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Kano APC crisis: Oyegun intervenes, as chairman remains suspended

By Adamu Abuh and Murtala Muhammed, (Kano) 
25 March 2016   |   1:34 am
The National Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has waded into the dispute between Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and...
Kwankwaso and Ganduje

Kwankwaso and Ganduje

The National Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has waded into the dispute between Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and his predecessor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Odigie-Oyegun, who met with stakeholders of the Kano chapter of the APC at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, enjoined party supporters to rally round Governor Ganduje to ensure peace and progress of Kano state.

This came as the party in the state suspended indefinitely, its Chairman Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa and the Organizing Secretary, Sanusi Suraju Kwankwaso for alleged anti-party activities and misconduct.

The special Adviser to the governor on Political Affairs, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas Sanusi, was consequently announced as the acting chairman.

Lamenting the crisis that pitted supporters of the two leaders against each other, the National Chairman warned that any further crisis in the party could derail the administration of Governor Ganduje.

Odigie-Oyegun, who stated that he had constituted a three-member committee led by the Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Lawali Shuaibu to achieve the objective, said: “It is a situation that we must not, as a party, allow to blossom. We must nip it in the bud because it is most unnecessary, most distracting and capable of causing problem in a state as sensitive and to some extent as volatile as Kano State.

“So it is in all our interest, your interest and certainly our interest in the national secretariat, to ensure that this difference between two of our very prominent leaders in Kano must not go any further.

“It is an internal matter between two friends, between two brothers and these differences unfortunately, have developed between them. It is only clear that the solution is straightforward and clear, but we must restore the situation ante.

“The government will be able to operate without distraction and for peace to be able to reign in Kano State. So all our efforts are geared in that direction. And I want to plead with you to help ensure that peace and normalcy returns. We have only one government in Kano and there is no question about that. His authority must be upheld and there is no question about that. The governor is not on trial, there is no question about that.

“So it is important that we give him the atmosphere necessary for him to govern successfully especially in these times when resources are very lean. It is important that all Kano leadership is united behind the governor to make sure that he succeeds. So none of us must do anything to undermine him or anything that is likely to make the situation worse.”

“Let me warn that the greatest disservice we can do to ourselves now is to be having internal wars within the party, internal war in a state as critical to us as Kano. Kano is an important and critical state to the APC.

“The nation, through no fault of ours, is going through more difficult time. We took over in a situation that was worst than we expected. So all of us, all the party, the totality of the party must unite behind our chief executives, the President and the governors. So we are going to do everything we can to resolve this issue.

“So for the third time I am appealing to you that you assist us to restore amity to Kano State and to put every citizen of Kano behind the governor to help him to execute his mandate in these very difficult times.”

On the report of the changes effected in the state party leadership, Odigie-Oyegun promised to look into it with the aim of ensuring that it complied with provisions of the APC constitution.

He further expressed appreciation to the Northwest governors forum, traditional rulers and opinion leaders in Kano on their efforts to keep the peace between Ganduje and Kwankwaso.

The suspension of the two officials, who are Kwankwaso’s confidants, is a consequence of the feud between the Senator and the governor.

Not long ago, the Chief Whip of the State’s House of Assembly, Shubairu Mamuda Madobi was also axed for allegedly compromising loyalty to Ganduje after 33 out of the 40 members led by the Speaker, Alhassan Rurum, passed a vote of confidence on Ganduje at an emergency plenary.

Announcing the development over the weekend, the party’s Secretary, Abbas Sani Abbas disclosed that a seven-man committee has already been constituted to investigate the activities of the two principal officers.

According to Abbas, “The party has received complaints and petitions from members about alleged cases of misconduct and abuse of office by the suspended Chairman, Haruna Umar Doguwa and the Organizing Secretary, Sanusi Suraju Kwankwaso of which the former, after issuing out a press conference duly agreed upon by the party’s Working Committee and Elders Committee respectively, later betrayed the trust reposed on him by unilaterally refuting the party’s position on the subject matter.

“In the same vein, the Organizing Secretary sponsored various radio programmes, which are injurious to the party, without seeking the permission of the leadership. Based on the foregoing conduct, we therefore, suspend the party’s chairman, Haruna Umar and the Organizing Secretary, Sanusi Suraju Kwankwaso, from their respective positions and we hereby constitute a seven- member disciplinary committee to investigate the matter and take proper disciplinary actions as we urge them to discharge their duty without hindrance.

“This decision has therefore been forwarded to the state’s Executive Committee for ratification and under-signed by the State Working Committee. The disciplinary committee is therefore given one week to submit their report.”

He disclosed that Alhaji Haruna Ahmadu Danzago would head the committee while Alhaji Nuraddeen Zubair will act as secretary with five others as members. They are to conclude their investigation within a week and also recommend appropriate action against the affected officers.

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