Kano APC Chair makes U-turn, says I was put under duress to indict Kwankwaso

A fresh twist has been added to the crisis between Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and his predecessor, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.

Chairman of the Kano State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa, has alleged that he was put under duress by the state government to issue a press statement and also addressed a press conference where he indicted Kwankwaso of allegedly sponsoring armed thugs during his condolence visit to Ganduje town to commiserate with the governor over his mother’s death.

While dissociating from a press statement he earlier purportedly issued on the crisis, Doguwa said: “That the previous press statement read and signed by me was not written by my humble self, neither did I participate in the drafting, but rather, I was coerced to sign under duress and under a close marking by the state apparatus. What makes it more curious for me to recant this is the fact that the Elders Committee is not part of the party executive; hence, procedurally, we cannot issue a joint statement. I, therefore, consider this as an oversight on the part of the party to issue such statement.”

According to him, the state government “has confused purely social event with politics. The visit by the former governor, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, to condole his former deputy, who is now the governor of our great state, has been politicised out of proportion. We have observed this with concern that this action is capable of pitching our members against one another.”

Doguwa noted that other politicians, including those from the opposition parties who came on a condolence visit with a handful of followers exhibited similar activities which Senator Kwankwaso is being accused of, adding, “In order to forestall unpleasant consequences on the party and its teeming supporters, I find it necessary to profusely apologise on the statement earlier issued and hereby withdraw that statement. The said press statement, which I hereby disassociate from, is indeed a product of warped and mischievous elements, whose stance and antics are causing confusion and disunity amidst the rank and file of our great party and the administration of Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.”

Source: thenation