Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has criticised former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, over a recent song by Dauda Rarara, a prominent political praise singer associated with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu.
Mr Kwankwaso, the presidential running mate in the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), said Mr Pantami should not be surprised by his criticism in the song because, by entering partisan politics, he has exposed himself to the attacks that politicians routinely face.
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He spoke in an interview with DCL Hausa on Tuesday.
‘Rarara has attacked me, Shekarau, Ganduje’
Mr Kwankwaso, who has himself been targeted by Rarara’s political songs in the past, described the singer’s attack on Mr Pantami as a form of political retribution.
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According to him, Mr Pantami had previously used harsh language against him, but he chose not to respond in kind.
“Rarara has insulted me; he has also insulted Shekarau, Ganduje and many other people here in Kano. Yet, we handled it better because we are politicians,” Mr Kwankwaso said.
He was referring to former Kano governors Ibrahim Shekarau and Abdullahi Ganduje, who, like him, have had political differences with Rarara over the years.
Mr Kwankwaso said the controversy surrounding the song was a consequence of Mr Pantami’s decision to move from religious preaching into active partisan politics.
“That is why we say: once you abandon religious preaching and enter politics, you should not expect politicians to treat you as a religious cleric. What Rarara did to Pantami is only the beginning; it is nothing more than a welcome to politics,” he said.
Kwankwaso recalls past clashes with Pantami
Mr Kwankwaso also recalled an occasion when Mr Pantami allegedly attacked his personality in the presence of his supporters.
“Pantami once hurled all sorts of insults at me in the presence of my supporters. I was the one who asked them to calm down and not react,” he said.
He added that there was another occasion when his supporters attempted to confront Mr Pantami.
“There was even a time when my supporters tried to deal with him in Kano because of the way he attacked my personality,” Mr Kwankwaso said.
He argued that Mr Pantami should now understand that political engagement entails criticism from opponents and other political actors.
Pantami’s move into politics
Mr Pantami, a former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and prominent Islamic scholar, is running for governor in Gombe State.
He initially sought the APC ticket but withdrew from the party’s primary in May, alleging violations of the Electoral Act 2026 and irregularities in the process.
He subsequently joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and emerged as the candidate of the Nyesom Wike-led faction.
His entry into partisan politics has also revived scrutiny of his past comments about the PDP, particularly his criticism of the party. At the same time, he was an Islamic preacher and later a minister under the APC administration.
Mr Kwankwaso highlighted this apparent political reversal in his criticism of the former minister.
“Pantami used to call the PDP all kinds of names, including ‘Al-Kafira’ (the Infidel party), yet he has now joined the same party and contested under its platform,” he said.
PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported that Mr Pantami’s political transition and his emergence as a PDP governorship candidate generated debate, particularly over his past criticism of the party.
Rarara’s song sparks controversy
The latest controversy began after Rarara released a song widely interpreted as a political attack on Mr Pantami.
The song attracted criticism from Nigerians, with some questioning the use of music to attack political opponents, while others argued that political figures who enter partisan politics should expect criticism.
READ ALSO: ANALYSIS: How Rarara’s song attacking Pantami ignited debate in northern Nigeria over ethics of political music
The controversy also drew reactions from Islamic scholars and other public commentators, who criticised what they considered the use of abusive or derogatory language against a prominent religious figure.
However, Mr Pantami previously acknowledged that criticism is part of politics. In May, while suspending a social media aide who described his political opponents as “hypocrites”, he said criticism was an important part of political discourse and that, as a politician seeking to lead a diverse society, he understood its value.
Against this backdrop, Mr Kwankwaso’s comments have added to the debate over whether religious leaders who enter partisan politics should continue to be treated primarily as clerics or be subjected to scrutiny and criticism as other politicians.
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