Ganduje to Kwankwaso: “You were once my political boy”
Former APC chairman dismisses “boy-master” label, recalls years of political alliance with Kwankwaso
Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has responded to recent remarks by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, insisting that both men share a long history of political collaboration and mentorship, and should avoid narratives that distort their past relationship.
Ganduje, who is currently in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage, said through a statement issued by his Chief of Staff, Muhammad Garba, that it was unnecessary to reduce their longstanding political association to “boy-master” descriptions.
He maintained that political relationships are built on support, loyalty, and shared struggle, noting that many leaders have benefited from one form of assistance or another at different stages of their careers.
According to the statement, Ganduje recalled that he supported Kwankwaso during his early political rise, particularly around the period of his emergence as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, stressing that he provided moral and financial backing at the time.
“At that time, Ganduje could confidently have referred to Kwankwaso as his political boy, having supported him morally and financially,” the statement quoted him as saying.
He further referenced earlier political interactions between them, noting that during his years as a senior civil servant in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and later as a commissioner in Kano State, Kwankwaso frequently visited his offices in Abuja and Kano while seeking political engagement.
Ganduje also revisited the 1998 Kano State governorship primaries, claiming that although he won the contest, party elders and stakeholders persuaded him to step down in the interest of unity and accept the deputy governorship ticket alongside Kwankwaso.
He added that both men later worked closely as governor and deputy governor between 1999 and 2003, and again maintained political cooperation between 2011 and 2015, despite evolving differences.
The former governor also commented on current Kano State leadership, noting that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who once served as Kwankwaso’s personal assistant, now occupies the office of governor and deserves full respect regardless of past political ties.
“Politics should not be about who is superior to the other. A father can nurture a child who eventually becomes greater in status,” Ganduje stated.
He urged political actors in Kano State to avoid divisive rhetoric and focus instead on unity, peace, and development, while calling on supporters across political divides to remain calm amid the ongoing exchanges.
