Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano state has denied any rift with his political godfather and a former Governor of the state, Rabiu Musa Kwakawanso.
According to the governor, who spoke journalists, he will never turn his back on the former governor for helping him to become the state’s helmsman.
Yusuf’s rebuttal comes on the heels of recent reports that the two leading political leaders in the state are no longer on talking terms.
Rumours that Governor Yusuf and his mentor are no longer on talking terms became more vociferous following the defection of a member of the House of Representatives, Aliyu Sani Madakin-Gini, representing Dala Federal Constituency from the Kwakwanso faction of the NNPP to the Boniface Aniebonam faction of the party.
The federal lawmakers had cited Kwakwanso’s perceived control of Governor Yusuf as one of his reasons for defecting. He also described the former governors as an ingrate trying to hijack the party from Aniebonam, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the party.
The House of Reps member had urged Governor Yusuf to assert himself by freeing himself from the apron string of the former governor.
Reacting yesterday, Governor Yusuf said there is no disgreement between him and the former governor, saying such only exists in the imagination of those peddling it.
The governor said he has come a long way with Kwakwanso to now abandon him, stressing that he has not stopped talking to his godfather.
Recall also that a faction Abba Tsaya da Kafarka” (meaning “Abba, stand on your own”) had recently broken away from the Kwakwansiya Movement, on which Governor Yusuf rode to power last year. Kwakwanso is the leader of the Kwakwansiya Movement.
In spite of this, Governor Yusuf said he has nothing against the former governor, warning those trying to balkanise the party to desist.
“There is no truth in the rumours of a misunderstanding between” me and Kwakwanso, the governor said on Thursday, adding that he still maintained ‘harmony’ with his benefactor.
“In my 40 years of knowing him, tell me, who among politicians has stayed with someone this long and still maintained harmony?”
Governor Yusuf said further, “To now suggest that I am somehow chained by Kwankwaso is simply unfair,” in response to reports that he’s taking orders fro the former governor.
“Even just two days ago, I visited him and told him about these rumours. I said, ‘I am surprised. Do people expect me to insult the man who stood by me?’” Yusuf stated on the question that he’s no longer on talking terms with Kwakwanso.
On “Abba Tsaya da Kafarka” he said, “This ‘stand on your own’ slogan is the greatest insult I have faced as governor. It implies that I should repay good with bad.
“What has Kwakwanso done to me to deserve this? All the good we are doing for the people is overlooked, and instead, they promote this divisive rhetoric.”
The rumour mills was recently agog that the governor had abandoned the former governor due to his overbearing influence on his government.
For instance, those watching developments in the state had cited a disparagement over contract awards as the major reason for the governor to set up a fight with Kwakwanso.
Critica of the former governor, including Madakin-Gini had alleged that a multi-million drugs and a state scholarship scheme contracts are at the centre of the disagreement between the two political allies.
The magazine reports that Governor Yusuf rode on the wings of Kwakwanso to office last year after defeating the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Nasir Gawuna in the keenly contested election.
Yufus is an in-law to the former governor.
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