The Director General, Media and Communications, Kano State Government, Salihu Yakasai has been caught on social media appearing to mock Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai.
Tweeting via his verified personal handle, @dawisu, the controversial governor’s aide appeared to claim that his principal, Abdullahi Ganduje was doing better in the area of security than el-Rufai.
He made the claim while reacting to a series of tweets over veracity of number of COVID-19-positive persons in Nigeria released daily by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
An activist, Jibrin Ibrahim had tweeted: “NUMBERS GAME: Every evening NCDC releases #COVID19 numbers, what do they mean? Samples are sent to labs by task forces controlled by State Governors. The labs can only test what they are given. He who controls the sample set controls the numbers. Governors want low numbers.”
Replying the tweet, el-Rufai wrote, “You are partly right, sir. But not all states want ‘fake’ low numbers. FCT, Kaduna & Lagos States at least are actively tracing contacts because we want RIGHT numbers of those infected – to test, trace contacts & treat them. We want to save lives not have “unexplained deaths”!”
Ibrahim replied, “I agree completely your excellency Lagos, Kaduna and FCT are not playing the politics of artificially low #COVID19 numbers but testing and saving lives. Well done and God’s grace.”
A Twitter user, Ahmed Tijjani Maigoro, then asked: “How about Kano and Katsina Sir? Are the Governor’s faking numbers too?”
To which el-Rufai replied, “You are asking the wrong number!!”
When another Twitter user, @Lollylarry1 drew Yakasai’s attention to the tweet, Ganduje’s image-maker would not take the hidden insult lying low.
He replied, “We value lives in Kano Lolly and that’s why Kano has been peaceful for the past 5yrs. Mysterious deaths have been resolved, testing is still ongoing as we have the highest number of tests done in the North and if anyone has any (proof) of fake numbers we are waiting for it.
“The same way my Governor handled kidnapping, banditry, cattle rustling, armed robbery & religious extremism in Kano is the same way we will handle Covid-19 In Sha Allah madame Lolly. Kano remains on the right track to development with peace & security of our people.”
Read Also: Obama’s Immigration Policy Was More Harmful To Africans Than Trump’s – Expert