Tinubu has told me why I was sacked and it has nothing to do with performance – Former Minister

Former Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Gwarzo, has stated that his recent dismissal by President Bola Tinubu was not due to performance issues. 

In an interview with BBC Hausa, Gwarzo expressed surprise over his removal, asserting that he had neither been accused of poor performance nor any form of misconduct.

According to Gwarzo, President Tinubu had informed him in advance of the decision, citing an excess of political appointments in Kano North and a need to achieve regional balance. Gwarzo, however, voiced skepticism over this rationale, hinting that other influences may have contributed to his dismissal. “We gave our advice, but it was ignored,” he noted, speculating that “certain individuals were behind this” and questioning the validity of the stated reason.

Gwarzo also voiced concern regarding the replacement, Yusuf Ata, suggesting that Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, the 2023 governorship candidate in Kano, should have been given priority for the position. He pointed out that candidates from other states who ran for governorships, such as in Plateau and Zamfara, were appointed to roles.

“If the ministerial slot is indeed meant for Kano Central, we have our 2023 governorship candidate, who is also our leader in Kano Central. Why not consider giving him the position?” Gwarzo asked, advocating that Gawuna be offered the role first unless he declined.