The Kano State Government has issued a pointed response to recent comments by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, advocating for a one-party system in Nigeria, citing China as a model of effective governance.
Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Director of Press to the Kano State Government, took to his official Facebook page to share a post that many have interpreted as a thinly veiled critique of Ganduje’s position.
The post read: “China runs a one-party system & it works for them ~ Ganduje. China also executes corrupt politicians & it works for them very well… ~ Author unknown.”
Though Ganduje was not directly named beyond the quoted remark, political observers were quick to note the implication. Many viewed it as a critique not only of the former governor’s suggestion but also of his own track record during his tenure as Kano State governor.
Ganduje’s recent call for a one-party system stirred controversy, with critics pointing to China’s model of governance as a selective comparison. Notably, during his time as governor, Ganduje faced a high-profile corruption scandal. In 2018, a series of videos published by Daily Nigerian allegedly showed him receiving cash bribes from contractors in U.S. dollars—a revelation that sparked public outrage and prolonged legal battles.
The Kano State Government’s retort seems to highlight the disparity in Ganduje’s admiration for China’s one-party system while overlooking its stringent measures against corruption.
Mixed Reactions
Reactions to the Facebook post were varied. A user, Mubarak Aminu Hamisu, commented: “It always makes me laugh when members of Kwankwasiyya Movement mock Ganduje over corruption because none of you know Kwankwaso better than Ganduje does. Only that your principal is better at covering it than Ganduje. Remember Kwankwaso is currently having a corruption case with EFCC. So, Kwankwaso and Ganduje are two sides of the same coin when it comes to corruption.”
Another user, Sadeeq Mahmud Abdurrahman, added: “In Nigeria, we have hidden monsters who secretly collect two billion naira monthly for what we don’t know.”
The exchanges come amid recent allegations by the immediate past Secretary to the Kano State Government (SSG), Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, who accused the Kano State Government of approving a monthly payment of two billion naira to former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. According to Bichi, his refusal to support the payment led to his removal from office.
The unfolding political drama underscores deepening tensions between Kano’s current leadership and its predecessors, reflecting broader debates over governance models and accountability in Nigerian politics.
