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Tag: Kwankwaso

  • NNPP crisis: Court stops Kwankwaso’s expulsion as former national chairman Alkali quits party

    NNPP crisis: Court stops Kwankwaso’s expulsion as former national chairman Alkali quits party

    A High Court in Kano presided over by Justice Usman Mallam Na’abba has restrained members of the group loyal to the Board of Trustees of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) from acting as officials of the party or suspending/expelling its presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    The injunction followed a suit no K/M1157/2023 of the 4th day of September 2023, filed by the party against the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, former National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Agbo Major and 16 others said to have been filed on August 30th, 2023 and deposed to by one Hashimu Suleiman.

    It also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the “purported suspension (of Kwankwaso) pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice, while adjourning to October 5, 2023.

    The injunction which was issued on September 4, is coming just as the former national chairman of the party, Prof. Ahmed Rufai Alkali formally resigned his membership of the party, saying the crisis rocking the party appears to have no end in sight.

    Read Also: BREAKING: NNPP expels Kwankwaso

    Alkali said in his letter of resignation made available to The Nation that parties in the crisis have refused to allow elders of the party to mediate with a view to finding a lasting solution to the crisis.

    Prof Alkali, who resigned from his chairmanship of the party in March, said he had hope then that his resignation was an opportunity for the party to move ahead and move fast to consolidate on the indisputable gains made during the last 2023 General Elections and prepare for the forthcoming elections

    He said: “Unfortunately, in the last few weeks, the party has slipped deeper and deeper into avoidable crises and conflicts that have led to several cases of suspension and counter-suspension of key leaders of the party, acrimonious press war, accusations and counter-accusations, which regrettably has led to the fictionalisation of the party.

    “After the historic merger of the party in March 2022, together with other astute, highly dedicated, hardworking and loyal members of the party, we put in place a robust political structure nationwide.

    “The National Working Committee (NWC) forged cohesion among our members and created a formidable national platform that fielded candidates for all elective offices from the State Houses of Assembly to National Assembly, Governorship and the Presidency. I am proud to be part of that Dream Team.

    “It is on record that within a period of less than one year and despite the limited time corridor from the merger to the General Elections, the party won elections in the Governorship, National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly seats.

    “I voluntarily stepped aside as the National Chairman of the NNPP shortly after the general election this year to give room for new hands and fresh ideas in order to advance the party forward.

    “As far I was concerned, I never believed in the culture of sitting tight in leadership positions nor that I was indispensable. The New Nigeria we all aspire to achieve must be built on a solid foundation of dedication, hard work, resilience and personal sacrifice.

    “However, the recent disturbing developments in the NNPP with the emergence of factions working against each other is really unfortunate and counter-productive. Sadly, there appears to be no end in sight in this needless war of attrition.

    Addressing newsmen at the Party National Secretariat on Tuesday, September 5, the acting national chairman of the party, Alhaji Kawu Ali, whose address was read by the national auditor, Oladipo Johnson blamed some unnamed external forces scared of the 2027 general election as those responsible for what is happening in the party.

    He said: “The results of our investigations have made it very clear that some external forces, scared of the 2027 elections, are behind these recalcitrant persons and their shenanigans and their main target no doubt is His Excellency, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso PhD, FNSE.

  • BREAKING: NNPP expels Kwankwaso

    BREAKING: NNPP expels Kwankwaso

    The National Executive Committee of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has expelled Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, following his alleged refusal to appear before the party’s Disciplinary Committee.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Kwankwaso, the 2023 Presidential Candidate of NNPP, had been earlier suspended by the party’s leadership at the National Convention on Aug. 29 in Lagos.

    Recall that the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NNPP set up a Disciplinary Committee and directed it to invite Kwankwaso to defend allegations of gross anti party activities and mismanagement of party/campaign funds within five days.

    The NEC had warned  that, failure to appear before the Disciplinary Committee, Kwankwaso would be expelled from the party in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution 2022 (as amended).

    Consequently, Mr Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq, the Acting National Publicity Secretary of NNPP, said in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos, that the NEC had expelled Kwankwaso with immediate effect because of his refusal to honour the committee’s invitations.

    Read Also: NNPP crisis: Only Kwankwaso has the solution – stakeholders

    Abdulrasaq said: “The NEC met in an emergency session on Friday, Sept 1. and resolved as follows:

    “Following the refusal of Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to appear before the disciplinary committee which sat on Thursday, Aug. 31 after being duly invited in writing,  he is hereby expelled from NNPP with immediate effect.

