You’re very disrespectful – Minister slams Dep Gov over utterances against President Tinubu
Hon. Abdullahi Ata, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, has slammed Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, the Deputy Governor of Kano State, for his aggressive and careless remarks against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ongoing Kano emirship dispute.
Significant indignation has been generated by Comrade Gwarzo’s recent demand that President Tinubu “remove the emir he enthroned and kept in a graveyard.”
The Kano State Deputy Governor was reprimanded by Honourable Ata, who also demanded that Gwarzo and the Kano State Government formally apologise to President Tinubu for their provocative comments within 72 hours.
Failure to comply, the Minister stated, would leave members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with no option but to pursue legal and political action.
In a strongly worded press release issued by his media aide, Seyi Olorunsola, Ata labeled Gwarzo a “coward” for his disrespectful attack on the President, condemning his behavior as “unacceptable” and “disgraceful.” Ata further asserted that the Deputy Governor’s remarks were a direct affront to the dignity of the nation’s highest office.
“The Deputy Governor’s audacity to address the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in such a crude and disrespectful manner is both disgraceful and a direct challenge to the sanctity of the office,” said Ata. “This is yet another example of the Kano State Government’s disregard for democratic principles and the rule of law.”
The Minister highlighted that Gwarzo’s comments, demanding the removal of the emir, were not only undemocratic but also threatened the integrity of the Presidency. He accused the Kano State Government of continuing its “reckless and undemocratic conduct” at the national level, further exacerbating the ongoing crisis.
Ata also pointed out that the Emirship issue is currently under legal review and thus subjudice. Despite this, he criticized the Kano State Government for making incendiary statements that undermine the judiciary and seek to exert undue pressure on the legal process.
The Minister concluded by emphasizing that such reckless actions only serve to expose the Kano State Government’s failure to understand the fundamental principles of governance, federalism, and democratic engagement.
“This pattern of conduct amounts to sheer political rascality and a complete lack of respect for democratic norms and due process,” he declared.
“It is crucial to remind Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and his administration that the Presidency is not an extension of their local political theater,” he said.
“The Office of the President must be accorded the highest level of respect, and no government, no matter how misguided or emboldened by lawlessness, has the right to dictate terms to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. If the Kano State Government believes it has a legitimate claim, it must channel its grievances through proper legal and constitutional processes rather than resorting to incendiary rhetoric and public grandstanding.”
The Honourable Minister emphasised his commitment to upholding the integrity of democratic institutions, ensuring that “no state government, no matter how desperate, is allowed to subvert the sanctity of the rule of law.”
“The people of Kano and Nigerians at large deserve leaders who understand governance, not politicians who thrive on reckless propaganda and political thuggery,” he stated.
