Former Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Gwarzo, has voiced strong objections to his recent dismissal from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
Gwarzo, who was removed in a cabinet reshuffle on October 23, 2024, alongside four other ministers, insists he was not dismissed due to poor performance or misconduct.
The other dismissed officials include Uju-Ken Ohanenye, the former Minister of Women Affairs; Lola Ade-John, the former Minister of Tourism; Prof. Tahir Mamman, the former Minister of Education; and Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, the former Minister of Youth Development.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, Gwarzo expressed shock over his sudden removal and claimed that political motives, rather than his performance, were behind the decision.
“I was surprised because I wasn’t found guilty of any wrongdoing or poor performance,” he stated.
According to Gwarzo, President Tinubu informed him personally about the decision before it was made public.
The former minister explained that Tinubu cited political balancing as the reason for his dismissal.
“The President had informed me of his decision. He said Kano North was overloaded with political officers, hence the need to strike a balance,” Gwarzo shared.
He added that he offered advice to the President, which was ultimately ignored.
“From there, I began to suspect that certain individuals were behind this because, to me, that wasn’t a valid reason,” he said.
Gwarzo questioned why he was removed when his position could have been reassigned to another qualified candidate from Kano.
“If the ministerial slot is indeed meant for Kano Central, we have our 2023 governorship candidate who is also our leader in Kano Central,” he suggested.
He proposed that former gubernatorial candidate Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, who hails from Kano Central, could have been appointed in his place.
“Gawuna should be offered the role first, unless he declines, in which case it could be given to someone else,” Gwarzo argued.
The former minister also pointed out what he saw as inconsistencies in the cabinet reshuffle, citing examples from other states.
“All other candidates from Plateau and Zamfara states who contested for the governorships were appointed to positions,” he noted.
Gwarzo emphasized that he served under a senior minister who oversaw much of the ministry’s activities, implying that his role was secondary and not a source of poor performance.
“I was minister of state, with the senior minister overseeing a large portion of the Ministry’s activities,” he explained.
The former minister’s remarks serve as a reminder of the complex dynamics that often shape cabinet decisions in Nigeria, where regional and political factors play a critical role in appointments and dismissals.