    “That the erstwhile presidential candidate, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso will be reported to appropriate quarters to answer questions on financial impropriety relating to mismanagement of public funds.”

    NAN reports that the crisis within the NNPP started when the NWC of the party loyal to Kwankwaso,  announced the suspension of the NNPP founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam and the National Publicity Secretary, Dr Agbo Major on Aug. 24.

    NAN)

  • NNPP crisis: Only Kwankwaso has the solution – stakeholders

    NNPP crisis: Only Kwankwaso has the solution – stakeholders

    As the crisis in the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) rages on, key stakeholders of the group say that Sen Rabiu Kwankwaso, its presidential candidate, is in the best position to restore order.

    Some of them, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that Kwankwaso was the party’s leader who could easily end the raging bad blood by calling a family meeting.

    NAN reports that the party recently got enmeshed in a crisis with one faction suspending Kwankwaso and many other top notchers over alleged anti-party activities.

    The group specifically accused him of hobnobbing with opponents of the NNPP.

    Another group, while reacting to the reported suspension of Kwankwaso, expelled Dr Boniface Aniebonam, founder of the party and former Chairman, Board of Trustees.

    With the party swimming in such confusion, stakeholders have suggested a meeting to iron out the issues and chart a way forward.

    One such stakeholder is Mr Mordecai Ibrahim, a state house of assembly candidate in Kaduna State.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu kicks off palliative distribution for vulnerable Lagosians

    “Sen Rabiu Kwankwaso as the leader of the party should call a meeting where we can carry out a post-mortem on the 2023 general elections.

    “All factions must sheathe their swords and allow internal democracy.

    “The party must put an end to all forms of highhandedness. We must tolerate each other’s excesses.

    “No one is fighting Kwankwaso in NNPP. He must call a meeting quickly because we are loosing members in droves,” he said.

    A national official of the party, who pleaded anonymity, spoke in the same vein.

    “Sen Kwankwaso should say something. His silence is too loud. His silence is affecting the party’s breath,” he told NAN in a telephone interview.

    Contacted, Dr Aniebonam said that the subject matter is a family issue.

    “It is my hope that Senator Kwankwaso will recover quickly from avoidable circumstances.

    “I have not made any public statement over what is going on in the party, neither has Kwankwaso.

    “The party has boys that are are merely struggling for relevance and stomach infrastructure, especially the inappropriate National Working Committee members.

    “I am aware that Sen Kwankwaso may be really very angry because he advised over the rascality of the illegitimate group.

    “But, I can assure you that whatever happens, NNPP shall come out stronger after these avoidable circumstances.

    “It is just part of politics and society. What is most important to me and Sen Kwankwaso at the moment is the Kano State standoff and enthronement of good governance,” he said.

    Aniebonam urged Nigerians to put his people in the NNPP into prayers.

    “I particularly want Nigerians to pray for Kwankwaso and the governor of Kano State to overcome challenges of good governance and envy,”

    (NAN)

  • Go and register your own party, NNPP founding fathers tell Kwankwaso as crisis deepens

    Go and register your own party, NNPP founding fathers tell Kwankwaso as crisis deepens

    Go and register your own party, NNPP founding fathers tell Kwankwaso as crisis deepens

    The crisis rocking the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has taken another dimension as the faction of the party loyal to the Board of Trustees pulled out of the memorandum of understanding signed between the party and Kwankwansiya Movement in 2022.

    The memorandum of understanding which was signed in February 2022 saw the emergence of former Kano state governor, Rabiu Kwakwanso as the national leader of the party, while the founder of the party, Boniface Aniebonam was named the chairman of the Board of Trustees.

    Aniebonam and the erstwhile National Publicity Secretary, Agbo Major, were expelled from the party on Tuesday by the National Executive Committee, while the BoT also announced the suspension of Kwankwaso for three months.

    However, in a statement on Thursday, August 31, Mohammed Abdullahi said to be the Secretary of the BOT announced an end to the romance between the NNPP, The Nigeria Movement and Kwankwansiya Movement.

    Abdullahi said leaders of the TNM and the Kwankwansiya Movement have been informed of an end to their MOU which he said was signed with the sole purpose of winning the election.

    Read Also: Storm rages in NNPP, founder Aniebonam, others expelled

    While wishing them well in their future endeavour, he asked them to approach the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for registration as a political party.

