Kano Govt suspends aide over anti-Kwankwaso remarks
The Kano State Government has suspended the Special Adviser to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Transport, Ibrahim Rabiu, over what it described as “unsubstantiated and inappropriate comments” directed at former Governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Saturday by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Umar Faruq Ibrahim, who stated that the suspension takes immediate effect and that a query has been served to the aide.
“The action was taken following unguarded utterances made by Rabiu, which the government views as a violation of official conduct and a direct affront to the person of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso,” the SSG stated.
The government explained that the remarks, which allegedly touched on political defection and made disparaging insinuations about Senator Kwankwaso, were made without evidence and did not reflect the official position of the Kano State Government.
Reacting to the development, the Director-General of Media and Publicity to the Governor, Alhaji Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, issued a separate statement disowning Rabiu’s remarks.
“We wish to state clearly that the opinions expressed by Hon. Rabiu were personal and do not represent the views of the Governor or the Kano State Government,” he said.
The government further warned all political appointees against making unauthorized statements, reminding them of the need to obtain official clearance before speaking on behalf of the administration.
“All political appointees must mind their utterances and refrain from making statements capable of discrediting the government or its party leaders,” the statement warned.
It also clarified official channels of communication, stating that “only the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Wayya, is authorised to speak on behalf of the government, while the Director-General, Media and Publicity, Sanusi Bature, speaks for the Governor.”
The controversy stems from Ibrahim Rabiu’s recent public claim that Senator Kwankwaso had met with President Bola Tinubu multiple times and was being persuaded to return to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, in a swift turn of events, Rabiu has publicly recanted, apologising to Senator Kwankwaso and distancing himself from the earlier comments.
He described his initial statement as “a work of the devil” and clarified that he was not authorised by Senator Kwankwaso to issue or release any public statement on his behalf.
