FORMER Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has strongly rejected allegations made by his former Kaduna State counterpart, Nasir El-Rufai, linking him to the disappearance of social media activist Abubakar Idris Dadiyata.
In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria, signed by former Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Muhammad Garba, Ganduje described the allegation as “reckless, unfounded, and a clear attempt to shift responsibility” for an incident that occurred entirely within Kaduna State.
Garba emphasized that Dadiyata lived and operated in Kaduna, where he was widely known for his criticism of the Kaduna State Government at the time. According to him, there is no credible record suggesting that the activist’s primary focus was the Kano State Government or Ganduje personally.
“Everyone in Kaduna knew the nature of the criticism he made and who it was directed at,” the statement read.
He stressed that responsibility for security in Kaduna during the period of Dadiyata’s disappearance rested with the state government and federal security agencies operating within Kaduna’s jurisdiction.
The former commissioner urged careful scrutiny of El-Rufai’s recent remarks, maintaining that such serious allegations must be backed by verifiable evidence rather than political rhetoric.
Dragging Ganduje into the matter without proof, he argued, not only politicizes a painful and unresolved episode but risks further confusing the public over an already sensitive case.
Garba particularly questioned El-Rufai’s claim that a police officer allegedly confessed to being sent from Kano to abduct Dadiyata.
He asked why such grave information, if credible, was not formally disclosed to investigative authorities or pursued transparently through appropriate security channels at the time.
“It is difficult to reconcile a claim of having no prior knowledge of the individual with simultaneously making detailed assertions about who was responsible,” he stated.
Drawing a comparison between the political environments of Kano and Kaduna during the period in question, Garba maintained that Ganduje’s two-term administration in Kano was marked by tolerance for criticism, open media engagement, and acceptance of opposition voices.
“Unlike many political leaders who maintained strained relationships with the media, we allowed scrutiny, accommodated critical voices, and even learned from dissenting perspectives,” he said.
He further claimed that there was no record of arrests, intimidation, or harassment of journalists and critics in Kano during Ganduje’s tenure.
Garba noted that public discourse surrounding Dadiyata’s disappearance over the years had largely centered on developments within Kaduna State. He referenced remarks by former Senator Shehu Sani, who had previously suggested that many individuals in the state were reluctant to speak openly about the case.
He also mentioned that political commentator Reno Omokri had, at different times, raised questions regarding how the matter was handled.
While firmly rejecting any link between Ganduje and the disappearance, Garba expressed sympathy for Dadiyata’s family, stressing that the priority should remain uncovering the truth through lawful and transparent investigative processes.
“The family deserves closure,” he said. “What they do not deserve is for this tragic matter to become an instrument of political blame-shifting.”
He concluded by urging anyone with credible information about the abduction to present it to the appropriate authorities, emphasizing that accountability must rest on facts, due process, and verifiable evidence rather than speculation.
The renewed exchange between the two former governors has reignited public debate over one of Nigeria’s most controversial unresolved cases, as calls grow for clarity and justice in the years-long mystery surrounding Dadiyata’s disappearance.