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Tag: Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso

  • Lend your voice to stop NASS crisis, Monarch urges Kwankwaso

    The Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, has urged Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to lend his voice to ensure there is peace in the National Assembly.

    Oba Ewuare II described the situation at the National Assembly as worrisome and capable of plunging the country into chaos.

    The Benin Monarch spoke at his palace when Senator Kwankwaso paid him a visit to seek prayers in his quest to secure the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party for next year’s presidential election.

    Oba Ewuare II who wondered what would happened to the rest of the country if the National Assembly is in chaos said it is only God and the ancestors that could look into people’s heart and choose the best.

    He stated that the ancestors taught them to pray for the right person that would take care of the masses and respect the traditional institution.

    The Benin Monarch warned of dire consequences if the cultural value of the Africa society is not respected.

    Read Also: Ganduje versus Kwankwaso: Who will laugh last in Kano?

    According to him, “If we respect our traditional values, things will be better for us.””You can contribute your quota and lend your voice to ensure peace in the National Assembly. Whatever thing that is happening there is worrisome.”

    On his part, Senator Kwankwaso promised to build a strong nation and support traditional institutions if elected president.

    Senator Kwankwaso said he would promote the Edo cultural heritage and culture as well as solve security challenges.

    Kwankwaso later visited the Edo PDP secretariat where he met with party delegates to sue for support.

  • Presidential Race : Ganduje dares Kwankwaso to launch campaign in Kano

    The Kano state Governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has challenged the former governor Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso to launch his presidential campaign for the forthcoming general election in the state, if he is sure of his popularity.

    “Kano is not and will never be ready to welcome Kwankwaso. Kano people have every constitutional right to make their democratic choices,” Ganduje said in Kano on Sunday.

     “And as such, we have all the rights to reject him and we have already rejected him. We never considered him from day one as a presidential material. We shall continue to maintain our position about him. We know nobody but President Muhammadu Buhari,

    “We, the great people of Kano, as he is aware will use every democratic way possible to reject him (Kwankwaso) and show him an exit from political participation, even before the general election comes our way.”

    Ganduje spoke at an event of Money Transfer to empower women held at government house, kano, where 6,600 women drawn from the 44 local governments of the state were given the sum of N15,000 each to boost their business.

    “We in Kano, witnessed the demise of distinguished personalities, of which he chose not to come and we had fire outbreaks in some of our markets and this man (KwanKwanso), did not care to come and sympathize with the victims.”

    When some of the popular markets in Kano experienced fire disaster Ganduje said, “We raised a special committee that was given the responsibility of finding the remote causes of such disaster and were given the mandate to collect contributions so as to alleviate some of the sufferings of the victims.”

    “We included somebody as a member of the committee, the person was, a staunch follower of Kwankwaso. But this man didn’t allow that him to participate in all the meetings of the committee. Neither did he send a dime as his contribution.”

    He asked rhetorically, “Kano people, I am asking you, does this man really have any concern for you and your families? All we are saying is, in whose interest is he doing all these things? This man doesn’t have, even an iota of feeling about Kano people, at all.”

    “Because he knows that he is not welcomed in Kano and he will never be welcomed, that was why he chooses to stay away from our dear state and go somewhere, other places, not Kano, and be launching his unorganised and unpopular campaign,” Ganduje stated.

    Read also: Air Force kills bandits, leader in Zamfara forests

    “Kano is solely for Buhari come 2019, not any other person. That is why we said we are waiting for him to come to Kano and launch his campaign. We shall use all democratically accepted ways and say No!”

    On the empowerment programme Ganduje said, “We are doing this to help in uplifting your living standard. To also make you self-reliant. It is known to all of you that we have greater concern for you and your families.”

    “This we are doing in compliance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s spirit of human development. We believe that, any step taken by our dear President, deserves to be followed at any given time,” he said.

  • Ganduje versus Kwankwaso: Who will laugh last in Kano?