    He said: “Wearing a red cap as a member of the New Nigeria People’s Party is a very big embarrassment and avoidable violation of terms of understanding between NNPP and the Kwankwasiya movement. This is because the Kwankwasiya Movement is not a political party other than the New Nigeria Peoples Party.

    “For the avoidance of doubts, Kwankwasiya movement, TNM are mere pressure groups under the canopy of NNPP and for the purposes of elections in Nigeria.

    “Therefore and henceforth, wearing of red cap is not an appropriate dress code of NNPP during political activities. At this point, all members of the Kwankwasyia Movement are hereby informed that other than being deceived by their leaders, NNPP was not sold to the Kwankwasiya Movement or anybody or a group of persons.

    “What we had was a mere memorandum of understanding with Kwankwasiya and TNM to work together for the purposes of winning elective positions. It is not an alliance because none of the group is a political party.”

    He said further that the need to end marriage became necessary as parties in the memorandum of understanding have since withdrawn.

    He named those who were party to the MOU as Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi who served as National Organising Secretary and Prof Angwe who served as National Legal Adviser and signed on behalf of TNM, while Dr Aniebonam and Dr Agbo Major signed for the NNPP.

    He said further that the exit of these people left “Senator Kwankwaso and elder Buba Galadima floating and swimming in violations of the memo of non-existing understanding.

    “It is on record that Prof Alkali who also represented TNM and served as National Chairman of the party had since stepped aside as the chairman of the party to avoid destroying his political career.

    He also said that another member of the alliance, Avm Ihemeje, who served as the Deputy National Chairman “equally resigned due to high handedness, constitutional violations, anti-party activities and all sorts of arrogance and avoidable self-pride of senator Kwankwaso and elder Buba Galadima”.

    He appealed to all members of the New Nigeria People’s Party from 2001 to date who, out of anger left the party to return and help in the rebuilding process of the party.

    He said: “We made an honest mistake but we did not lose out entirely. Today we have one Governor, two Senators, over fifteen House of Representatives and several House of Assembly. We won elective positions as NNPP and not Kwankwasiya Movement and we are very proud.

    “It is most unfortunate that NNPP went into political understanding with Kwankwasiya group, but unfortunately it is apparent that a case of highjack from the backdoor may have been established against Senator Kwankwanso and elder Buba Galadima.

    “In the opinion of the leadership of NNPP, founder and founding members, the duo of Senator Kwankwaso and elder Buba Galadima may be better described as cowards and gold diggers.

    “It is unheard of that a tenant can eject a landlord from his home. We can only put Elder Buba Galadima and Senator Kwankwaso into prayers and ask God to have mercy upon them and forgive their sins against humanity”.

  • NNPP’s BoT suspends Kwankwaso over alleged anti-party moves

    NNPP’s BoT suspends Kwankwaso over alleged anti-party moves

    The crisis that has hit the  New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) escalated yesterday, following the suspension of its former presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso. 

    However, in a dramatic turn, a faction of the opposition party loyal to Kwankwaso expelled its Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, and the National Publicity Secretary, Dr.Agbo Major.

    While a camp in the divided National Working Committee (NWC) of the party explained that Kwakwanso was suspended for chieftains alleged anti-party activities.

    Another group within the same NWC said Aniebonam was also suspended for anti-party activities. 

    The group that suspended Kwankwaso held it’s meeting at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos where it explained the party’s national leader was suspended for hobnobbing with President Bola Tinubu, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his Labour Party (LP) candidate Peter Obi. 

    However, the BoT headed by Aniebonam suspended the NWC and appointed Dr Major as acting national chairman and Mr Ogini Olaposi as acting national secretary.

    No fewer than 18 other chieftains were appointed into leadership positions in the party by the Aniebonam group.

    Aniebonam, who is the founder of the NNPP, was named BoT Chairman last year 2022 when Kwankwanso led his supporters into the party.

    Read Also: Wike resolves dispute over Abuja Airport 2nd runway saga

    During the last general election, the party won the governorship poll. 

    The NNPP National Legal Adviser Robert Hon told reporters in Abuja that Aniebonam had been sacked with immediate effect.

    At the factional NEC meeting where Aniebonam was expelled in Abuja were Kano State Governor Kabiru Abba Yusus, the Acting National Chairman, Kawu Ali, Kano State House of Assembly Speaker Senator Kawu Ismaila, and the Secretary to the Board of Trustees,  Buba Galadima.

