Tag: Kwankwaso

Adeyinka Aderibigbe takes a look at race to succeed outgoing Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso 

AS the 2015 poll draws closer, the question on the lips of many well meaning citizens of Kano State is who would succeed Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso whose second term tenure winds down on May 29, next year.

Kwankwaso, who is taking a shot at the presidency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has kept sealed lips on his successor. The question begging answers are; would he join the wagon of governors anointing their successor or will he abide by APC’s internal democratic rule that stipulates the choice of the party’s flag bearer through the modified direct primary option?

Those tagged as the real Kwankwasiyya men are already squaring up to occupy the Africa House in the race that promises to be not only a fierce one between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) but the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), already boasting of dozens of aspirants.

Some analysts are saying that within the APC circle, the fight for the ticket may be, on the one hand between members of the Kwankwasiyya block and those of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Already, his deputy, Dr. Umar Abdullahi Ganduje and former Kano State governor and serving senator representing Kano South Senatorial District, Kabiru Gaya, have signified interest to take a shot at the seat under the platform of the APC, which is the dominant political party in Kano.

Kwankwaso, who of late is reaching out to critical stakeholders of the APC to actualise his presidency bid has kept a sealed lip on his succession plan. But insiders said he will not give his blessing to what he termed “a disloyal successor that could rubbish the tremendous infrastructural development recorded in the state in the last four years.”

There is a consensus among chieftains of the APC that if whoever emerges as the candidate of the APC is picked based on fairness, and equity and a sound experience in the affairs of governance, the party would not only be crises free, but would be guaranteed an easy win at the 2015 poll in Kano.

In 2003, Kwankwaso who is much more familiar with the devastating effect of intra party crises lost in his bid for a second term under the platform of the PDP to a relatively unknown Ibrahim Skekarau of the then All Peoples Party (APP). He was to later reclaim his second term mandate at the 2011 poll incidentally due to an intra-party crisis in the ANPP over Shekarau’s resolve to anoint Salihu Sagir Takai.

So, the PDP, which has suddenly found itself as an underdog in Kano, would be hoping that there would be crisis in APC so that it would take advantage of it to reclaim Kano. We gathered leaders of PDP in the state are praying there would be an impending succession tussle in APC. But given Kwankwaso’s recent comments that he believes in free and fair elections, it seems the opposition waiting in the wings may be disappointed as the ruling APC in Kano seems poised for a peaceful primaries.

As a result the number of aspirants ready to succeed Kwankwanso is growing by the day.

Among the red capped chieftains of the APC angling for the governorship of Kano on the platform of the APC is Ganduje who have actually paid his dues having worked closely with Kwankwaso for nearly one and a half decade without any rancour. Ganduje, a graduate of Public Administration, has vast years of experience in public service.  The top technocrat, who served in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) over two decades ago, is described by his associates as the one that understood the Kwankwasiya philosophy of governance to take Kano to the next level of development.  He came to limelight when he was prevailed upon by the likes of the late Alhaji Abubakar Rimi to step down for Kwankwaso who eventually emerged the consensus candidate of the PDP in the 1999 governorship poll.

Sixteen years after, he not only joined Kwankwaso to defect to the APC last year, but has also stayed glued to Kwankwaso through thick and thin right from their days in the Kano Government House from 1999 to 2003 all through Kwakwanso’s days as Defence Minister, to his present position as a second term deputy governor.

Ganduje who enjoys a wide reach of acceptability among the influential Muslim clerics and youths talked about his 2015 poll ambition when confronted by newsmen thus: “I’m interested but I’m not declaring now. I pray when I do, you will support me,” adding: “Ours is a party that was just put in place, of course, with Kwankwasiya members dominating the show. Kwankwasiya group is a highly disciplined group, we take decision at appropriate time and when we do, we all follow it.

“For me as a person if I say I’m contesting for Kano governorship race come 2015, it is no news but if I say I’m not contesting that is the news. So, you people should wait for the time that I will declare my intention. Ambiguity is one of the flavours of politics,” he said.

