By Jamilu Abdussalam
Kano, a significant determinant of Nigeria’s federal presidency due to its vast population and influential political figures, becomes a focal point when it comes to sharing the nation’s resources and rewards. In the aftermath of the recent general elections that saw President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rise to power, doubts and concerns arose among Nigerians regarding who works with the president in fulfilling his promises.
During the general elections that brought President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to power, conflicting sentiments surrounded his candidacy, especially regarding his health status. While there were speculations around some key political players, including past President Muhammadu Buhari, the then APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu and several state governors not overtly supportive of Tinubu behind the scenes, except for Governors Ganduje, Sanwo-Olu, Badaru and few others who stood firmly in his corner in clinching the presidential ticket during the primary elections and emerging as the president today.
Initially, the basis for Kano’s ministerial nominations were exclusively rooted in the Gandujiyya and Kwankwasiyya camps, each allocated one slot. President Tinubu, in a press briefing, revealed his intent to foster a unity government, contemplating the inclusion of Wike and Kwankwaso as ministers. This poses a lot of concerns regarding the president’s plans to advance the cause of one-party politics in Nigeria.
Since it was established that Ganduje was to provide a candidate from Kano for the ministerial slot, he found himself into a dicy torn between three potential candidates: his deputy Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, his SSG Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, and his daughter Dr. Maryam Mahmoud Bunkure. It was discovered that Governor Ganduje later settled for Dr. Maryam Mahmoud as his preferred candidate for the ministerial nomination. Dr. Mahmoud shares a close friendship and professional ties with Ganduje’s daughter, Dr. Amina Ganduje, who was said to have also influenced Dr. Maryam’s appointment as the Commisioner of Education in her father’s cabinet.
Amid the name submission process, confusion arose when Dr. Maryam Mahmoud Bunkure’s name was mistakenly interchanged with Maryam Shetty’s, leading to premature uproar mixed with congratulations, criticisms and envy all over the media around Shetty’s nomination as a minster. In less than 24 hours, the error was eventually corrected and the name of Dr. Maryam Mahmoud Bunkure was ratified as the candidate for the ministerial nomination from Ganduje’s camp.
On the other hand, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the leader of the ruling party in Kano NNPP, has long been in close talks and extensive discussions with President Tinubu regarding his potential ministerial role. Tinubu recognized Kwankwaso’s significance in Kano politics and sought to collaborate with him to keep a close eye on the region’s political relevance under his grip.
However, owing to the fierce rivalry and adversarial relationship between Kwankwaso and Ganduje, certain requests by Kwankwaso that were not in Ganduje’s favor became insurmountable obstacles to proceed with the political ties. Consequently, President Tinubu personally opted to fill the vacant slot with Tijjani Muhammad Gwarzo, who happens to be one of his loyalists from Kano since 2011 when Gwarzo contested for gubernatorial seat under Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). .
