Ganduje fires back at Kano govt, says call for his arrest shows ‘desperation, incompetence’

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and immediate past governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has criticised the Kano State government for calling for his arrest over alleged comments about forming a militia group, describing the move as unfounded and irresponsible.

In a statement issued on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu,  Ganduje said the demand for his arrest was “reckless, baseless, and a clear reflection of the Kano State Governor’s desperation and incompetence.”

He argued that the declaration by Governor Abba Yusuf’s administration amounted to a neglect of duty by a government that, according to him, has failed to protect the lives and property of residents.

“It is deeply unfortunate that rather than addressing the escalating insecurity ravaging the state, Governor Yusuf has chosen to chase shadows while searching for scapegoats to conceal his glaring failures.

“At a time when communities such as Bagwai, Shanono, and Tsanyawa, other affected areas are living in fear, the governor has neither visited nor shown empathy toward the victims.“His continued absence in moments that require leadership speaks volumes of his disconnect from the people he claims to serve,” he said.

The statement noted that Ganduje has never been linked to violence or any action capable of threatening Kano’s peace, adding that during his eight-year tenure, he kept the state stable and secure, earning national recognition—an achievement it contrasted with what it described as the current government’s lack of direction.

The former governor urged Yusuf to concentrate on his constitutional responsibility to safeguard citizens rather than engaging in political drama and circulating unfounded claims.

Ganduje further stated that true leadership is demonstrated through “purposeful action, responsibility, and compassion,” not through media appearances or “frivolous statements aimed at diverting public attention from one’s failures.”