Another member of the Kwankwasiya group that might take a shot at the seat are the Secretary to the Government, Suleiman Bichi, an engineer and a close associate of Kwankwaso. Widely considered as a member of Kwankwaso’s think-tank, he wields enormous influence considering the fact that he had served as Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning and Managing Director of Urban Development Bank during the first term of Kwankwaso. Bichi was rumoured to have resigned his appointment penultimate week to openly pursue his aspirations.

Also likely to join the race are a former Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Ahmed Garba. Others include Alhaji Abba Kabiru Yusuf, the Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport who is Kwankwaso’s in-law and former Chief of Staff and Dr. Yunusa Adamu Dan Gwani who was recently deployed to Ministry of Water Resources as commissioner.

As the tussle gathers momentum, the streets of Kano are already awash with posters of Senator Kabiru Gaya, and those of the Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulralman Kawu Sumaila who was once former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau’s allies in their days in the ANPP.

Gaya who had a stint as governor in the botched Third Republic is presently the Chairman of the Senate Committee on State and Local Government Administration. He remarked that he is better placed to take Kano to the next level if elected at the 2015 poll.

Former deputy governor of the state, Alhaji Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo who aspired for the seat under the platform of the defunct ACN governorship candidate in the 2011 poll and former governor of Kaduna State, Brig Gen Lawal Jafaru Isa, who also aspired on the platform of the CPC in the 2011 poll may also be waiting to take a second shot at the seat this time round.

From the PDP end is Mohammed Abacha, who fought tooth and nail to vie for the governorship of Kano on the platform of the CPC at the 2011 poll. Since he got a clean bill of health from the Federal Government over allegations of money laundering, he has refurbished his campaign office and had been reaching out to critical stakeholders of the party to take a shot at the office again.

Abba Risqua, son of the late Head of State, Gen Murtala Ramat Muhammed, who is a surprise entrant into the race would have to slug it out with Mohammed Abacha, who with the enormous resources at his disposal would be difficult to stop when the chips are down.

Penultimate week, Abba Risqua who made an unsuccessful bid to dislodge former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Umar NaÁbba, from the Kano Municipal Federal Constituency in 2003, formally declared his bid for the exalted seat in Kano and rolled out his developmental agenda which encompasses industrialisation and provision of jobs for the teeming population of the state.

There is also the former commissioner of water resources and local government, Alhaji Sagir Takai, who may be propped once more by Shekarau who has now assumed the leadership role of the Kano PDP by virtue of his position as the Minister of Education.

As unpredictable as Kano politics would remain for a long time to come, APC, it seems, stands a very good chance of sweeping the polls in Kano once it makes the right choice.

Kano State governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, spoke briefly on his presidential ambition and APC’S determination to capture power at the centre in 2015. Kolade Adeyemi recorded the chat.

YOU said you will formerly declare your presidential ambition for 2015, 28th October, how is it going so far?

We couldn’t get the venue. We have applied to get Eagle Square because so many people will be happy to storm there to witness the event. But we are now struggling to get alternative. Thats where we are now with regards to venue. But if it is not granted, I will invite you to the Abuja streets to hold the occasion there. I don’t know the authorities’ reason to deny me the venue.

There is this rumour that you are planning to step down your presidential ambition for a particular candidate. Is this true?

I am not under pressure to step down for anybody. In fact, nobody came to ask me to step down for anybody, in as much as nobody has contacted me to step down, doing that will not be good for the party. You see, so many people are used to either small parties or medium size parties, where people sit down and chose somebody in a room.  APC is not a medium or small party where a candidate can be chosen in a room.  APC is a mega party. It is not ANPP, it is not APGA, it is not CPC, it is not ACN; it is a collection of all.

