Kwankwaso was unhappy, jealous I was getting public praise– Rufai Hanga

The Senator representing Kano Central Senatorial District, Rufai Sani Hanga, has attributed his decision to part ways with former Kano State Governor and leader of the Kwankwassiya Movement, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to what he described as the latter’s envy and displeasure over his projects and empowerment programmes.

Hanga made the claim in an interview with online television platform Dan’uwa Rano TV, where he recounted the events that reportedly deepened the rift between him and the former governor.

The senator, who was a prominent member of the Kwankwassiya Movement before defecting to the All Progressives Congress, APC, said Kwankwaso became visibly displeased after he organised a major empowerment programme for his constituents.

According to him, the programme involved the distribution of vehicles, bags of rice, fertiliser, grinding machines, livestock and other items to beneficiaries.

Mr Hanga said the empowerment materials were so numerous that it took about one and a half days to transport them to the venue, which he said was associated with Kwankwaso.

He recalled that Kwankwaso appeared visibly displeased when he arrived at the venue and saw the scale of the empowerment programme.

According to him, the former governor asked those present to break for prayers and subsequently left the venue without returning.

Mr Hanga said several political figures, including former Kano State Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo; Wada Sagagi; Batayya; Nasiru Gawuna; and members of the National Assembly, were present at the event.

He said Kwankwaso later confronted him over the programme, accusing him of organising the distribution to attract public praise for what was described as the unprecedented performance of a senator representing Kano Central.

“He said, ‘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,’” Mr Hanga quoted Kwankwaso as saying.

The senator said he apologised and promised to resolve whatever misunderstanding had arisen between them.

However, Mr Hanga alleged that Kwankwaso had previously sent emissaries to request that specific individuals be included among beneficiaries of his empowerment schemes.

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

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

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

The lawmaker said the incident made him realise that the mutual respect that had previously characterised his relationship with Kwankwaso had begun to deteriorate.

“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 towards me, it was a mark of disrespect and things would not end well between us,” he said.

Mr 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 senator also linked his failure to secure the Kwankwassiya Movement’s support for his return to the Senate to the deterioration of his relationship with Kwankwaso.

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