    The National Legal Adviser said: “At the National Executive Committee meeting of the NNPP held in Abuja today August 29, 2023, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, Agbo Major and several others were expelled from the party.

    “The NEC also moved several other motions relating to the logo of the party, the amendment of the constitution, ratification of the state caretaker committees, and suspension of two articles in the constitution of the NNPP 2022.

    “NEC noted that the expelled persons purportedly held a Board of Trustees meeting in Apapa, Lagos this morning. Naturally their meeting is null and void and of no effect.”

    The acting national chairman said the party leadership was determined to reposition the platform for better performance in the future.

    Kawu said: “Seventeen days ago, we were here for an emergency NEC meeting to address some pressing issues in the party.

    “As you are aware, the leadership of our great party has decided to restructure the party. The NWC and the committee have worked very hard to make sure we take action within the party constitution.”

    Kawu urged elected members of the party to be its ambassadors at national and state levels.

    The factional National Secretary, Dipo Olayoku, said:  “Few days ago, we gathered here in this hall in a similar scenario, to ratify some decisions taken by the National Working Committee (NWC).

    “As you are aware, the party embarked on restructuring geared towards correcting the anomalies noticed in the last general election and to position it for greater heights.

    “At the last NEC meeting on August 12, 2023, the suspension and expulsion of some members as well as the dissolution of some Executives at the State, Local Government and Ward levels were ratified by this great body.”

  • NNPP Trustees suspend Kwankwaso, others

    NNPP Trustees suspend Kwankwaso, others

    The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has suspended its candidate in the Feb. 25 presidential election, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for alleged anti party activities.

    The BoT also suspended the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

    It also appointed new national officers headed by Dr Agbo Major as acting National Chairman and Mr Ogini Olaposi as acting National Secretary with 18 others.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suspension is for six months.

    NAN reports that the suspensions were put to a voice vote by members of the party at its special general assembly, held at the Rockview Hotels in Apapa.

    NAN recalls that the NWC of the party on Thursday, Aug. 24, announced the suspension of the founder of the party, Dr Boniface Aniebonam and the National Publicity Secretary, Major.

    Addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting in Lagos on Tuesday, Secretary of the BoT, Babayo Muhammed Abdulahi, accused Kwankwaso of hobnobbing with President Bola Tinubu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Mr. Peter Obi, without the board’s authorisation.

    Abdullahi announced that Kwankwaso had been stripped of the NNPP national leader status by the board.

    The secretary of the BoT said the purported suspension of the NNPP founder was a flagrant gross violation of the party’s constitution.

    He pointed out that Aniebonam had resigned as the BoT chairman and a new BoT Chairman, Dr Chief Tope Aluko was elected with Abdulahi as new BoT Secretary, while High Chief Tony Obioha was elected as BoT spokesperson

    Abdulahi said the pre-election Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Kwankwasia Movement, The National Movement (TNM) and National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders
    (NAGAFF) had been rendered void by the actions of the NWC.

    Abdulahi said: “The purported suspension of the founder is a flagrant gross violation of the NNPP constitution such that it is tantamount to recklessness and irresponsibility on the part of the incompetent NWC.

    “The BoT decided that material evidence in the public sector affirmed that Kwankwaso was involved in anti-party activities in various meetings, suggest political discussions with the President, Atiku and Obi without authorisation from the board.

    ” This has earned him six months suspension pending the outcome of investigation by the Disciplinary Committee.

    Read Also: Crisis rocks NNPP as party’s former national legal adviser Angwe resigns

    “The BOT insisted that the avoidable violation of MoU between NNPP on the one part and Kwankwasia, TNM and NAGAFF on the other has no other choice than to withdraw from the partnership.

    “It is therefore to state clearly that the MOU have been rendered void.”

    Also speaking, the acting chairman said his team would hit the ground running by healing the wounds created by the suspended NWC members.

    Major said the party would remain the most ordinary friendly party in the country and urged other members that are displaced for one reason or the other to return to its fold.

    “We don’t intend to shut anybody out or censor anybody but we want to ensure that we remain on track and maintain our people oriented ideology,” he said.

    NAN reports that the special general assembly meeting was attended by the new NWC and members from across the country.

