Ganduje counters Kwankwaso, says political mentorship not a ‘master-boy’ relationship

Ganduje counters Kwankwaso, says political mentorship not a ‘master-boy’ relationship

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has fired back at comments allegedly made by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, insisting that political relationships should not be reduced to “master-boy” narratives.

Ganduje, who is currently performing the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, reacted through a statement issued on Friday by his Chief of Staff, Comrade Muhammad Garba, amid renewed political tension between the two former allies in Kano State.

The former Kano State governor described Kwankwaso’s alleged “political boy” remark as unnecessary and dismissive of the complex political history they shared, stressing that political success is often shaped by mentorship, strategic alliances and mutual support.

According to the statement, Ganduje played a significant role in Kwankwaso’s early political rise, particularly during the National Assembly elections that paved the way for Kwankwaso’s emergence as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Second Republic era.

“At that time, Ganduje could confidently have referred to Kwankwaso as his political boy, having supported him morally, financially and stood by him during that period,” the statement said.

Ganduje further recalled that before both men attained greater political prominence, Kwankwaso frequently visited him while he served as a senior civil servant in the Federal Capital Territory and later as Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport in Kano State.

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The statement also revisited the 1998 governorship primaries in Kano, claiming Ganduje was widely believed by stakeholders to have won the contest before he was persuaded by party leaders to step down in the interest of unity and accept the deputy governorship slot alongside Kwankwaso.

Despite their subsequent political disagreements, Ganduje noted that both men worked closely between 1999 and 2003, and again from 2011 to 2015, describing those periods as productive years that delivered key developmental strides for Kano State.

The former APC chairman also referenced incumbent Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, noting that although he once served as Kwankwaso’s Personal Assistant, he is today the duly elected governor and deserves respect from all political actors.

“Politics should not be about who is superior to the other. A father can nurture a child who eventually becomes greater in status and influence. That is the natural progression of leadership and human relationships,” Ganduje was quoted as saying.

He warned against inflammatory political rhetoric capable of deepening divisions in Kano’s political landscape, urging leaders across party lines to focus on governance, peace and development rather than personal attacks.

The renewed exchange highlights the lingering political rivalry between Ganduje and Kwankwaso, whose once-close alliance collapsed after Ganduje succeeded Kwankwaso as governor in 2015.

Their fallout eventually birthed rival political blocs, with Kwankwaso leading the New Nigeria Peoples Party political movement, while Ganduje remained a prominent figure within the ruling APC.

Political observers believe the latest war of words signals renewed realignments ahead of future electoral contests in Kano, widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most politically strategic states.

Ganduje concluded by appealing to supporters of both camps to remain calm and avoid actions capable of escalating political tensions in the state.

Ganduje counters Kwankwaso, says political mentorship not a ‘master-boy’ relationship