In response to Abba Anwar’s piece, “Ganduje Repeats History, Takes Peace to Kano,” the author, an erstwhile Press Secretary to Ganduje, portrayed his Principal, a former governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, as a peace ambassador is a deeply misleading narrative crafted to cover the truth of his divisive and manipulative actions.
It is bewildering that anyone would attempt to depict Ganduje as a beacon of peace, given his long-standing history of fostering division and political manipulation.
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Ganduje Repeats History, Takes Peace to Kano
The people of Kano are no strangers to the numerous actions Governor Ganduje undertook during his eight-year tenure that directly contradict the principles of peaceful coexistence. His tactics of sowing discord spanned across various sectors of the state.
To shed light on his divisive actions, let me highlight just a few key examples.
Consider Ganduje’s treatment of religious leaders.
This is the same Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje who created a parallel Council of Ulama for his own selfish political ambitions.
In Fagge, he constructed a new mosque just meters away from the Friday mosque at Dandalin Fagge and built yet another within the Kantin Kwari market—both actions designed to instigate conflict between respected scholars like Sheikh Aminu Daurawa and Bakari Mika’il.
A leader who truly seeks peace would never employ such tactics to create division.
Additionally, his deliberate efforts to create factions within religious groups such as Tijjaniyya, Qadiriyya, and Izala movements against one another further expose his agenda of discord rather than unity.
It is difficult to paint the picture of Ganduje as a peace ambassador because of the fact that he unilaterally established a new Emirate in a region where no such institution had previously existed.
This was not a signal of peace, but a calculated move to further fragment the people for his personal and political gain.
Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s Legacy of Progress and Excellence
Moreover, when Ganduje used his powers as governor to depose Emir Sanusi II, the impact was felt far beyond the corridors of power.
Now, his attempts to destabilize the reinstatement of Emir Sanusi by backing the forceful return of Emir Aminu Ado Bayero speak volumes about his true intentions.
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His role in fostering instability within Kano’s traditional institutions can not be overlooked. His interference has stirred a cultural upheaval that has persisted for months, and it is a far cry from the image of a peacekeeper.
When examining Ganduje’s record, it becomes apparent that his actions have been focused more on consolidating power and deepening divisions than fostering peace.
His alleged deliberate attempts to disrupt unity in the Gaya, Karaye, and Rano Emirates, regions historically aligned with Kano, underscore his disregard for harmony and tradition.
Ganduje’s internal party politics further expose his divisive nature. His actions before the 2023 governorship election caused significant rifts within the APC, damaging relationships between prominent party members such as Senator Barau Jibrin, Murtala Sule Garu, and H.E. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, etc. This kind of internal squabble runs counter to any notion of peace.
Additionally, his alleged manipulation of lecturers and student protests at the Kano University of Science and Technology (KUST), Wudil, exemplifies his willingness to use public resources to divide rather than unite.
At the national level, Ganduje’s alleged role in blocking the North-Central region from securing the position of National Party Chairman reflects his disregard for fairness and unity. Is this the behaviour of a so-called ambassador of peace?
His renaming of state institutions provides further evidence of his divisive mindset. The renaming of Northwest University, originally established by his predecessor to erase its historical context, along with the renaming of cities such as Kwankwasiyya City, Amana City, and Bandirawo, is a clear attempt to erase history in favour of his narrow political agenda. These are not the actions of a leader committed to peace.
The injustice surrounding the inconclusive 2019 gubernatorial election results and Ganduje’s handling of the situation in Gama is yet another example of how his political manoeuvring has caused nothing but turmoil and grief for the people of Kano.
Finally, Ganduje’s record on security deserves scrutiny. While he may tout community policing as an achievement, his administration often relied on heavy-handed tactics that undermined the very essence of peace.
The notion that his tenure was defined by peace is, at best, a convenient fiction to obscure the true nature of his actions.
In conclusion, Abba Anwar’s attempt to glorify Ganduje as a champion of peace is a flagrant misrepresentation of reality.
The facts are clear, Ganduje used his position to divide, manipulate, and conquer the people of Kano, leaving behind a legacy of political instability rather than peace.
It is insufficient to claim the mantle of reconciliation in one isolated instance while perpetuating chaos and division across all other aspects of governance. Let us not allow this distorted narrative to mislead us into accepting a version of Ganduje’s legacy that bears no resemblance to the truth.
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Let us not allow this attempt to whitewash Ganduje’s legacy to deceive us into accepting a narrative that is far from the truth.
Gwadabe Abdullahi
Writes from Sanka, Kano
6th April, 2025