Kwankwaso, Ganduje enter ‘ceasefire’ pact

Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano state, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, his predecessor, have agreed to stop their media war after a reconciliation brokered by some northern governors.

Kwankwaso was last week threatened with suspension by the Kano chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for allegedly “eyeing” Aso Rock in 2019.

Addressing the media after a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, Ganduje described himself and the former governor as “political brothers and friends”.

But TheCable understands that five governors met with Ganduje at the Kano Lodge in Abuja on Thursday night to work out the terms of settlement.

The meeting started at 11pm and ended around 2am on Friday, with governors Aminu Masari (Katsina), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Abdul’aziz Yari (Zamfara) and Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa) in attendance.

Members of the national assembly from Kano state, including Kabir Gaya and Ado Doguwa, were also at the meeting.

Although Kwankwaso was not in attendance, the meeting had his blessings and any agreement reached binding on the feuding parties, TheCable learnt.

Kwankwaso’s grouse, according to those in the know, is that Ganduje, his two-time deputy whom he helped to office, had abandoned the projects started by the previous administration and defaulted on commitments to creditors.

Ganduje is also accused of romancing known opponents of Kwankwaso.

On his own part, the governor is said to have complained that Kwankwaso does not treat him with respect but talks to him rudely in public “as if I was his house boy”.

It was agreed that all media wars should stop and their aides should be called to order.

Meanwhile, addressing reporters on Friday, Ganduje said both of them were working hard to end their differences “for the good of the state”.

“‎The situation is under control, it is an in-house problem which is under control. We are talking about it,” he said.

“Yes, reconciliation is ongoing and it will work. We have been together for long, we are political brothers and friends. Therefore, we will make sure that we don’t allow things to continue to fall apart.

“Kano is the most populous state in the country. Kano was the one that provided the highest number of votes for the president. Kano is the state that has 100 percent APC in which ever elected posts you can think of.

“We shall put heads together to make sure that there is peace and stability in the state.”