Masari, a close ally of Tinubu, said he had earlier hinted him (Ganduje) of the possibility of the meeting.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has lamented the recent meeting between his political rival, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and President-elect Bola Tinubu.
In a leaked audio, Ganduje told Ibrahim Masari, who was APC’s temporary vice-presidential candidate before the selection of Senator Kashim Shettima, that it was unfair to him for Tinubu to meet Kwankwaso behind his back.
Daily Nigerian reports that insiders confirmed the voices in the leaked phone conversation to be that of Ganduje and Masari.
Tinubu is said to have promised Kwankwaso a ministerial position at their meeting in Paris, France. Kwankwaso led the NNPP in taking over Kano from Ganduje at the March 18 governorship poll.
In the audio, Masari tries to pacify Ganduje, urging him not to be angry over the development.
He asked the governor to remain calm until he visits Tinubu on Thursday.
“There is noise all over Kano (over the Paris meeting),” Ganduje said at the beginning of the conversation.
But Masari, a close ally of Tinubu, said he had earlier hinted him (Ganduje) of the possibility of the meeting.
“I told you about it but you asked me to dismiss it,” Masari said.
“Even if it was true as you hinted, was there anything I could have done to prevent him? Nothing,” Ganduje responded.
“You should have at least confronted him to confirm for yourself,” said Masari.
“If he (Tinubu) now sees Kwankwaso as an alternative to us because we lost election, there is no problem about that,” Ganduje said.
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But Masari asked the governor to perish the thoughts and be calm, adding that he cautioned Tinubu about the implications of the meeting without notifying Ganduje.
“I share your pains. Even your enemy knows that he was not fair to you, but please remain calm until you come (to Abuja),” Masari consoled Ganduje.
“He should have at least invited us for the meeting even if it was for symbolic purposes. And we even lost Kano because of him, the governor lamented. And one thing he (Tinubu) failed to understand is that power belongs to God. And these are very wrong calculations,” he said.
Responding, Masari said Tinubu was sending the wrong signal that would prevent people from trusting him.
Ganduje cited an example of how Kwankwaso fell apart with former President Goodluck Jonathan over corruption allegations.
“I spoke with Mr President earlier and I lamented to him about the issue. He (Tinubu) told me that it was SLS (Sanusi Lamido Sanusi) who arranged the meeting through (Gilbert) Chagoury (a Franco-Lebanese business tycoon and ally of Tinubu). And I asked whether you were informed before the meeting, he (Tinubu) said ‘No’. I will adequately brief you when we meet, you know phone calls are not safe. Just keep exhibiting your maturity by keeping mum,” Masari said.
The governor however said he received a security report that the meeting was part of a plan to scuttle the APC governorship case at the election petition tribunal, which Masari concurred.
He, however, said it was not within the powers of Tinubu to scuttle the election case.
The newspaper said Ganduje’s spokesman, Abba Anwar, did not respond to requests for comments.