Dr. Abdulahi Umar Ganduje, the immediate past Governor of Kano state has said he would have physically assaulted and slapped his predecessor, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Ganduje made the threat on Friday while speaking on the ongoing demolition of properties, being carried out by his successor and present Governor of the state, Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Ganduje who described Yusuf as a stooge said he believes the demolitions are a political witchhunt carried out by Governor Yusuf, on Kwankwaso instructions hence his decision to rather slap Kwankwaso.
Ganduje, who had just concluded a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was addressing the ongoing demolition in Kano said:
“They are still in effect. They even made a press statement they will continue demolishing. Kwankwaso himself.
“Not even the Governor. The Governor is not even talking because he is a stooge.
“And from inside information we have, he is not even happy.
“I know he (Kwankwaso) is in the building but we have not met. Probably if we met, maybe I could have slapped him.”
Even though the Governor has said the demolitions are part of efforts to restore the city’s urban master development plan, Ganduje insists it is a vendetta against him and his administration as the action did not follow set rules.
Ganduje also also disclosed that he has sent a petition to the state police to look into, and address the looting and vandalisation that trailed the demolition.
Meanwhile, responding later on Friday, Kwankwaso said the demolition exercise being carried out was part of Governor Yusuf campaign promise to restore the urban development masterplan Kano and not a vendetta against Ganduje.
He said those affected by the demolition are those who bought plots of land belonging to University, Hajj Camp, Race Course, Eid Ground and converted them for personal use.
Yusuf, the recently sworn-in Governor of the state contested under the platform of New Nigeria People Party (NNPP), a party in which Kwankwaso is a founding chieftain.
Yusuf, took over the mantle of leadership from Ganduje of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who served as Governor of the state from May 2015 to May 2023.
Ganduje, in turn, took over the mantle of leadership from Kwankwaso, who he served as deputy from May 2011 to May 2015.