Former Governor of Kano State and ex-National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has reacted strongly to the move by the Kano State Government calling for his arrest.
His response came hours after officials in Kano announced that he should be taken into custody over allegations of making inciting comments and supporting plans for an unlawful militia group.
Ganduje, in a statement released through his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, dismissed the allegation.
He said the accusation lacked any real basis and accused the current government of pushing a narrative that had no merit.
The former governor described the call as “unfounded and irresponsible,” stressing that the entire episode was a distraction from the state’s pressing issues.
According to the statement, Ganduje faulted Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for what he described as misplaced priorities at a time when several communities across the state were battling insecurity.
He said the administration had failed to pay attention to areas hit by repeated attacks, especially in parts of Bagwai, Shanono, and Tsanyawa.
He noted that residents in those communities had suffered losses, yet the governor had not visited them or shown proper concern.
“It is deeply unfortunate that rather than addressing the escalating insecurity ravaging the state, Governor Yusuf has chosen to chase shadows while searching for scapegoats to conceal his glaring failures,” he said.
Ganduje further claimed that he had never encouraged violence or supported any act that could destabilise Kano.
He said the government’s allegations were nothing more than an attempt to shift public attention away from the administration’s challenges.
He added that the people of Kano needed leadership, not what he called political drama.
“His continued absence in moments that require leadership speaks volumes of his disconnect from the people he claims to serve,” the statement added.
The former governor advised Governor Yusuf to concentrate on his constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property across the state instead of issuing threats and making accusations he described as baseless.
Recall that on Friday, the Kano State Government demanded the immediate arrest of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, accusing him of issuing provocative remarks and backing a plan to form an illegal militia group in the state.