Kwankwaso Finally Tamed Ganduje  

Political contests are always fun for onlookers and observers. To the individuals in the ring, when it is not a battle of life and death, it is a battle of life and death. Even though it is looking like the outgoing Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has overthrown his rival, Rabiu Kwankwaso, one need only look to closer to realise that things are not so simple. In fact, the reverse may be the case.

The people of Kano are not over their celebrations over the emergence of Yusuf Abba of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) as Governor-elect. Beating Yusuf Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who was supported by Governor Ganduje, Abba has ultimately placed victory in the hands of Kwankwaso, his father-in-law.

Kwankwaso and Ganduje are old pals and rivals. In 2019, Kwankwaso almost collapsed the gubernatorial ambition of Ganduje with Abba of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) then. Ganduje’s victory over Abba was so fragile that it was a mere 8,982 votes that he took the trophy home. Ever since, it is clear that Kwankwaso has had him in mind, and prepared his son-in-law, Abba, to finish Ganduje in the gubernatorial ring. And he has.

Recently, Ganduje has been affirming his influence in Kano. Political analysts say that a recent address that Ganduje gave on Workers’ Day in which he stated that the emirates he created have to come stay were directed to Kwankwaso. They are reportedly Ganduje’s reaction to Kwankwaso’s comments that the incoming government may vet Ganduje’s disintegration of the Emirate of Kano that had Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi as Emir, a process that saw the creation of five emirates.

If Kwankwaso has his way and the five emirates established by Ganduje are changed in some way, Ganduje would have lost big time. After all, the splitting of the Kano emirate and the consequent dethronement of Sanusi was one of the highlights of his administration. So, it is still a strong contest between Kwankwaso and Ganduje, one that Kwankwaso is on the cusp of winning.

With Kwankwaso’s son-in-law set to become governor, Ganduje has become the underdog in Kano State politics.