By Anuoluwa Onuwunyin, Kano
Kano residents are pondering over the whereabouts of Governor Umar Ganduje following speculations that the General Abdulsalami Abubakar Reconciliation Committee plans to visit as efforts to reconcile him and Emir Muhammadu Sanusi kick off.
One report said he had taken off for lesser hajj to Saudi Arabia, but sources doubt the information and suggest he is in Abuja as a prelude to Saudi Arabia trip.
“He is not in Kano, and I doubt if he has left for Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj as has been suggested. He is likely to be in Abuja or elsewhere. His trip to Saudi Arabia is not a sudden trip, it has been in the works for sometime,” said the source, trying to debunk information, rife in Kano, that he hurriedly left the commercial city to avoid meeting the reconciliation committee.
Efforts to reach his spokesman were futile, and the State Commissioner for Information, Mallam Mohammed Garba, is undisposed and in hospital.
There has been no love lost between Ganduje and Sanusi after the latter sided with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the highly controversial gubernatorial election in February that gave the All Progressives Congress’ Ganduje a second term.
After the election, Ganduje split the Kano Emirate into five giving Sanusi about 10 per cent of his previous domain to rule over. He divided the remaining 39 local government areas among the new emirs of Karaye, Bichi, Gaya, and Rano.
He has also said that some 35 civil society organisations have asked for the dethronement of Sanusi.
Forrmer military head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, was appointed the head of the reconciliation committee to intervene in the emirates crisis in Kano State.
Among the 11-member committee are two state governors, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti and Aminu Masari of Katsina.
According to a statement by the Committee Secretary, Dr. Adamu Fika, other members are:
Alh. Adamu Fika, Wazirin Fika, CFR
Gen. Muhammadu Inuwa Wushishi, CFR, GCON
Alh Abdullahi Ibrahim, SAN
Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, OFR, CFR
Dr. Umaru Mutallab, CON
Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, CFR
Sheikh Sharif Ibrahim Saleh
His statement reads further: “Against the background of the crisis in Kano, a matter that has since degenerated into serious tension within the State, with likely consequences on peace and security with the possibility of spilling into neighbouring states, a group of elders, under the chairmanship of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, GCFR has been formed to intervene in the crisis, with a view to bringing about, full reconciliation, and effective resolution of the matter….
“The committee is working with the full understanding and cooperation of the Federal Government and initial contact has been made with His Excellency the Governor of Kano, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as well as with His Highness the Emir of Kano, Sarki Muhammadu Sanusi II. They have each confirmed to holdback from taking any further actions until the committee has fully undertaken and finalised this exercise of reconciliation and resolution. Similarly, they each has respectively undertaken to call on all their supporters and sympathisers including social media operators to refrain from making statements, declarations, songs, articles, blogs and all actions inimical to the spirit and process of good governance, order and reconciliation. We call on everyone to hearken to the call of their principals.
“May God Almighty continue to bless our country, grant us greater peace and prosperity, and may He bless, guide and protect our leaders. Amin.
“Thank you, all.”