Kwankwaso: threatened with suspension

Alhaji Umar Doguwa, the Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), in Kano State said he was forced to sign and address a news conference threatening disciplinary action against former state governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso.

The APC Chairman had on Thursday addressed a press conference where the party accused Kwankwaso of hiring thugs to insult Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje during a condolence visit to Ganduje’s home town.

Doguwa made the clarification while addressing a news conference in Kano on Saturday.

“I felt duty bound to unequivocally make it clear to our esteemed followers that the previous press statement read and signed by me was not written and made by my humble self.

“I neither participated in the drafting, but rather I was coerced to sign under duress and close marking by the state apparatus.

“What makes it more curious for me to recant this is the fact that elders’ committee is not part of party executives hence, procedurally we cannot issue a joint statement”, Doguwa said.

He said it was an oversight on the part of the party to have made the earlier press statement on the condolence visit.

He said the earlier press statement he withdrew was indeed a product of “warped and mischievous elements” whose stands and antics were causing confusion and disunity amongst rank and file of their great party and Ganduje’s administration.

Doguwa said the party will continue operate within the ambit of its constitution in dealing with every member of the party.

“We have observed with concern that the action was capable of putting up our members against each other as the condolence visit of the former governor has been politicised out of proportion “, he said.