    Since former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the battle for Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s seat in 2019 has gathered more steam as supporters of the two top politicians in Kano get set for a royal combat, reports Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu

    BEFORE Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last month, Kano was one of the states in the Northwest where observers had considered an easy win for the ruling APC in 2019 governorship election. This was notwithstanding the prolonged face-off between Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and former Governor Kwankwaso.

    But with Kwankwaso’s recent defection to the main opposition party, PDP, coupled with the intrigues that have trailed the defection barely a month after, it has become clear that the 2019 governorship race in Kano would be a royal battle.

    It would be recalled that Ganduje served as Kwankwaso’s deputy before he eventually emerged governor but the two fell apart shortly after the 2015 election.

    Their face-off and future elections

    Although the face-off between Ganduje and his predecessor, Kwankwaso, had been noted earlier, the governor told newsmen in February what he considered to be the genesis of their parting of way. He alleged that the problem resulted from his resistance of “the attempt by somebody who had left office to decide what happened in the state.”

    Their relationship, which was very intimate, had gone sour so much that the state police command once prevented Kwankwaso from traveling from Abuja, where he is serving as a senator, to Kano. Also, while the state APC became factionalised between Gunduje and Kwankwaso’s supporters, the senator’s faction of the party boycotted local council elections.

    Explaining further, why he fell out with his former boss, Ganduje said: “Well, as you know, we were very good friends. In fact, my politics cannot be complete without Kwankwaso and the history of Kwankwaso politics cannot be complete without me.

    “But somewhere, somehow, things went wrong. But we believe in politics, you will get to a point you cannot rule and manage a state and then you are being controlled from outside, you know that one is very difficult to happen if you look at the psychology of leaders.”

    As the battle for 2019 election peaked, especially after the mass defection of many top politicians, including Senator Kwankwaso, from APC to PDP, observers noted that the battle for the governor’s seat in Kano would be narrowed to a show of power between Ganduje and Kwankwaso. This became even more pronounced following reports of a pact between Kwankwaso and his erstwhile political rival, Ibrahim Shekarau, also a former governor, to bury their past misunderstandings and work together in order to unseat Ganduje.

    It was said that a major highlight of their agreement was that Kwankwaso will nominate a governorship candidate while Shekarau will nominate the deputy.

    The situation in government circles in Kano, The Nation gathered, became more tensed in the last two weeks, when it was learnt that Kwankwaso, who represents Kano Central Senatorial District, is not only poised to battle his former deputy head-on but is determined to nominate for the governorship ticket of PDP, Ganduje’s deputy, Hafiz Abubakar, a former Professor of Nutrition, at Bayero University, Kano.

    According to a source, Alhaji Ibrahim Usman; “the report that it was the deputy governor that Senator Kwankwaso would nominate to fly PDP’s ticket caused a lot of tension in the Government House here in Kano. Before the current development, insiders here knew there was a carefully hidden secret about the deteriorating relationship between the governor and his deputy. Because the two were known associates of former Governor Kwankwaso, no one knew what to believe or what to say publicly.”

    But with last week’s defection of the immediate past Deputy Governor, Abubakar, and six state lawmakers from the ruling APC to join Kwankwaso in PDP, the battle line, which was originally drawn the day Kwankwaso left APC, has become more emboldened.

    Announcing his resignation and decision to join PDP, Abubakar said, “I have endured immeasurable and unjustifiable humiliation for over two and a half years without any reason other than my principled position on the issues of governance and the desire to keep the government on track.

    “Under the circumstances and given the deteriorating state of affairs and your continued disrespect for the office of the Deputy Governor as well as your expression of several injustices on my person; I regret to say that I have no option than to succumb to my inner calling.”

    Although this action confirms the gathering political storm in Kano, the Ganduje-led state government said Abubakar’s exit and decision to join Kwankwaso was long expected.

    A statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information, Youth and Culture, Muhammad Garba, said:

    “We are aware of the event at Mambayya House on Tuesday when the former Deputy Governor finally revealed to the world his political betrayal in about three years in office as the Deputy Governor of Kano State and the Commissioner for Education.

