Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State. Photo/ NAN
• Gov’s aide resigns
The All Progressives Congress (APC) is not in a hurry to wade into the allegation of bribery leveled against Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State.
Spokesman of the party, Mr. Lanre Issa-Onilu, who spoke to The Guardian explained that there was no way the APC would take a stand on the matter since the House of Assembly was yet to present its findings on the issue.
The party’s comment came yesterday after it forwarded the name of Ganduje to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday, last week.
Issa-Onilu said: “The APC is a law abiding party, it believes in due process. The Kano House of Assembly is already probing the issue. We have to wait to see how it goes. You don’t expect the party to rush into taking action based on a video clip on the social media whose authenticity is being disputed.”
The clips publicised by an online media outfit, Daily Nigerian, depicts an image purportedly said to be Ganduje receiving wraps of dollar bills as kickbacks from a yet to be identified contractor.
The Publisher of the outfit, Jafar Jafar, while testifying before an investigative panel set up by the House of Assembly on October 25, 2018, claimed that Ganduje had been receiving amounts ranging between 15 to 25 per cent of contract funds for every project executed in the state for the past two years.
But the governor, who appeared before the lawmakers, flatly denied the charge, arguing that those behind it were bent on scoring cheap political goals and denting his hard earned reputation ahead of the 2019 poll.Represented by the Commissioner for Information, Youths, Sports and Culture, Comrade Mohammed Garba, the governor dismissed the video clips as doctored.
Meanwhile, the special adviser to Ganduje on special duties, Malam Ibrahim Khalil has resigned his appointment.Khalil, who is also the chairman of Council of Ulama (Islamic clerics) in Kano, did not give reason for his resignation.
The letter, dated 1st of November and personally signed by the former aide, appreciated the opportunity afforded him by the governor to serve the people of Kano through the present administration.When contacted for reaction, the Director General, Media and Publicity, Kano State Government House, Malam Aminu Yasser, said: “I’ve not seen the letter, I’m out of the country.”
