Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has replied former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, over a comment he made while condemning the ruling All Progressives Congress, Muslim-Muslim for 2023 presidential election.
Lawal had in his letter rejected the choice of Senator Kashim Shettima as running mate to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Presidential Candidate of the APC, and also alleged that “proof of a possible Islamic agenda was leaked when Governor Ganduje, the “Kadmul Islam”, gave advance notice that Tinubu had assured them he would be nominating a muslim as his running mate.”
The former SGF had also said that “Governor Ganduje has a foundation called “Ganduje Foundation” which provides selfless service to humanity and Islam but whose primary purpose it appears is the conversion of Christians to Islam.”
Reacting to the claim, Ganduje averred that there is no compulsion in religion. He also said that Islam gives individuals the freedom to choose their own religion, and also provides non-Muslims with considerable economic, cultural and administrative rights.
He also said that his foundation has built many schools, healthcare centres, distributed free school uniforms and instructional materials to new intake in primary schools, construction of boreholes and mosques.
Ganduje who also said that he’ll always stand for religious harmony in Kano as exemplified by administration’s creation of the Ministry for Religious Affairs, added that the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress would not in anyway result in the neglect of Christians.
He further asked Nigerians to be mindful of their utterances, especially on religious matters.
The statement released by Kano state Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba on behalf of Ganduje read;
“It was unfortunate that at a time when the country needs to be united for national development and religious tolerance, a man of Babachir’s caliber, who is highly respected, would spread falsehood without much consideration to his position in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and close relationship with the party’s flagbearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Going by its activities, the foundation is not faith-based but purely philanthropic in which case, non-Muslims also stand to benefit from the services it renders.
“Ganduje Foundation was set up about 40 years ago and is engaged in philanthropic, humanitarian and charitable activities that included medical, support and assistance to the needy in the society, particularly the orphans and the physically challenged, medical outreach to attend to those with diabetes, hypertension, malaria, dental as well as ante-natal and maternal care.”
