of his disconnect from the people he claims to serve.”
Ganduje insisted that throughout his eight years in office, Kano enjoyed one of the most stable security climates in the northern region—a contrast, he argued, to the “directionless and reactionary governance” of the current administration.
The call for Ganduje’s arrest came just hours after the Kano Executive Council Meeting where the Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, alleged that the former governor’s statements may have emboldened bandits who infiltrated a Kano community.
The accusation triggered immediate political shockwaves. Many observers noted that Kano’s simmering political rivalry—marked by lawsuits, allegations, and counter-allegations since the 2023 governorship transition—appears to be reaching a new tipping point.
Compounding the tension, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, waded into the fray.
Responding to claims by the Kano State Government that his earlier remarks undermined security efforts, Senator Barau fired back, describing the government’s allegations as fabricated, malicious, and desperate.
He challenged the government to produce any clip where he made statements capable of complicating the security situation in the state.
Barau, who also serves as the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, called on Governor Yusuf to “wake up from slumber” and restore Kano to the prosperity it once enjoyed. He highlighted a long list of personal interventions he has made in supporting security agencies—from providing operational vehicles and building stations to facilitating the establishment of training institutions for the Nigeria Police, Civil Defence, and Immigration Service.
“Kano used to be a state second only to Lagos in terms of prosperity,” he stated.
“Misgovernance has eroded this.”
For many residents, the escalating political rhetoric is beginning to overshadow the very security issues at the heart of the controversy.
Communities affected by recent bandit incursions continue to wait for relief, while political leaders trade accusations in the media and on public platforms.
Meanwhile, civil society groups in Kano, including security analysts and community leaders, quietly warn that the war of words between the state’s top political figures risks further eroding public trust and security coordination at a time when vigilance is most needed.
Ganduje concluded his statement by urging Governor Yusuf to prioritize his constitutional responsibilities:
“Leadership is demonstrated through purposeful action, responsibility, and compassion—not through press conferences and frivolous statements aimed at diverting public attention.”
For now, the former governor maintains that he has no links to violence or militia activity and describes the allegations against him as political theatrics aimed at smearing his record.
Across the state, reactions remain mixed. Supporters of the incumbent government call for accountability and vigilance, while Ganduje’s allies argue the entire episode is a politically motivated attempt to weaken the former governor and distract from governance failures.
Whichever side one stands on, one thing is clear:
Kano’s political terrain is shifting rapidly, and the coming weeks may determine not only the political destinies of its key actors but also the state’s fragile security trajectory.
