In the wake of a cabinet reshuffle on October 23, 2024, former Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Gwarzo, has voiced his discontent over his removal from President Bola Tinubu’s administration, citing what he sees as questionable motives and an unjust rationale.
Gwarzo, alongside four other ministers—Uju-Ken Ohanenye (Women Affairs), Lola Ade-John (Tourism), Prof. Tahir Mamman (Education), and Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Youth Development)—was dismissed as part of Tinubu’s recent shake-up. Speaking to BBC Hausa, Gwarzo disclosed that President Tinubu had personally informed him of the decision prior to the public announcement, attributing the dismissal to a need for “political balance” in Kano North. However, Gwarzo contended that he was not found guilty of any misconduct or poor performance, suggesting that other political factors might have influenced his removal.
“I was surprised because I wasn’t found guilty of any wrongdoing or poor performance,” Gwarzo stated. “The president informed me that Kano North had too many political officers and that it was necessary to achieve a balance. This reasoning was unexpected, and I suspect certain individuals influenced the decision,” he added.
Gwarzo further pointed out that if the role was meant for Kano Central, the president could have considered Nasiru Gawuna, the APC’s 2023 Kano governorship candidate, rather than dismissing him without clear justification. He also highlighted that candidates from other states, such as Plateau and Zamfara, who had previously run for governorships, were granted federal appointments.
This decision, Gwarzo contended, raises questions about equitable political representation, as he believes the situation in Kano was overlooked in favor of other interests.