    “To discernable minds, there is no doubt that the ‘contentment’s’ of the nine-page text of press conference, painstakingly read out by Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, is not only laughable, but filled with ambiguity and confusion.

    “For Prof. Hafiz to dissociate himself from his chairmanship of the 2015 Kano Gubernatorial Transition Committee, the findings and pronouncements he made, is a clear indication that he no longer has a mind of his own.

    “Going by his acclaimed political pedigree, one would have expected that Prof. Hafiz resigned his position long ago for what he described as, ‘political persecution and humiliation’.”

    “It is kind enough of Prof. Hafiz to confirm that he was paid his entitlements even when he chose to abandon his service to the good people of Kano State and humanity.

    “There is no gainsaying the fact that Prof. Hafiz hurriedly left office in anticipation of a constitutional sledgehammer from Kano State House of Assembly, over his strong antagonism to policies of the State Government that have direct impact on the standard of living of the good people of Kano. We wish Prof. Hafiz well in the voyage of his godfather, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, as we welcome his final exit from our great party, the All Progressive Congress (APC), as a good omen.”

    It was an official response that confirmed the determination of the Ganduje-led APC to make the election a battle royale.

    2019 fears

    The Nation learnt during the week that in spite of the counter claims by the two leading parties in Kano today, there is palpable fear over who would eventually claim the Government House.

    APC however is confident to retain the seat because of what an insider described as Ganduje’s excellent performance and President Muhammadu Buhari’s cult-like followership in the state. “Yes, Kwankwaso is popular and influential but he, even with the cooperation of Shekarau, cannot beat the combined influence of Buhari and Ganduje. The combination is much more than mere power of incumbency. It is a fact that anyone here in Kano can attest to,” Mallam Isa Kano said.

    Ironically, there is almost equal degree of hope in the camp of PDP. This, according to Alhaji Umar Yakubu, is based on “the reality about the near larger-than-life image of Kwankwaso amongst Kwankwasiya faithful and others.  You must know that following his defection, there was a gale of defections on the floor of the House of Representatives, where 37 lawmakers, 10 of whom are from Kano State, immediately announced their exit from APC. That show of support was followed by six loyalists of the former governor in the Kano State House of Assembly who also defected to PDP last week. So, it is something we can all see without making much effort,” he said.

    From the reactions of most respondents, it could be seen that the Kano 2019 governorship race can no longer be taken for granted by any political party or interest. The current intrigues have revealed growing strength in both APC and PDP. It only remains to be seen, who, amongst the two, would eventually laugh last.

  • Kano deputy Gov. petitions Police over alleged threat to life

    Barely 24 hours after the dramatic impeachment of the Kano State Speaker, Hon Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, the State’s Deputy Governor, Professor Hafiz Abubakar, last night alleged threat to his life, as well as plans to impeach him.

    Also, the Deputy Chairman of Gabasawa Local Government, Hassan Wiazi Gabasawa, last night confirmed that he has dumped the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Apart from that, he said he has resigned as the Deputy Chairman of the Local Government, adding that the action was to enable him to fully pitch his tent, with Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who recently dumped the APC for the (PDP).

    To this end, Professor Hafiz Abubakar has petitioned the Police and the State Security Service (SSS), over what he described as threat to his life, as well as plans to impeach him.

    In the petition, addressed to the Kano State Police Commissioner, Rabiu Yusuf, copied to the Assistant Inspector-General in Charge of Zone One and the State Director of SSS, the Deputy Governor, prayed for the deployment of a lot more Security operatives around him.

    Among others, he accused the State Government of disbursing funds to mobilize youths from the 44 Local Government Areas of the State to protest against his continued stay in office, without either resigning or face impeachment.

    A loyalist to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the Deputy Governor has for quite some time being at loggerheads, with the State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for pitching his tent, with Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in the political impasse in the State.

    Read Also: Kano Speaker impeached

    In another development, a one-time Kano State Governor and the former Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, said he and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso have resolved their differences, so as to collaborate, toward actualizing victory for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State.

