Abdullahi Gwarzo, the recently dismissed Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, has attributed his removal by President Bola Tinubu to political motivations rather than a reflection of his performance in office. Gwarzo, in a recent interview, expressed his belief that Nasiru Gawuna, the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2023 governorship candidate for Kano State, should have been appointed in his stead.
Yusuf Ata has since been appointed as the new Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development.
In a statement from the State House on October 23, 2024, Tinubu announced the dismissal of Gwarzo along with four other ministers, including Uju-Ken Ohanenye (Women Affairs), Lola Ade-John (Tourism), Prof. Tahir Mamman (Education), and Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Youth Development).
Speaking with BBC Hausa on November 9, 2024, Gwarzo expressed his surprise at the dismissal, noting, “I was not found guilty of any wrongdoing or poor performance. My role as minister of state meant the senior minister managed much of the ministry’s affairs.” Gwarzo added that Tinubu cited an imbalance of political representation in Kano North as the reason for the dismissal, a rationale Gwarzo finds unconvincing. “We advised against this decision, but it was disregarded, leading me to believe that certain influences were at play,” he said.
Gwarzo argued that Gawuna, as APC’s leader in Kano Central, is best suited for the ministerial role. “If this position is truly intended for Kano Central, Gawuna should be the first choice, and if he declines, then it can go to someone else,” he stated, citing examples of other gubernatorial candidates from Plateau and Zamfara states who received appointments.
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