Dadiyata: El-Rufai’s Allegations Attempt to Shift Blame – Ganduje’s Commissioner

A former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has rejected allegations by his former Kaduna State counterpart, Nasir El-Rufai, linking him to the disappearance of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata.

In a statement signed by former Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs in Kano State, Comrade Muhammad Garba, the former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) described the allegation as reckless and unfounded, saying it was an attempt to shift responsibility for an incident that occurred in Kaduna State.

Garba stated that Dadiyata lived and operated in Kaduna, where he was known for criticising the Kaduna State Government.

He said there was no credible record indicating that the activist’s primary focus was the Kano State Government or Ganduje.

“Everyone in Kaduna knew the nature of the criticism he made and who it was directed at,” he said, adding that responsibility for security in Kaduna at the time rested with the state government and relevant federal security agencies operating there.

The statement called for careful scrutiny of El-Rufai’s recent remarks, stressing that serious allegations must be backed by verifiable evidence rather than political rhetoric.

Garba warned that dragging Ganduje into the matter without proof risks politicising a painful and unresolved case and further confusing the public.

He contrasted the political climates in both states during the period in question, maintaining that Ganduje’s two-term administration in Kano was marked 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 said, adding that there was no record of arrests, intimidation or harassment of journalists or critics in Kano during Ganduje’s tenure.

Garba also noted that public discourse surrounding Dadiyata’s disappearance had largely centred on events within Kaduna State.

He referenced comments by former Senator Shehu Sani and commentator Reno Omokri, who had previously raised concerns about how the matter was handled.

He further questioned El-Rufai’s claim that a police officer allegedly confessed to being sent from Kano to abduct Dadiyata, asking why such information, if credible, was not formally disclosed to investigative authorities.

“It is difficult to reconcile a claim of having no prior knowledge of the individual with simultaneously making detailed assertions about who was responsible,” he said.

While expressing sympathy for Dadiyata’s family, Garba stressed that efforts should focus on uncovering the truth through lawful and transparent investigations.

“The family deserves closure. What they do not deserve is for this tragic matter to become an instrument of political blame-shifting,” he said.

He urged anyone with credible information regarding the disappearance to present it to appropriate authorities, emphasising that accountability must be based on facts and due process.