Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has responded to comments by former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, declaring that the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) leader was once his political “boy” too.
Ganduje’s reaction followed a recent remark credited to Kwankwaso in which he reportedly said, “Even Ganduje was once my boy.”
In a statement issued on Friday by his Chief of Staff, Comrade Muhammad Garba, while the former governor is in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage, Ganduje said politics is founded on mentorship, sacrifice, support and long-standing relationships.
The former APC chairman maintained that no politician rises to prominence without assistance from others at different stages of their career.
According to the statement, Ganduje recalled supporting Kwankwaso during his early political journey, particularly during the National Assembly election that eventually produced him as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“At that time, Ganduje could confidently have referred to Kwankwaso as his political boy, having supported him morally and financially during that period,” the statement said.
Ganduje also reflected on the period when he served as a senior civil servant in the Federal Capital Territory and later as Kano State Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, noting that Kwankwaso frequently visited his offices in Abuja and Kano.
The former governor argued that introducing “boy-master” narratives into current political discussions was unnecessary, especially at a time citizens expect leaders to prioritise governance and development.
He further revisited the 1998 governorship primaries in Kano State, claiming that many party stakeholders believed he won the contest before senior political figures persuaded him to step down and accept the deputy governorship position alongside Kwankwaso for party unity.
Despite their political differences over the years, Ganduje acknowledged that both leaders worked together successfully as governor and deputy governor between 1999 and 2003, and again from 2011 to 2015.
Citing the example of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who once served as Kwankwaso’s Personal Assistant before becoming governor, Ganduje said political relationships naturally evolve with time.
“Politics should not be about who is superior to the other. A father can nurture a child who eventually becomes greater in status and influence,” Ganduje was quoted as saying.
He also appealed to political actors and supporters in Kano State to avoid inflammatory comments capable of deepening political divisions, urging them instead to focus on peace, unity and development in the state.
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