The Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has declared that former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, cannot issue directives to him, insisting that he is now the leader of the party in Kano State.
Yusuf made the assertion while reacting to criticisms trailing his recent defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party to the APC.
Addressing his supporters, the governor dismissed claims that his move amounted to a betrayal of the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
According to him, his decision to leave the NNPP was informed by internal crises within the party, which he said he had earlier warned about.
“I want to reaffirm that in breaking away from our former movement, we did not commit any wrongdoing. We raised concerns about the state of affairs in the party because we foresaw the crisis. We offered advice, but it was dismissed,” he said.
Yusuf maintained that his early exit from the NNPP helped avert a larger political crisis that could have negatively impacted the people of Kano State.
“By the grace of God, we acted early. If we had not taken that step, millions of people in Kano would have been affected. Today, there is calm, and the truth is clear for all to see,” he added.
Responding to accusations of disloyalty, Yusuf questioned the actions of others who had also left the party without consulting members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
“Today, they accuse us of betrayal. But were Kwankwasiyya members informed before some decided to dump the NNPP? Isn’t that also betrayal?” he queried.
‘I’m APC leader in Kano’
The governor also addressed claims that his defection was influenced by Ganduje, dismissing suggestions that he had relinquished control.
“They say Abba has followed Ganduje to hand over what was entrusted to him. The question is: who is the leader of APC in Kano today?” he asked, as supporters responded, “Abba is the leader!”
He continued, “Is that betrayal or progress? Abba, who was alone in NNPP, is now among over 31 governors. Is that backwardness or progress?”
Yusuf emphasised that while he maintains a cordial relationship with Ganduje, it does not translate into subordination.
“What exists between me and Ganduje is mutual respect. But he cannot give me instructions because I am the leader,” he stated.
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