    (NAN)

  • Kwankwaso’s many holes of mischief

    The Hausas often recite proverb that says “if you want to dig a hole of mischief, make it very shallow” for you do not know may be you are the one that will fall therein. For those who closely follow the political antics of the former governor of Kano State and the senator representing Kano Central Senatorial District, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, they know that he is always fond of revelling in the political misfortune of others and he can go to any length to dig a deep hole for his perceived political enemies to fall into. A recent example was how he cajoled the former deputy governor of Kano State to resign from the plump seat on the promise that he would give him the gubernatorial ticket of the main opposition party only to pick his anointed son-in-law who is well-known as a political tenderfoot. This is because the former number two possesses formidable academic credentials, social status and strong political clout to succeed the incumbent governor, Dr.Abdullahi Umar Ganduje after the expiration of his tenure in 2023.

    Should this happen, his political relevance in the state will further be greatly diminished if not completely obliterated.

    Before this mischief-making against the former deputy governor and many promising politicians in the state, Kwankwaso repeatedly tried the same tricks against the senator-elect representing Kano Central Senatorial District and former governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, the elected member of the House of Representatives, Suleiman KawuSumaila, the present Commissioner for Rural and Community Development who is also his kinsman, Hon. Musa IlyasuKwankwaso, Senator Hamisu Musa who was Kwankwaso’s  political godfather before they parted ways after Kwankwaso had realized his political ambition and subsequent stardom, DaudaDangalan, the late Muhammad Abubakar Rimi, Musa Gwadabe and even some nondescript but rising politicians who sacrificed their energy, time and resources for his political glory only to be later discarded into the dustbin.

    The case of Malam Shekarau is particularly more telling. Having cunningly realized the promising political future of Malam Shekarau, Kwankwaso demoted him from the rank of permanent secretary to a classroom teacher for no concrete reason but sheer mischief and deceit. But as the Almighty had destined, Shekarau resigned, contested and won the gubernatorial election against Kwankwaso in 2003 and served for two terms. Even after becoming the governor, Shekarau did not have respite from Kwankwaso and his foot-soldiers who tried all they could to run him down, sabotage his administration and embark on character assassination for their cheap political ends.

    Even after having been re-elected in 2011, Kwankwaso and his diehard followers did not leave Shekarau alone like hunting hyenas that have tested the blood of their prey. In 2015, Kwankwaso left his party for the then nascent APC and forced Shekarau out, who was one of the prominent founding fathers of the party.Shekarau had no alternative but to join PDP despite its unpopularity then and now. But as Allah decreed, Shekarau was appointed minister of education by the former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

    As they say history repeats itself. Again having realized that he would not be able to realize his pipedream of flying the presidential flag of APC in the 2019 presidential election, Kwankwaso returned to the fold of PDP late last year and again booted Shekarau and his followers out of the party. Being a calculating politician, Shekarau decided to re-join his former party, APC and he was given its senatorial ticket which he won with over 500,000 votes defeating Kwankwaso’s candidate with over 200,000 votes. In fact, all Kwankwaso’s anointed candidates in the National Assembly elections were crushingly defeated. APC won all the senate seats and the 24 House of Representatives seats leaving Kwankwaso and his followers to lick their deep wounds of political defeat and ignominy.

    Before the just-concluded elections, Kwankwaso and his blind followers saturated the airwaves with empty boasts and threats in their bid to frighten the electorate not to come out en masse and cast their votes for the candidates of their choice. His main target is the youth whom he misguides into believing that he is their saviour from their self-inflicted misfortune. Kwankwaso’s veiled exhortations and innuendos encouraged these ruffians to deface or destroy posters of candidates of the ruling party and even resort to violence and robbery in broad daylight in the name of politics.

    So what the Kwankwasiyya elements are doing now against the governor of Kano State, to scuttle his administration’s policies and programmes for the development of the most populous state in the country and ultimately his bid for second term is not surprising a bit. Kwankwaso’s sole motive in life is to see the political downfall of Ganduje whom he regards as a strong and formidable political rival with a better following from across all sections of the society and he has not hidden his zeal and machinations toward realizing this empty dream. But as the saying goes, man proposes, God disposes.

