A crisis seems to be brewing between Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State and his political godfather, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, with the former allegedly refusing to sack two top government functionaries as directed by the latter.
According to NAN, the affected functionaries are the Commissioner for Information, Baba Dantiye and Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Abdullahi Bichi.
A source said Kwankwaso was uncomfortable with Bichi’s refusal to take instructions from him in handling some of his official duties.
Sources close to the governor said Yusuf would rather have a one-to-one discussion with Kwankwaso over the issue than to act on his “order”.
A group known as “Abba Tsaya Da Kafarka,” meaning,”Abba,Wake Up And Assert Yourself” has emerged, in support of Yusuf.
According to sources close to the group, it has become important for Yusuf to stop behaving like an errand boy.
The source said the group believed that Kwankwaso hand-picked most of the government’s political office holders, including the commissioners.
Members of the National Assembly on the platform of the NNPP were said to have recently met with Yusuf and urged him to assert his independence.
Similarly, Alhaji Hamisu Dumgurawa, chairman NNPP in Kano, has announced the suspension of the SSG and Alhaji Muhammad Doggon, Commissioner for Transport from the party.
He said the two principal officers were suspended over alleged ant-party activities.
When contacted Kwankwaso said he was in line with the actions of the party chairman, adding that as a loyal party man, he would not contradict the party leadership.
“I will not say anything more since the party chairman has already addressed it”, he said.
Daily Trust’s attempt to speak with Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, spokesman to the governor, over the development did not yield result as his phone line rang out when our reporter tried to reach him on Tuesday night.
Earlier, this newspaper had reported how Yusuf flew out of Kano when Kwankwaso was meeting some key personalities in the state.
