Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo, the former Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, has expressed his dissatisfaction and confusion over his recent removal from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
Gwarzo explained that President Tinubu justified the decision by citing an overrepresentation of political appointees from Kano State, necessitating a reduction. However, Gwarzo pointed out that he was neither accused of misconduct nor found lacking in his duties, hinting that external influences might have played a role in his dismissal.
He disclosed that after being informed of the impending decision, he and others had suggested potential replacements, but their recommendations were ignored. Gwarzo argued that Nasir Gawuna, the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 Kano elections, should have been the preferred choice to represent Kano Central in the federal cabinet.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, Gwarzo expressed his surprise at the dismissal, stating, “I was shocked because there were no allegations of wrongdoing or underperformance. As a minister of state, I was primarily supporting the senior minister, who handled most of the responsibilities.”
He added, “The President informed me personally before the announcement, citing the need to reduce political appointees from Kano North due to overrepresentation. We put forward our suggestions for a replacement, but they were not considered. This made me suspect that other factors were at play, as the given reason seemed insufficient.”
Gwarzo also argued that if the ministerial slot was intended for Kano Central, Nasir Gawuna, as the APC leader in the region, should have been the first choice. He noted that, unlike Kano, APC candidates who lost governorship races in other states like Plateau and Zamfara were given federal appointments.
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