THE ongoing debate surrounding the alleged corrupt practices of the Director-General of Protocol to the Executive Governor of Kano State has raised heated arguments.
While some have argued that, in line with the principle of sub judice, such discussions should be suspended, the sheer gravity of corruption in our political life makes silence almost impossible.
When it comes to corruption in Nigeria, former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is perhaps the least credible voice to mount the moral high ground. His sudden embrace of anti-corruption rhetoric is, at best, surprising and, at worst, deeply ironic.
For eight years, Ganduje governed Kano State under a heavy cloud of corruption allegations. From the infamous dollar-stuffing video that trended globally, to repeated accusations involving members of his family, his tenure was more defined by scandal than reform.
Indeed, history will remember that his eldest son dragged the then First Lady (his own mother) before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations of corruption. Such a family implosion was unprecedented in Kano’s political history.
Even Ganduje’s brief tenure as National Chairman of the ruling party ended in controversy, amid strong insinuations that corruption allegations hastened his resignation. Given this background, one might reasonably expect him to steer clear of the subject.
Instead, he now loudly accuses the present Kano administration of being “thieves from head to toe,” while directing his allies to “expose” them. That statement alone betrays the politics behind the exposés and underscores the hypocrisy of the messenger.
Despite the overwhelming circumstantial evidence, particularly the viral dollar video, I have deliberately used terms like “alleged” or “allegedly.”
As a lawyer, I remain guided by Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees the presumption of innocence. To categorically brand someone a thief, as Ganduje did, is not only defamatory but reckless and unconstitutional.
It is also important to recall that during Ganduje’s administration, elected local government chairmen, vice chairmen, and councillors were denied their legitimate entitlements. Funds meant for them were reportedly diverted.
His successor, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, recently cleared those inherited liabilities to the tune of ₦16 billion, even though the beneficiaries neither worked under his government nor shared his political platform. That singular act reflects integrity, fairness, and responsibility in governance.
So, the question is straightforward: between an administration accused of withholding funds and another that chose to settle inherited debts, who truly holds the moral right to speak against corruption?
In my view, Ganduje’s sudden anti-corruption rhetoric is not born of principle but of politics. For a man long enmeshed in allegations of graft to suddenly present himself as a crusader is not just ironic, it is the classic case of the pot calling the kettle black.
- Gwandu, a public ocmmentator, writes from Kano.
