Tribunal: Ganduje demands calm, guarantees Kano citizens ideal economic environment

In light of the state Election Petitions Tribunal’s ruling upholding All Progressives Congress candidate Nasiru Gawuna as the legitimately elected governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, National Chairman of the party, has urged the people of Kano State to maintain their composure.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had earlier proclaimed New Nigeria People’s Party governor Abba Yusuf the winner of the bitter March 18 governorship contest; however, the APC had contested his victory.

Speaking to reporters at his Asokoro home in Abuja, Ganduje—who was accompanied by Gawuna and Senator Kabir Gaya, a former state governor—called the tribunal ruling a confirmation of their prior knowledge.

This was all the while the former governor of Kano was telling the people living in the historic city to keep calm and that business will pick back up.

“Today is a historic day,” he declared. We give thanks to Allah for creating a setting that allows the courts to rule in our favor in a fair and open manner. The verdict, which reflects the results of the election, is accurate. We express our gratitude to the judges, state party officials, business community, media, and numerous support groups.

“Everyone in Kano State deserves praise for their patience and persistent prayers asking Allah to grant us victory. We implored them to keep acting peacefully and to keep holding themselves in check. We pledge to the business community that business in Kano will once again thrive under our new administration, insha’Allah, led by our capable governor, Dr. Yusuf Gawana.

We are grateful to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who is currently residing in America, for fostering an atmosphere that has allowed the Nigerian judiciary to grow and thrive. We are grateful to journalists for providing coverage aimed at informing and educating the public. Thank you and God bless you, ladies and gentlemen.

Appreciating the large number of party loyal and supporters who descended upon the mansion, an emotional Gawuna said that the day of the tribunal judgment will live on in his memory forever.

The former deputy governor expressed similar sentiments to Ganduje, saying the ruling accurately represented the events leading up to the state governorship race.

In addition, the former number two to Ganduje pledged to uphold the people’s mandate and the confidence shown in him by President Bola Tinubu and the APC national chairman, who was referred to as a mentor.

“This is a day we will always remember. I express my gratitude to Allah Ta’ala and the judiciary for their fairness. We shall carry on the excellent work, in Sha Allah. We promise to treat everyone equally. Kano State is a commercial state, and we will keep saying the things we mentioned throughout our campaign, emphasizing the areas of trade, education, and health in our blueprint. Kano won’t have any insecurities or other vices thanks to our care. I express my gratitude to Mr. President for selecting Ganduje to be our esteemed leader’s national chairman and for putting his trust in him. He’s raised the bar for the celebration.

For the benefit of people who are unaware of my relationship with Ganduje, I was involved in the party merger while the ANPP was in the process of leaving the PDP. I had the chance to serve as a commissioner at the time, and he was the deputy governor. Kano State’s governor at the time was Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. My rapport with Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje is excellent. Allah had planned for him to become the governor of Kano State in 2015. There were nineteen of us who worked for Dr. Kwankwaso’s administration. However, Ganduje chose me alone to be in his cabinet because he thought I was capable and deserving.

“Your Excellency, I will always be grateful, and I will never take it for granted. After that, people were unaware that I was picked by Ganduje to be a minister, and that during our time in administration, Kano and Lagos State residents may also be considered for this position. But it didn’t take place. Thank God, I was given another chance in 2018 when the outgoing deputy governor stepped down. I was selected as Ganduje’s deputy without any pressure. In his speech on the day he swore me in, he declared, “He is my deputy governor today and he will be my running mate in 2019.” And he carried out his commitment,” he said.