Hanga Speaks On Bitter Kwankwaso Fallout, Reveals What Changed Everything

The Senator representing Kano Central Senatorial District, Rufai Sani Hanga, has opened up about the circumstances that led to the breakdown of his political relationship with the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Hanga attributed the deterioration of their relationship to disagreements surrounding his empowerment programmes and political activities.

The lawmaker disclosed this during an interview with online television platform Dan’uwa Rano TV.

According to Hanga, Kwankwaso became displeased with him after he organised a major empowerment programme for his constituents, during which he distributed vehicles, rice, fertiliser, grinding machines and other items.

The senator said the disagreement escalated after he organised the event at a venue associated with Kwankwaso. He explained that the former Kano State governor had initially agreed to attend the programme and witness the distribution.

Hanga recalled that Kwankwaso appeared unhappy when he arrived at the venue.

According to him, the former governor later asked those present to observe prayers before leaving the venue, but did not return.

Despite his absence, Hanga said the empowerment programme continued in the presence of several political figures, including former Kano State Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, Wada Sagagi, Batayya, Nasiru Gawuna, and several members of the National Assembly.

The senator said Kwankwaso later confronted him about the event, accusing him of organising the programme because people were praising him for what was described as an unprecedented performance by a Kano Central senator.

Hanga quoted Kwankwaso as saying:

“You came distributing things because people are praising you, saying Kano Central has never had a senator like you. You could not even bring the items to us to distribute. You gave me 50 bags of rice, 50 bags of fertiliser, and three cows. Am I hungry, or do I not have them? That is why I refused to come back after prayers.”

Hanga said he apologised to Kwankwaso and promised to address whatever misunderstanding existed between them.

However, the senator maintained that Kwankwaso had previously sent representatives to request that certain individuals be included among beneficiaries of his empowerment programmes.

He specifically alleged that Sunusi Surajo Kwankwaso was sent to request a vehicle for a beneficiary from Shanono Local Government Area, which is outside the Kano Central Senatorial District.

Hanga said he eventually purchased the vehicle after being informed that the intended beneficiary’s car had been damaged in an accident during one of Kwankwaso’s political campaigns.

“I told him that whoever he wanted us to assist, we were ready to do so,” Hanga said.

The senator said the incident made him realise that the mutual respect that had previously characterised their relationship was beginning to disappear.

“That was when I realised disrespect had set in. He has treated others this way, but he had never done it to me until that moment. I told myself that since he started acting this way toward me, it was a mark of disrespect and things would not end well between us,” he said.

Hanga further alleged that Kwankwaso was uncomfortable with the scale of his empowerment initiatives and his growing public profile.

“He was simply not happy with what I was doing, the distributions and the empowerment schemes,” he said.

The lawmaker also attributed his failure to secure a return ticket to the deteriorating relationship, describing Kwankwaso as the “Jagora” (leader) of the political movement.

“The reason I did not get a ticket was because ‘Jagora’ Kwankwaso was unhappy with my performance and activities,” Hanga said.