In a surprising turn of events, President Bola Ahmad Tinubu appears to have changed his mind about including Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s name in the ministerial list for appointment. A reliable source informed NIGERIAN TRACKER that Senator Kwankwaso is no longer being considered for inclusion in the list, which President Bola Ahmad Tinubu is expected to send to the Senate in the near future.
Prior to his inauguration on May 29, 2023, President Bola Ahmad Tinubu had hinted at forming a Government of national unity, where individuals like Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso might be nominated. Speculation arose when the former NNPP presidential candidate met President Bola Ahmad Tinubu in France before the swearing-in ceremony.
Another source also revealed that President Bola Ahmad Tinubu initially intended to include Kwankwaso in his cabinet due to his strong political influence and for successfully capturing a significant state like Kano from the ruling APC. However, it appears that President Tinubu was unable to meet certain stringent conditions set by Kwankwaso, leading to the shelving of the idea for now. Nevertheless, another source suggests that President Tinubu remains keen on having both Kwankwaso and Wike in his cabinet, indicating his continued pursuit of their inclusion
However, the source revealed that President Tinubu has decided to shelve the idea of including Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in order to strengthen his party, particularly in Kano, where it suffered defeat in the 2023 polls. For any federal appointment from Kano, the Presidency has now opted to coordinate with the APC leadership in Kano to ensure that Kano APC members benefit at the federal level.
The source also mentioned that President Bola Ahmad Tinubu is considering the former Kano State Deputy Governor and APC Gubernatorial candidate, Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, for a lucrative federal appointment, despite his pending court case. However, the position of Minister will likely go to the former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Recently, the reinstated Chairman of the Kano Anti-Corruption Commission, Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, reopened the alleged video bribery scandal involving Mr Ganduje. He extended an invitation to the former Governor, urging him to present his defense regarding the scandal that has been ongoing since 2018
