Stepping on Kwankwaso’s poster not intentional — Commissioner

By Salim Umar Ibrahim, Kano

Kano state commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba has said that viral picture on the social media depicting Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state stepping on the poster of former Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso at the APC rally, held on Saturday, was unintentional and totally unpremeditated.

In a statement, the commissioner said that no matter the political misunderstanding and differences, it has never been the character of Governor Ganduje to engage in any disrespectful or act of belittling any political leader.

He said while the issue has been twisted by some injudicious elements who are busy parodying the scenario for their egoistic interest, it would become a big wound to the conscience if facts are misrepresented.

Giving an account of what actually happened, Malam Garba stated “during the event, which was organised as part of activities marking this year’s Democracy Day, two former gubernatorial candidates and many members of the Kwankwasiyya defected to the APC.

“When Governor Ganduje was called to the podium, the former Kwankwasiyya members lined up on the way to applaud and pay their allegiance to the governor.

“Some of the members who abandoned the Kwankwasiyya movement at the event, parenthetically, were down playing pictures of the former governor, one of which, dropped on the red carpet as Governor Ganduje walked his way to the podium, and unknowingly stepped on it.”

The commissioner emphasised that Ganduje is known by many as peace loving, tolerating and habours no grudges to influence such act.