The immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has firmly rejected allegations by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, linking him to the disappearance of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata.
This was conveyed in a statement signed by former Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs in Kano State, Muhammad Garba, who urged anyone with credible information regarding the abduction to present it to appropriate authorities, stressing that accountability must be based on facts and due process rather than speculation.
In the statement, Ganduje described the allegation as reckless, unfounded and a clear attempt to shift responsibility for an incident that occurred entirely within Kaduna State.
He emphasised that Dadiyata lived and operated in Kaduna, where he was widely known for directing his criticisms at the state government, noting that there is no credible evidence suggesting that the activist’s primary focus was Kano State or Ganduje.
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“Everyone in Kaduna knew the nature of the criticism he made and who it was directed at,” the statement noted, adding that responsibility for security in Kaduna at the time rested with the state government and relevant federal security agencies.
The statement further called for careful scrutiny of El-Rufai’s remarks, stressing that such serious allegations must be backed by verifiable evidence rather than political rhetoric.
It warned that dragging Ganduje into the matter without proof not only politicises a painful and unresolved episode but also risks misleading the public on an already sensitive issue.
Contrasting the political climate in both states at the time, Garba maintained that Ganduje’s administration in Kano was characterised 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 stated.
He added that there was no record of arrests, intimidation or harassment of journalists or critics in Kano during Ganduje’s tenure.
The statement also referenced remarks by former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, who had noted that many individuals in Kaduna were reluctant to speak publicly about the case, as well as comments by Reno Omokri questioning how the matter was handled.
Garba further expressed concern over El-Rufai’s claim that a police officer allegedly confessed to being sent from Kano to abduct Dadiyata, questioning why such information, if credible, was not formally presented to investigative authorities or pursued through proper security channels.
“It is difficult to reconcile a claim of having no prior knowledge of the individual with simultaneously making detailed assertions about who was responsible,” the statement added.
While reiterating sympathy for Dadiyata’s family, the statement stressed that the priority should remain on uncovering the truth through lawful and transparent investigative processes.
“The family deserves closure,” it stated, adding that the matter should not be reduced to political blame-shifting but handled with the seriousness it deserves.