Former governor of Kano State Abdullahi Ganduje has said he is not part of an alleged plot to dethrone Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano.
The rebuttal followed a report which has been circulated multiple times on social media with the caption: “Ganduje leads fresh plot to dethrone Emir Mohammad Sanusi.”
The report quoted “sources within the Kofar Kudu Palace, powerful individuals in Kano, allegedly led by All Progressive Congress (APC) National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, are orchestrating the removal of the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor as the 16th Emir of Kano and Chairman of the Kano Council of Chiefs.”
Reacting to the report, Ganduje, now the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said in a statement on Thursday by his spokesman Oliver Okpala, that he is focused on his role at the ruling party.
“It should be made categorically clear that Dr. Ganduje has nothing to do with the present enthronement or dethronement of Emir Mohammad Sanusi in Kano state,” the statement said.
“It should be noted that Dr. Ganduje is no longer the Executive Governor of Kano state or the speaker of the Kano state house of assembly and therefore cannot have anything to do further with the Emirship of Kano.”
According to the statement, Ganduje was not also involved in any plan to advise the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero, to abdicate the throne as being alleged.
“It is laughable that Dr. Ganduje who has left office as Governor for some years now would be accused of masterminding a fresh plot to remove or enthrone an Emir.
“According to the publication Ganduje is not only alleged to be plotting to remove Emir Sanusi, they said he is also plotting to advise Alhaji Ado Bayero to abdicate his throne as Emir of Kano for peace to reign . This is to say the least preposterous and absurd.
“It must be made clear that Dr. Ganduje has led and Governed Kano state creditably and since moved on, focusing on other more important national issues, as he leads Nigeria’s governing party, the APC.
“Dr. Ganduje has no further hand in the Kano Emirship issue as he is very busy with leading the APC.
“He is satisfied with the enomous contributions he made in terms of massive dividends of democracy, infrastructural developments and the good governance he provided while he held sway as Governor of Kano state.
“Those who are behind this sinister move to malign the APC National Chairman know what their sponsors are planning and they should leave the very busy, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje out of it.
“By going further to allege that he wants to use his influence in the Presidency to achieve the so called enthronement and dethronement, it reveals the clandestine and dangerous motive of the sponsors of this act to create bad blood between Dr. Ganduje and Aso Rock.
“Let me reiterate here that Dr. Ganduje has very great respect for the Presidency and the national leader of the party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The relationship between both parties have been very cordial and no amount of blackmail can destroy the solidity of the partnership .
“The sponsors of this unsavory publication should know that the people of Kano state love and cherish Dr. Ganduje for his untrammelled services to the people of Kano when he served as Governor,” the statement said.
Ganduje dethroned Sanusi as Emir of Kano in 2020 and installed Bayero. However, Governor Abba Yusuf’s administration reinstated Sanusi in May 2024, resulting in a faceoff between Sanusi and Bayero till this day.
