A former governor of Kano State, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, says he was invited by the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the lingering crisis that polarized Kano APC.
Shekarau is the leader of the G7 faction, which has been having a running battle with Governor Abdullahi Ganduje over the party’s leadership in the state.
The crisis further degenerated with the conduct of parallel congresses and consequent litigation which favoured the Shekarau faction.
The visit of Shekarau to Tinubu, an ally of Ganduje on Sunday in Lagos, sparked speculations among the party circle.
In an interview with BBC Hausa Service on Tuesday, Shekarau said he was invited by Tinubu over the crisis.
“He said that he wanted to see me in Abuja, but that time I was in Kano; so we couldn’t see each other. He then requested we meet in Lagos and I told him I will whenever I visited Lagos and that was what happened.
“This is not something new between the two of us. We have had a lot of these types of meetings even during the merger almost eight years ago and when we were governors.”
What we discussed
“He asked about my grudge with Ganduje and I told him it is not a fight between Shekarau and Governor Ganduje.
“It is rather an issue between the G-7 and leadership of the party in Kano. And our reason for that is party members are not given their right and freedom on anything related to the party.
“He told me that he heard from Governor Ganduje and he wanted to hear from me, so that we can get to know the faulty side.
“We sat and I briefed him on all that happened from the beginning up to the recent court judgment,” he said.
Tinubu’s ambition
Asked whether Tinubu’s presidential ambition was part of the discussion, Shekarau said it was not. “The issue of 2023 and his ambition was not raised and the issue of supporting him does not arise.
“As I told you he requested me to see him. So both of us are leaders in the APC, and we have a good relationship. So with or without this crisis happening in Kano, we can meet and discuss issues of our great party,” he explained.
