Former Minister Gwarzo Says Dismissal Not Linked to Performance

Gwarzo also criticized the decision to appoint Yusuf Ata to the ministerial slot, arguing that it should have been allocated to Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Kano in the 2023 election.

Abuja, Nigeria – Abdullahi Gwarzo, the former Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, has expressed surprise over his recent dismissal by President Bola Tinubu, stating that his removal was not related to any issues of performance or misconduct.

In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, Gwarzo emphasized that he had not been found guilty of any wrongdoing or inefficiency. He noted that as Minister of State, most responsibilities within the ministry were handled by the senior minister, and his role had been in support of those broader duties.

“I was surprised because I wasn’t found guilty of any wrongdoing or poor performance,” Gwarzo said. “And I was a Minister of State, with the senior minister overseeing a large portion of the ministry’s activities.”

According to Gwarzo, President Tinubu personally informed him of the decision prior to the public announcement. He was told that the removal was aimed at balancing the political appointments in Kano State, as Kano North had an overrepresentation of political office holders. However, Gwarzo hinted that he suspected the involvement of certain individuals behind his dismissal, describing the justification provided as inadequate.

“The President said Kano North was overloaded with political officers, hence the need to strike a balance,” he recounted. “We gave our advice, but it was ignored. From there, I began to suspect that certain individuals were behind this because, to me, that wasn’t a valid reason.”

Gwarzo also criticized the decision to appoint Yusuf Ata to the ministerial slot, arguing that it should have been allocated to Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Kano in the 2023 election. He highlighted that other APC governorship candidates from Plateau and Zamfara states who did not win had been appointed to significant positions.

“If the ministerial slot is indeed meant for Kano Central, we have our 2023 governorship candidate, who is also our leader in Kano Central,” Gwarzo said. “Why not consider giving him the position? Gawuna should be offered the role first, unless he declines, in which case it could be given to someone else.”