    Besides confirming the resolution of his age-long dispute, with Kwankwaso, he also confirmed his widely reported closed door meeting, with Kwankwaso, assuring his preparedness to partner, with the latter, who recently decamped from the ruling party to the PDP.

    He urged party members in the State to always exercise patience, as well as cooperate, with the party leaders, so as to actualize his ambition of winning the 2019 General election.

    Similarly, the PDP in Kano has dismissed reports, insinuating that the Presidency and the leadership of the APC are lobbying the former Kano State Governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau to the ruling party, so as to weaken the influence of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso ahead of the 2019 General elections.

    In his reaction to the development, the spokesman of the PDP in Kano, Alhaji Musa Dan Birini, described the report, as not only misleading but mischievous.

    According to him, Malam Shekarau has his both feet in the PDP, stressing that he has no intention of joining any political party.

    ”It is false, as it is a rumour created by someone. We are going to probe and find out, who concocted the report because Sarduana of Kano is still, with the PDP, alongside all his supporters in Kano. So, we are not happy, with the fake news been circulated in Kano. We will reject it. At this juncture, I am call calling on members of the public to always confirm their source of information, so as not rely on mischievous news.”

    Reacting to the envisaged looming crisis between Shekarau and Senator Kwankwaso, over who owns the control of the PDP structure in Kano State, the Spokesman said, Ambassador Aminu Bashir Wali remains the leader of the party.

    He allegedly described the APC-led Government as an empty Government and to democracy, emphasizing that the party lacks the capacity to win the 2019 General elections, considering the current challenges of lack of employment opportunities and insecurity.

    ”Our PDP leader is Ambassador Aminu Bashir Wali, as everybody knows that he is a well known leader. The decision of who would be the leader between Shekarau and Kwankwaso is still pending but what is more important is that we want the movement to continue, as they are both leaders to us. Our priority for now is to take over Government in 2019 from the undemocratic party that has failed to add value to human life in the country. We will ensure that democracy stands as it was in 1999.”

    Meanwhile, the just impeached Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Hon Yusuf Abdullahi Ata has accepted his impeachment in good fate, saying it was premeditated by God Almighty.

    According to Ata, the allegations against him were far from the truth, describing them as malicious, purposely fabricated, so as to tarnish his image.

    ”I have been doing everything humanly possible to give a sense of belonging to the entire members of the House, including the Kwankwasiyya group members, including the only PDP lawmaker in the House. He challenged all those, who accused him of embezzlement to explain to the general public how the offence was committed.

    However, he said he is convinced that the unfolding development at the House was divinely predetermined by the Supreme Creator and therefore accepting the outcome in good fate, and wished the new leadership well in their endeavour to take the House to another level.

  • Kano 2019: The battle ahead for Ganduje, Kwankwaso, Shekarau

    Following Monday’s defection of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and about 13 other Senators from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kano State Correspondent, Kolade Adeyemi, recalls the political rivalry between former Governor Kwankwaso and his successor, the incumbent Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau and reports on the likely effects of Kwankwaso’s defection in the intricate politics of Kano State ahead the 2019 General Elections

    SINCE last Wednesday’s political drama at the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, when about 14 senators defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) there has been speculation that the development would go a long way in shaping or re-shaping political calculations ahead the 2019 general elections.

    To keen observers of Nigeria’s current politics, it was however not a surprise in the real sense of the word, though everyone seem to agree that the development would affect the politics of various states and zones differently. The Nation observes that hours after the defection of the senators, the effects have started to manifest, especially in the states where stories of political alignment and re-alignment had been heard loudly.

    In Kano, for example, the battle has been centred on three major political gladiatorsthe incumbent Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; his immediate-predecessor as governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; and another former governor of the state, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau. Though there may be other political leaders that could also spring surprises, there is no doubt that they are bound to queue behind the political lineages of these three.

