KWANKWASO’S SON GIVES KANO INFORMATION COMMISSIONER 48 HOURS TO RETRACT ALLEGED DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS

A former Kano State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has threatened legal action against the state’s Commissioner for Information, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, unless he withdraws alleged defamatory statements against him and issues a public apology within 48 hours.

Mustapha, who is the deputy governorship candidate of the New Democratic Congress (NDC), also demanded an apology to his family and the people of Kano State over comments allegedly made by the commissioner concerning his background, business interests and appointment into the state cabinet.

In his reaction, the former commissioner dismissed claims that his father, former Kano State Governor and Senator, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, established the Kiru Rehabilitation Centre because of him.

He explained that the facility was established as part of a government initiative designed to rehabilitate young people, insisting that its creation had nothing to do with his personal circumstances.

Mustapha also rejected allegations that his father financed or facilitated the establishment of his businesses, maintaining that he independently built his business interests, including a rice processing factory.

He further dismissed suggestions that his appointment as Commissioner for Youth and Sports was intended to reform his character, insisting that he was appointed to serve Kano residents and contribute to the state’s development.

The NDC deputy governorship candidate accused Sanusi Bature of using his position as Information Commissioner to attack political opponents rather than concentrate on communicating government policies, programmes and achievements to the public.

He warned that failure to retract the alleged defamatory statements and issue the demanded apology within 48 hours would leave his lawyers with no option but to commence legal proceedings.

Mustapha maintained that he would explore all lawful avenues to protect his reputation, adding that political disagreements should not degenerate into personal attacks.

He also urged politicians and public office holders to concentrate on governance, policy debates and their records in office rather than engage in exchanges capable of damaging individual reputations.