Mustapha Kwankwaso Demands Retraction from Kano Commissioner Over Viral Remarks

Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, the deputy governorship candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and son of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has formally demanded a retraction and public apology from Kano State Commissioner for Information, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa. The demand follows remarks made by the Commissioner during an appearance on the Gabon Talk Show, which began circulating on social media on Monday.

The Nature of the Allegations

According to the Daily Post Nigeria, the video clip features Commissioner Bature making claims regarding Mustapha’s personal history. Specifically, the Commissioner alleged that Mustapha had struggled with drug-related issues and asserted that his father, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, had sought help for him at various rehabilitation centers. Furthermore, the Commissioner suggested that the senior Kwankwaso would eventually regret his son’s political emergence as a deputy governorship candidate.

Mustapha’s Rebuttal

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Mustapha Kwankwaso categorically denied these allegations, labeling them as a deliberate attempt to damage his reputation. He addressed several specific points raised in the broadcast:

• Rehabilitation Centers: Mustapha denied that he had visited rehabilitation centers internationally. Regarding the Kiru Rehabilitation Centre, he clarified that it was established as a government initiative during his father’s second tenure as governor to assist young people in Kano, noting that he was living in Dubai at the time of its creation.
• Professional Background: He refuted claims that he had never been entrusted with the management of family assets, such as Skyline University, Mewar University, or the family farm. He emphasized his role as an entrepreneur, citing his ownership of a rice-processing factory as evidence of his self-reliance.
• Public Service: Addressing his former role as the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mustapha insisted that his appointment was based on a desire to serve the youth of Kano, rather than a corrective measure for his character.

Questions of Official Conduct

Beyond the personal dispute, Mustapha questioned the professional conduct of the Commissioner for Information. He challenged the appropriateness of using the office to launch political attacks against opponents, suggesting that the role should be dedicated to communicating government policies and achievements. He further queried whether the statements made by Bature represented his personal views or the official position of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

The Ultimatum

Mustapha has given the Commissioner 48 hours from Tuesday to retract the statements and issue a public apology to him, his family, and the people of Kano State. He stated that he has instructed his legal team to prepare for further action should the deadline pass without compliance. While the source does not provide information regarding a response from Commissioner Bature or the state government, Mustapha maintained that he intends to keep political discourse focused on policy and performance rather than personal grievances.

Note: Information regarding the specific legal filings or a response from the Kano State government was not available at the time of reporting.

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p class=”vbna-source-note”>Source: Daily Post Nigeria

Tags: Defamation · Kano · Mustapha Kwankwaso · news · Nigeria Politics · Sanusi Bature · ViralBrief