    To those with sharp memory, Kwankwaso reluctantly agreed to allow Dr.Ganduje to fly the APC gubernatorial flag in 2015 after most political stakeholders had clearly sided with Ganduje. After reading the writing on the wall and fearing the unknown bitter consequences his recalcitrance may breed, Kwankwaso reluctantly acquiesced to the popular choice of the APC members then and all is history now. But, Kwankwaso threatened that if his successor dared to “derail” from his self-created creed, he and his rabid followers would pull off their sleeves and fight Ganduje to the bitter end. True to his words, Kwankwaso and his cohorts have dug one hole after another for the governor to fall in. Even President Muhammadu Buhari was not spared because as Kwankwaso used to often boast, it was his popularity that caused the victory of President Buhari in 2015 and since they had left APC, its candidates from top to bottom would face a crushing defeat in the 2019 general elections. That is Kwankwaso for you!

    Kwankwaso was deluded by his sudden rise to political limelight and his rabid followers do not help matters as they have spun a myth around him that he wears shoes made of metal and he could tread on the toes of all – the mighty and the not-so-mighty. He even presumed to be Godlike: he can do and undo, he can make or mar, he can give power to whomsoever he wishes and wrest power from whomsoever he wishes.

    The business community in the state bear the brunt of Kwankwaso’s mischief as his policies while at the helm of affairs retarded commercial activities rather than promoting commerce for which Kano has been well-known since time immemorial. This is not to count the ordinary citizens, civil servants and pensioners who suffered varied indignity during his second tenure between 2011 and 2015. Even our revered traditional institution has not been spared from the sharp tongue and disrespect of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso. What is more painful is that his blind followers see nothing wrong in what he does or says. But the recent elections have shown that the vaunted strong political base of Kwankwaso as majorly constituted by the youth is nothing but a shaky foundation on which the house of Kwankwasiyya has been built. The house has now crumbled like a pack of cards and the domino effect will extend to Kwankwaso’s anointed gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in the state as the farsighted people of the state have demonstrated their resolve to vote out all the red cap wearing candidates of the opposition party in the state, God willing.

    Indeed, digging a hole of mischief is self-destructive in both this world and the next but only discerning minds are aware of this. The deluded minds only doggedly go on digging this kind of a hole in anticipation of the downfall of others. But we strongly believe that whatever the Almighty God has decreed will happen and our subterfuges, evil machinations and other devices will never change the fate of anybody. The just-concluded presidential election especially in Kano State has clearly demonstrated that the Kwankwasiyya creed is now history. But it is not yet late for those Kwankwasiyya elements whose minds have not been poisoned to repent and join the winning party led by the forgiving governor, Dr.Ganduje, unlike Kwankwaso who is unforgiving and vindictive. I am sure, Ganduje will embrace them with open hands and warm heart like a father will do to his repentant recalcitrant children.

     

    • Yakasai is Special Adviser to the Governor of Kano State on Media.

  • Ganduje blames Kwankwaso for Kano killings

    Kano state Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has described as unfortunate the attack on a group of All Progressive Congress (APC) supporters by members of the Kwankwasiyya group of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) while on campaign in Bebeji/Kiru Local Government Area on Thursday.

    He called on security agents to fish out perpetrators of the attack, which left at least five persons dead and other seriously wounded.

    According to him: “The Kwankwassiyya group has continued to brazenly attack members and supporters of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    “The latest just happened on Thursday when they attacked our members while on a special prayer session in Bebeji local government area which was organised for peaceful conduct of the forthcoming general elections in the country, leaving some party members dead and others with injuries.”

    In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Youth and Culture, Malam Muhammad Garba, Ganduje accused the Kwankwasiyya PDP thugs of being behind the attack.

    Read Also: Kwankwaso presents staff of office to emir of Kano

    According to him: “They attacked our peaceful supporters under the watchful eyes of their leader, Rabi’u Kwankwaso, who was on a campaign rally in the area, brandishing all sorts of deadly weapons, attacked the prayer session, which is being organised by member representing Kiru/Bebeji constituency, Hon. Abdulmumini Jibrin Kofa for meanness free polls.”

    The attack, the statement, he lamented: “is the latest in series by the Kwankwasiyya ruffians in an apparent attempt to put a clog in the wheel of progress toward ensuring free and peaceful election in the state.”

    The Governor lamented: “The group is superficially venting its anger on members and supporters of the APC, having gotten a sign of defeat at the polls, as part of a calculated attempt to scamper peaceful 2019 elections.”

    He prayed for the departed souls and condoled with the bereaved families, just as he also prayed for the quick recovery of those injured during the heinous attack.

