‘Why Ganduje was absent during Tinubu’s condolence visit to Kano’

By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano

Facts have emerged why immediate-past National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, was absent during Friday’s condolence visit to the family of Kano-born business mogul, the late Aminu Alhassan Dantata, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Ganduje, immediate-past Governor of Kano state and President Tinubu’s close political associate, recently resigned his position as APC National Chairman, on health grounds.

There have been wild speculations on why Ganduje was conspicuously absent during President Tinubu’s visit with many saying it was a sign of deterioration in relationship between the two friends.

But Ganduje’s former Chief of Staff, Malam Muhammad Garba dismissed such speculation in a statement on Saturday.

While reaffirming Ganduje’s loyalty to Tinubu, Garba said the former the former governor could not be part of the presidential condolence visit because he couldn’t make it back to Nigeria from London.

According to Garba: “The immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, was unavoidably absent during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s condolence visit to Kano on Friday due to a pre-scheduled personal engagement in London, which commenced five days after his resignation from the party’s leadership.”

Malam Garba said that, “contrary to media speculations suggesting that Dr. Ganduje was either unwell or deliberately excluded from the President’s entourage, the former National chairman had traveled to London for a personal engagement that had been arranged well in advance.”

Garba explained that the visit by President Tinubu, which aimed at paying condolences to the family of the late business icon, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, was communicated to Dr. Ganduje, “but unfortunately despite frantic efforts to reschedule his flight and itinerary, the logistics made it impossible for him to return in time. Dr. Ganduje made every effort to adjust his plans but was unable to do so.”

Garba added that, “however, despite being abroad, Dr. Ganduje remained in constant communication virtually every hour or two with key party leaders, including the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, and the APC Kano state Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, to ensure smooth coordination for the President’s visit.”

Garba emphasized that Dr. Ganduje’s resignation as APC National Chairman, “has in no way, affected his cordial, longstanding relationship with President Tinubu, a bond built over years of mutual respect and political alignment.

“The APC in Kano remains fully united, loyal, and committed to the vision and leadership of President Tinubu.”

Garba further reaffirmed the party’s strong support for the Renewed Hope Agenda.