The Renewed Hope Ambassadors Forum (RHAF) has issued a stern warning to Abdullahi T. Gwarzo, the former Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, following his public criticism of President Bola Tinubu.
Gwarzo was removed from his position last month, alongside four other ministers, due to concerns over their performance in advancing the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda in their respective ministries.
In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Saturday, Gwarzo questioned the rationale behind his dismissal, suggesting it was politically motivated.
He also expressed dissatisfaction with President Tinubu’s appointment of Yusuf Abdullahi Atta as his successor, stating that the President should have instead appointed Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, the APC’s 2023 gubernatorial candidate in Kano State.
Gwarzo went on to reveal details of his private conversations with the President regarding his removal, further fueling the controversy.
The RHAF has responded sharply, denouncing Gwarzo’s comments as “insulting” to both President Tinubu and the office of the presidency.
The group’s Kano State coordinator, Comrade Danjuma Usman Gwale, issued a statement accusing Gwarzo of undermining the President’s constitutional authority.
Gwale emphasized that Section 171 of the 1999 Constitution grants the President the power to hire and fire ministers and that Gwarzo’s public disclosure of private discussions with the President was not only inappropriate but a betrayal of trust.
“It is unfortunate and ridiculous for someone who has served as a minister to publicly disclose private conversations with the President.
“This behaviour is unbecoming of his status and indicates that he cannot be trusted.
“Gwarzo’s remarks are an insult to the President and the presidency, and he should understand the implications of sharing confidential discussions, particularly those involving the President,” the forum stated.
The RHAF further chastised Gwarzo for undermining the President’s authority and for questioning the appointment of Atta, while failing to raise similar concerns when he was appointed as a minister in 2023.
The Forum also noted that no minister removed from office has ever publicly behaved in such a manner and that the proper course of action for a dismissed minister is to thank the President and move on, as other recently dismissed ministers had done.
“We believe that Gwarzo needs to be reminded that his appointment as a minister was not his personal prerogative, but the President’s decision as enshrined in the Constitution.
“His hypocritical remarks are unacceptable, and we will not tolerate this attempt to undermine the President,” the Forum concluded, warning Gwarzo to cease his attacks or face consequences.
