Dadiyata’s disappearance: Ganduje fires back at El-Rufai

By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano

Former Governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has firmly rejected allegations by his former Kaduna state counterpart, Nasir El-Rufai, linking him to the disappearance of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata.

In a measured but unequivocal response contained in a statement signed by former Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs in Kano state, Comrade Muhammad Garba, the former APC national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), described the allegation as reckless, unfounded and a clear attempt to shift responsibility for an incident that occurred entirely within Kaduna State.

He emphasized that Dadiyata lived and operated in Kaduna, where he was widely known for directing his criticisms at the Kaduna state government.

According to him, “there is no credible record suggesting that the activist’s primary focus was the Kano state government or Dr. Ganduje.

“Everyone in Kaduna knew the nature of the criticism he made and who it was directed at.”

Ganduje noted that the responsibility for security in Kaduna at the time rested with the state government and the relevant federal security agencies operating there.

The statement called for careful scrutiny of El-Rufai’s recent remarks, stressing that such serious allegations must be supported by verifiable evidence rather than political rhetoric.

According to Garba, “dragging Ganduje into the matter without proof, not only politicizes a painful and unresolved episode, but also risks further confusing the public over an already sensitive case.”

Contrasting the political climates of both states during the period in question, Garba maintained that Ganduje’s two-term administration in Kano was marked by tolerance for criticism, open media engagement and acceptance of opposition voices.

“Unlike many political leaders who maintained strained relationships with the media, we allowed scrutiny, accommodated critical voices and even learned from dissenting perspectives,” he said.

The former Commissioner added that, “there was no record of arrests, intimidation or harassment of journalists or critics in Kano during Ganduje’s tenure.”

The former President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), further observed that, “public discourse surrounding Dadiyata’s disappearance has, over the years, centered largely on events within Kaduna state, noting further that Senator Shehu Sani had openly remarked that many individuals within the state were reluctant to speak publicly about the case, while commentator Reno Omokri previously raised allegations questioning how the matter was handled at the time.

Garba also expressed concern over El-Rufai’s claim that a police officer allegedly confessed to being sent from Kano to abduct Dadiyata.

He questioned why such grave information, if credible, was not formally disclosed to investigative authorities or pursued transparently through appropriate security channels at the time.

According to Garba: “It is difficult to reconcile a claim of having no prior knowledge of the individual with simultaneously making detailed assertions about who was responsible.”

While reiterating sympathy for Dadiyata’s family, Garba stressed that the priority should remain on uncovering the truth through lawful and transparent investigative processes.

“What the family do not deserve is for this tragic matter to become an instrument of political blame-shifting,” he added.

He concluded by urging anyone with credible information regarding the abduction to present it to the appropriate authorities, emphasizing that accountability must rest on facts and due process, not speculation.