“He Is A Small Boy In Politics, He Must Watch His Tongue” — Kwankwaso Attacks Pantami Over Gombe Governorship Ambition

Former Governor of Kano State and vice presidential candidate of NDC, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has described former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and PDP Governorship candidate in Gombe State, Sheikh Isa Ali Pantami, as a political novice who has lost the immunity of a cleric since joining partisan politics.

Kwankwaso stated this in an interview with RFI Hausa on Sunday, while reacting to Pantami’s rumoured ambition to contest the governorship of Gombe State.

According to Kwankwaso, Pantami, who was once respected for his religious knowledge, has now become a junior player in the political arena.

“Ever since Malam Pantami joined our political space, he became a novice. He is a minor player. Now it is being said that he is seeking the governorship of Gombe. That is what I did back in 1998. I became the Governor of Kano in 1999,” Kwankwaso said.

Kwankwaso said Pantami was previously tolerated because of his Islamic scholarship.

“Even when concessions were made for him previously, it was because people believed that alongside Western education, he possessed Islamic religious knowledge, so we respected the religious side,” he said.

The former governor warned that Pantami must now be ready for political attacks and must be careful with his utterances.

“When a person willingly steps into politics, he becomes a junior, and he must watch his tongue. Because in his heart, he still thinks that people will go soft on him just because he is an Islamic cleric. It does not work that way. In fact, this is exactly what we wanted,” he stated.

“Do not sit in the mosque abusing us, interpreting verses, and twisting religious matters as you wish just to damage your political opponents while people assume you are speaking the truth. Now that he has stepped into the ring, he is fully in,” Kwankwaso added.

Kwankwaso said Pantami will henceforth be treated strictly as a politician.

“We will treat him strictly as a politician — whether as a supporter or an adversary — and whatever issue arises requiring a response, he will receive his answer,” he said.

When asked if Pantami misunderstood his earlier comments, Kwankwaso said there was nothing to clarify, noting that Pantami had made political remarks disguised as religion, which was why he remained silent for years.

“There is nothing to clarify. Back then, he made political remarks disguised as religion, which is why we remained silent for years. Gradually, when he showed his true colors, I spoke up,” he said.

“Although I heard that recently he has started bringing up those matters again — statements that will not help his cause as much as he thinks. Even during that period, God was watching all our actions. He did not achieve success, nor did it reduce anything from me; in fact, that ordeal only added to my respect. So as he brings this up again, we are waiting for him to step further into the mud, and then he will get a proper response,” Kwankwaso said.

On whether he should treat Pantami as a newcomer, Kwankwaso said he should be allowed to come fully into politics to learn.

“That is precisely why we shouldn’t rush to answer him or leave him alone. Let him keep stepping in; once he gets fully in, he will wise up. You know how life works; this political jungle we are in, when people are outside — especially clerics, traditional rulers, or wealthy individuals — they have a different mindset until they jump in completely,” he said.

Kwankwaso also reacted to the controversy generated by political singer Dauda Kahutu Rarara, whose songs targeted Pantami.

“You see, now that he has entered, haven’t you heard the outcry and various allegations being raised against him? These things weren’t said before, but now they are out in the open,” Kwankwaso said.

“And he should not think that what the singer Rarara is saying — which I listened to — comes directly from Rarara himself. It comes from authority above Rarara. Rarara does not have the capacity or access to know those things on his own. These are matters that require careful handling,” he added.