Ex-Minister Gwarzo Rejects Dismissal from Tinubu’s Cabinet, Questions Motive

Abdullahi Gwarzo, the recently sacked Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, has expressed strong discontent with his removal from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, insisting that he was not guilty of poor performance or any wrongdoing.

In a sharp response to his dismissal during the October 23, 2024 cabinet reshuffle, Gwarzo rejected the reasons provided by the presidency, which cited an overrepresentation of political officers from Kano North as the main justification for the changes.

The reshuffle saw the removal of five ministers, including Gwarzo, alongside Minister of Women Affairs, Uju-Ken Ohanenye; Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John; Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman; and Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim.

In an exclusive interview with BBC Hausa, Gwarzo revealed that President Tinubu personally informed him of the decision before the public announcement.

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However, Gwarzo expressed confusion over the rationale behind his dismissal, stating, “I was surprised because I wasn’t found guilty of any wrongdoing or poor performance.”

Gwarzo also clarified that he served as the junior minister within the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, with the senior minister overseeing much of the ministry’s operations. He emphasized that his removal came after the president’s suggestion that Kano North had too many political appointees, a reason he described as inadequate.

“The president said Kano North was overloaded with political officers, hence the need to strike a balance,” Gwarzo explained. “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.”

The sacked minister further questioned the fairness of the cabinet reshuffle, suggesting that if the ministerial slot was indeed meant for Kano Central, the position could have been offered to a prominent local leader.

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“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?”

Gwarzo’s comments also pointed to the political dynamics in Kano State, where he suggested that the governorship candidate, Dr. Nasir Gawuna, should have been given priority for the role.

He noted, “Gawuna should be offered the role first, unless he declines, in which case it could be given to someone else.”