The immediate past Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s decision to appoint Yusuf Ata as his replacement, calling it a political misstep.
In an interview with BBC Hausa on Saturday, Gwarzo, who was recently dismissed along with four other ministers in a cabinet reshuffle, argued that President Tinubu should have chosen Nasiru Gawuna, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the 2023 Kano governorship election, to strengthen the party’s position in Kano Central.
Gwarzo insisted that his removal was not due to any failure on his part but rather the result of political maneuvering by some party leaders in Kano.
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“I was surprised because I wasn’t found guilty of any wrongdoing or poor performance. And I was a minister of state with the senior minister who handles a large chunk of the ministry’s activities.
“Before the announcement, the President had put me on notice of his decision.
“He said Kano North was overloaded with political officers, hence the need to strike a balance. We gave our advice, but it was ignored.
“From there I began to suspect that some people are behind this, because for me that wasn’t a valid reason.”
“If it’s true that the ministerial slot will be allocated to Kano Central, we have our 2023 gubernatorial candidate, who is also our leader in Kano Central. Why not consider giving him the slot?” Mr Gwarzo queried.
He added that Mr Gawuna’s current position can’t sustain him to properly manage his structures.
“Gawuna should be offered the position first, unless he declines, in which case it could be given to someone else.
“All his other colleagues who contested in other states were given positions, such as the candidates from Plateau and Zamfara states,” Mr Gwarzo added.
The former minister stated that he has come to terms with his dismissal and moved forward. He also reiterated his ongoing support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
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