I always tell people to look at the example of PDP since 1999 to 2011; in each election, people went for primaries, not arranged elections. Real election, primary election, even when we had a sitting president in 2003 and 2011, there were primary electionthat is why the PDP won all along and others who are involved in stage-managing primary elections always lost elections. Now, the PDP has decided to conduct its primary election at the villa while APC holds its own in a field. This clearly shows that the APC will win the elections in 2015.

You seem not to be in support of consensus?

You see, there is that provision, but I always say that we have always been consistent. But you see many people who are soliciting for this consensus bear in mind that when people sit down and resolve the matter, the consensus would go to their favourite candidate; that is consensus to them. That is the main issue, but I believe we have to make this party very strong. All aspirants should go round the country to bring more people into the party, and that is exactly what I am doing. So many people joined the APC for me in the last few weeks and will continue to join, especially if I get the ticket. Most of the guys will cross over to APC when I declare or stay in the PDP but will work for me. This is because many of them are hooked there (PDP) for one reason or the other, but they are with us.

Are you comfortable with the party’s constitution amendment coming up before the presidential primaries?

The APC’s primary elections will be in line with the provision of the party’s constitution.

You keep saying some PDP governors are with you and will defect to APC, but each time you make this statement, they deny such claim?

The people that are denying the claim are the ones already with us. I am not too much worried about their comments. They go there but just floating in the air. The people of this country are with APC, so they stay there, thinking that they can rig election in 2015, but the masses will come out with their brooms and deal with them. They will vote and make sure they protect their votes. So, that is what we would do. They know that on the Election Day, they will go and prepare fake documents and say they have won the election. People across the country are wiser now and are very angry.

How optimistic are you that you will get support from other candidates within APC after winning the primary election?

I am very optimistic. For me, if I win the primary election, I will be very happy and I am sure the other contestants would support and work together with me. I am sure if any one of us wins the primaries, we would support him. What is important to us is to have a free and fair primary election. That is why we are telling the INEC and other stakeholders that they shouldn’t go and take dictation from the villa and write figures to declare them winners. That won’t be acceptable in 2015. They must do the right thing at the right time.

Is there any clue about your successor after expiration of your tenure?

It is premature to start speculation now. The primary election time table and the forms will soon be available. But of course we will look at the possibility of consensus; if that would not be achieved, then every APC member is free to go and grab the form to contest for the primary election at the venue of the election. So that is the policy, we don’t stop anybody. We are democratic. People are free to purchase forms and contest for elections here. I always tell the people that out of the 12 elections that I contested, I won 11 and lost 1, but I never won any under consensus. I always found a candidate to contest with, so I am personally very much used to that. So, if I think I am used to it, anybody in the party can think the same way. Any politician in the game of politics that doesn’t want to contest for election, either primary or secondary election, is like a wash man who doesn’t want to touch water. So, he should better go and get another business.

Are you comfortable with INEC’s creation of additional polling unit in Kano State?

Well, geographically, North is big. The explanation given by the INEC for the increment was to shorten distances for voters. I think that makes sense. But to me, what is more important is to mobilise people to go and vote irrespective of distance, by any means of transportation. But it would be a good thing if INEC decides to reduce the distance for voters whether in the North or South.

Recently, the Federal Government declared ceasefire with Boko Haram group, but few days after the truce, they lunched fresh attacks, do you have any suspicion over the issue?

I wasn’t part of the arrangement. You may know better than me. I just watched it on TV that there was a ceasefire but unfortunately the killings continued. I wondered who were the people involved in the agreement, how credible they were, I don’t know. But people are tired of losing lives and properties in this country. The government, whether through dialogue or force, must stop insurgency in the North-East and other parts of the country. The issue of insurgency, armed robbery, kidnappings and so on, must be stopped.

On the issue of venue for your presidential declaration, do you think your millions of supporters would take on the Abuja streets if you are not given the venue?

I know so many people will go to Abuja to witness my declaration. Even if you are a supporter, you can go and witness the event. Let’s wait and see. But certainly, we will get the venue. What we just want is for the government to do the right thing; the people will also do the right thing to the government.