Abdullahi Gwarzo, the former Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, claims his dismissal by President Bola Tinubu was politically motivated, unrelated to his performance in office.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa on Saturday, November 9, 2024, Gwarzo expressed surprise over his removal, stating, “I was surprised because I wasn’t found guilty of any wrongdoing or poor performance. I was minister of state, with the senior minister overseeing a large portion of the ministry’s activities.”
He revealed that Tinubu informed him of the decision prior to the public announcement, explaining that Kano North, Gwarzo’s region, had a high concentration of political appointees, which led to his replacement. Gwarzo questioned this reasoning, suggesting that political influences may have played a role. “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,” he said.
Gwarzo also expressed disappointment over the choice of his successor. He argued that Nasiru Gawuna, the 2023 APC governorship candidate in Kano and party leader in Kano Central, should have been considered first. “If the ministerial slot is indeed meant for Kano Central, we have our 2023 governorship candidate, who is also our leader in Kano Central. Why not consider giving him the position?” he asked.
This development follows the October 23, 2024, announcement from the State House, in which Gwarzo and four other ministers, including Uju-Ken Ohanenye (Women Affairs), Lola Ade-John (Tourism), Prof. Tahir Mamman (Education), and Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim (Youth Development), were dismissed.
