Alhaji Ilyasu Kwankwaso, the Commissioner for Rural and Community Development in Kano State, in this interview by KOLA OYELERE, speaks on the politics of Kano state, the dramatis persona, challenges and prospects for Kano as one of the major political hotbeds in the northern part of the country.
THE issue over the outcome of the last governorship poll in the state appears settled, following the recent Supreme Court judgment that affirmed the re-election of Governor .Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. What does it portend for the politics of the state?
First and foremost we thank Allah that at last, the election of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, was affirmed by the Supreme Court. I commend the All Progressive Congress (APC) faithful, both at the state and federal levels, as well as the teeming masses of the state for their love and support to vote for the candidate of party in any election.
You would recall that both the Kano State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal had earlier affirmed the victory of the governor. However, despite his affirmation by the Tribunal election and the Court of Appeal, the opposition party still challenged the outcome at the Supreme Court, which also upheld the election. Therefore, the apex court in the land has declared Governor Ganduje as duly re-elected. So, his victory cannot be challenged again before any court of law.
Are you blaming the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for challenging the victory of governor since it felt dissatisfied with the conduct with the election in the first place?
I am not blaming the opposition party for contesting the result of election before the court law. As Governor Ganduje recent said, it is the constitutional right of the opposition party to seek redress before the law court if they felt aggrieved. However, when an election has been concluded and winner emerged, the best option for the opposition is to exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship, accept defeat, congratulate whoever won and rally round the winner to execute laudable projects that would benefit the masses.
Some days ago, a former chairman of the PDP in the state defected to the APC. How do you see such development, which came as a surprise to a number of political observers?
I am in total support of the call by Mr Governor on the opposition party to join hands with him because election has been fought and won; a winner has emerged; a looser has also emerged. Therefore, whoever emerged automatically becomes the governor for all the teeming masses of the state. That is to say, he is the governor of for those who voted for him and the ones that did during election. So, we commend the former state chairman of the opposition party in the person of Alhaji Suleiman Bichi, who alongside with his supporters, decided to dumped the PDP for the APC. To be candid, his defection to the APC is a welcome development that would douse unnecessary political tension. So, the ruling party is looking forward for more opposition members teaming up with the governor to better the state in term of executing friendly projects.
What do you think is the burden imposed on the Ganduje government by the judgment of the Supreme Court?
The only burden at stake for the governor is his determination is to continue executing laudable projects that will have a direct bearing on the citizens, who gave him their mandate. Besides, since there is no distractions again for the governor, the coast is now clear for to navigate on seamlessly. Don’t forget that while receiving defecting opposition members to the APC, the governor enjoined them to rally round him in his determination to take the state to greater heights, and this urge has started to manifest, going by the defection of a former Secretary to the State Government and former state chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Suleiman Rabi Bichi to the APC. In addition, a lot of developmental projects will spring up in all the zones, where new Emirate councils were created. Recently the Gandujes administration budgeted about N4 billion to construct a befitting hospital as part b of the concerted efforts to alleviate the suffering people from rural areas coming to the state capital for medical treatment.
The belief in certain quarters is that the Kwankasiyya Movement gave the governor a run for his money during the election because of the influence of the leader of the movement and former governor, Dr Musa Kwankwaso?
As far as Kano politics is concerned and with the judgment of the Supreme Court on the last governorship election, Dr Kwankwaso is no longer relevant politically. Another issue to corroborate this is the recent defection of the former chairman of the party in the state, Alhaji Rabiu Bichi , and other notable former members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement to the APC. The best option for Dr Kwankwaso is to come back to the APC and respect the constituted authority of the party at the local, state and federal levels, as well see the governor of the state as his leader.
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