Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo, the former Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, has voiced discontent over his recent dismissal from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, disputing the reason given for his removal. According to Gwarzo, the president justified his dismissal by citing an over-representation of political officers from Kano State in the federal cabinet, an explanation Gwarzo has described as lacking validity.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, Gwarzo disclosed that President Tinubu had privately informed him of the decision prior to the public announcement, stating that Kano North, Gwarzo’s political base, was already heavily represented, necessitating the removal of some officials to achieve regional balance. Gwarzo, however, expressed skepticism over this reasoning, suggesting that other political dynamics may have influenced his ouster.
“I was informed that Kano North was considered overloaded with political representatives, which prompted the decision to cut down on officials from that zone,” Gwarzo explained. “However, I was neither implicated in any misconduct nor cited for poor performance. I served under a senior minister who managed a large portion of the ministry’s responsibilities, and I fulfilled my role effectively. For me, the reasoning given just does not hold.”
Gwarzo further speculated that there may be figures within the administration or the All Progressives Congress (APC) influencing the president’s decision, adding that alternative suggestions for his replacement were made to the president but ultimately disregarded. He believes that if a Kano representative was to be dismissed, the role should have ideally gone to a prominent leader from Kano Central, such as Nasir Gawuna, the APC’s 2023 gubernatorial candidate in Kano, who was also the political leader of the zone.
“Gawuna, our gubernatorial candidate and respected leader in Kano Central, should have been considered first for the ministerial position. If he declined, then others could be approached,” Gwarzo argued. “In similar cases, APC candidates from states like Plateau and Zamfara were offered cabinet roles despite not winning their elections. The same consideration should apply here.”
This dismissal comes amid heightened scrutiny of President Tinubu’s cabinet choices and appointments, with regional representation continuing to be a sensitive issue within Nigeria’s political landscape.
