By Damilare Adeleye
Reports have emerged that President Bola Tinubu has offered the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Abdullahi Ganduje, an ambassadorial appointment in “any African country”.
Recall that the embattled former Kano State governor was appointed as the national chairman of the ruling party on August 3, 2023, following the forced resignation of Abdullahi Adamu.
Credible sources, who preferred anonymity confirmed to Daily Nigerian that President Tinubu first delegated the President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio to tell Ganduje about the development.
According to the sources, Akpabio told the APC national chairman that the president’s ambassadorial offer was aimed at saving him from the ongoing corruption trial he is currently facing in Kano.
Ganduje, whose 2018 bribe videos caused him public opprobrium and ridicule, is facing corruption charges alongside his wife, son and other accomplices to the tune of over N50 billion.
But inside sources said Ganduje grumbled and tacitly rejected the president’s offer, explaining that the charges were “tissues of lies” and would win his cases in court.
“Is this the way the president will reward my loyalty? Besides, I am too old to go for ambassadorial posting. All the charges are tissues of lies, and I will win my case in court,” Ganduje was quoted as replying to Akpabio.
According to the sources, the president later personally informed Ganduje of the diplomatic posting plan and offered him to choose “any country in Africa”.
But other sources said the president offered him three choices in Africa, Asia and Europe.
A source close to the APC chairman said the president’s preference was to post him as Nigerian ambassador to Chad, having served in Ndjamena as the executive secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission between 2009 and 2011.
“You know the president is looking for a way to pacify him. This is the reason why he allowed him to choose among the three countries, but the president’s preference is Chad.
“But the problem is that no serious Asian or European country would overlook Ganduje’s dollar video and corruption charges to accept him as ambassador.
“However, Ganduje is lobbying hard to retain his seat, going from pillar to post and complaining bitterly to Chief Bisi Akande about the president’s decision to ‘retire’ him from politics. But if the worse comes to worst, Ganduje will choose Morocco over Chad,” the inside source said.
It was reported that a few days after Tinubu communicated the decision to Ganduje, a letter was sent to the APC chairman notifying him of the president’s approval to conduct the National Executive Committee meeting and mid-term non-elective national convention.
The letter, dated August 9 and signed by the president’s chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, informed Ganduje of the president’s availability for the NEC meeting to be held at a date between September 8 and 19, 2024.
“I am directed by the President to inform you that he has granted approval for the scheduling and convening of a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Party. The President has confirmed his availability for the NEC meeting between the dates of 8th September 2024 and 19th September, 2024.
“Furthermore, the President has directed that the agenda for the NEC meeting include, among other things, the consideration of a date for the non-elective National Convention to be held before the end of the year 2024.
“Kindly liaise with the undersigned regarding any developments or necessary clarifications related to the scheduling of the meeting. Please ensure that any changes or updates are communicated promptly to facilitate smooth coordination,” Gbajabiamila said in the letter.