    Ganduje also directed security agencies “to fish out perpetrators of the monstrous blitzkrieg with a view to ensuring that they are dealt with accordingly.”

  • Updated: 5 feared dead as Kwankwaso, Kofa supporters clash

    At least five persons were feared killed on Thursday at Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano state when supporters of former Governor of Kano state, Senator Rabi’u Kwankwaso and former House Committee chairman on Appropriation, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Jibrin Kofa engaged in a bloody clash.

    According to eyewitness account, trouble started when Senator Kwankwaso’s convoy, while returning from a campaign rally, passed through an open space where Kofa and his supporters were praying for the peaceful conduct of the general elections.

    It was gathered that Kwankwaso’s convoy disrupted the ongoing prayer session, which resulted in the bloody clash that reportedly led to the death of five people, while many others from both sides were injured.

    According to an eyewitness account who pleaded anonymity, “the long convoy of Senator Kwankwaso which disrupted the prayers was actually the cause of the problem.

    “It was, indeed, a bloody sight. The Kwankwaso people had provoked Kofa’s supporters who were conducting a peaceful prayer session for the peaceful conduct of the elections.

    “I counted five dead bodies which were moved away on a police Hilux Van. Many vehicles were set ablaze; and buildings around the Kofa Neighbourhood were also burnt.”

    Confirming the incident, Kofa told our correspondent on telephone that Senator KwanKwaso’s supporters attacked him and the group on their way back from Bebeji and Kiru local Government.

    According to him, over 60 vehicles were burnt aside from his residence.

    He alleged the mobile Police attached to Senator Kwankwaso shot sporadically for more than one hour, which resulted to death of many.

    But the spokesman of the PDP governorship candidate, Mallam Sanusi Tofa, accused Kofa’s supporters of launching attack on Kwankwaso’s convoy.

  • Kwankwaso, an absentee Senator- Shekarau

    Former Governor of Kano state and senatorial candidate for Kano Central Senatorial District, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau on Wednesday slammed the Senator representing the zone at the National Assembly, Rabi’u Kwankwaso, describing him as an absentee Senator associated with failure.

    Shekarau, during an interactive session with reporters in his house, after rounding off campaign, said he would have defeated Kwankwaso if he had contested against him.

    He also described the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Kano Central, Sani Aliyu Madakin Gini, as Kwankwaso’s political stooge who cannot make any impact in the election.

    Shekarau, who frowned at the spate of political violence in the state, accused Kwankwaso of being behind the ugly development and called on security agencies to take immediate action.

    He also dismissed insinuations he has issues to settle with President Muhammadu Buhari as false, insisting they have a cordial and perfect relationship.

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    According to him: “To the best of my knowledge, Kwankwaso was an absentee Senator. For three and half years, I say this with heavy heart, I would loved not to say it but the facts are there, he had not set his foot on Kano soil.

    “There is no record anywhere that within the three and half years, so far as a Senator, he had ever come to consult members of his constituency, in whatever form.

    “So, I think there is nothing on ground to even compete with honestly. I think we are not bothered. It is left to the electorate to find out whether the former Senator has done anything.

    “The current senatorial candidate in PDP is his disciple. And I wonder what is there to sell to the people.

    “So, as for Kwankwaso I would have wished he contested again as a Senator.”

    On his relationship with Buhari, he said: “The issue of whether there is any disquiet between me and Buhari, I am not aware of any.

    “You see, people have their reasons of creating insinuations. I don’t think anybody has heard from Buhari himself that I have problems with him, if you do, please quote him that he said he has problems with Shekarau.

    “To the best of my knowledge, I have never said to anyone that I have problems with President Muhammadu Buhari. If I did, quote me that I have problem with President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Well, we should allow people to have their perception, their own understanding. We have been the best of people. When we were in ANPP, we interacted together and he left and formed CPC. When we were doing the merger, I was the sole actor in the merger exercise.

    “I will always say boldly and proudly that anybody who writes the history of the formation of APC without my name, that history is incomplete because three of us led the Committee of 89 gentlemen and ladies for seven months to midwife the birth of APC.

    “So, as far as my relationship with Buhari is concerned, it has been cordial, perfect. We formed the APC. When I had cause to leave APC, I didn’t say it was Buhari’s fault or whoever fault.

    “It was on different grounds, and now that I am a senatorial candidate in APC, Buhari is a senior member of APC.

    “I am a member of APC, and we are going to work together as a President by the grace of God and as a Senator.“