    At the inception of the fourth Republic in 1999, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, on a twin-ticket with Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, won the Kano State governorship election under the banner of the PDP. As at that time, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office. His disposition over Kwankwaso’s style of leadership which was extremely critical did not go down well with Governor Kwankwaso, who in many occasions, openly showed his anger to the senior civil servant.

    Kwankwaso and Shekarua’s rift grew stronger by the day so much that at one point, Kwankwaso ordered his immediate redeployment out of cabinet office and later demoted him to a class room teacher. This development prompted Shekarau’s resignation from the civil service. He went in search of greener pastures with the Dantata Foundation.

    Free from the ‘bondage’ of civil service under a perceived antagonist governor, Shekarau in 2002 re-energised his plot of sacking Kwankwaso out of Kano Government House. Using aggressive propaganda, Shekarau who was respected for his pious lifestyle, particularly, within the religious circle, endeared himself into the heart of the Kano masses. In the build-up to the 2003 general elections, Shekarau aligned with the populist Muhammadu Buhari (now the sitting President), who was the presidential candidate of the All Peoples Party (APP). With the influence of Buhari, Shekarau clinched the APP governorship ticket and defeated incumbent Kwankwaso, in a historic election that has continued to beat the imagination of pundits. Shekarau held sway as Governor of Kano State for consecutive eight years, breaking the jinx in Kano politics. For these eight years, Shekarau tackled Kwankwaso, notwisthanding the so-called Federal might which he enjoyed as the Minister of Defence under President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    In 2011 general elections, at the expiration of Shekarau’s tenure, Kwankwaso staged an aggressive come-back and defeated Shekarau’s choice candidate, Salihu Sagir Takai of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP). At this point, Ganduje remained Kwankwaso’s deputy. Kwankwaso and Shekarau had another open political clash at the advent of the legacy party that later transmuted into the All Progressive Congress (APC). In fact, Mallam Shekarau, who came from the ANPP bloc of the legacy parties, was said to be one of the brains behind the APC merger arrangement. At this point, Kwankwaso, engrossed with his presidential ambition, became a major player among the PDP rebels that formed the nPDP.

    In the heat of the PDP crisis, Kwankwaso, with power and money at his disposal, struck a deal with the APC and cross-carpeted and the party structure was handed over to him on a platter of gold. Malam Shekarau who was relegated by the party leadership had no choice than to play to the tune of the PDP-led Federal Government, which compensated him with the portfolio of Minister of Education.

    However, the latest defection of Kwankwaso from APC to PDP has, again created serious dust in the political atmosphere of Kano State. The question many pundits continue to ask is whether Kwankwaso and Shekarau can work together in the PDP or if there is going to be a replay of the 2013 episode when Shekarau left APC for Kwankwaso.

    Also, the political atmosphere in Kano remains even more tensed following the irreconcilable political rift between Kwankwaso and Governor Ganduje, which started at the tail-end of Kwankwaso’s second-tenure. The unfolding drama that followed last Monday’s defection of Kwankwaso to PDP, forced Ganduje to cut short his official trip to London. Being one of the major point men to President Muhammadu Buhari and considering the strategic nature of Kano to Buhari’s 2019 presidential project, Ganduje, who made a short stop-over at Abuja, ensured that his political structure remained intact and solid. In fact, his immediate response to the already tense situation foiled a grand plot to divide the Kano State House of Assembly by Kwankwaso and his men. Ganduje’s underground work paid off as the leadership of Kano State House of Assembly, came out openly to puncture rumours that 22 of them, including the Speaker, were making plans to defect to the PDP. Addressing reporters on the development, the Speaker, Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, dispelled the rumour of defection of some APC members to the PDP and affirmed that members of the Assembly were in solid support of Governor Ganduje and President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to him, “the Assembly has 40 members from the 44 local government areas in the state and 33 of those members are solidly loyal to Ganduje and Buhari. Six members, who are staunch followers of Kwankwaso, as well as one PDP member, who clinched the mandate through the outcome of Supreme Court judgment, are still with us.  Ata further stressed that, “the defection of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso to PDP will not in any way affect Governor Ganduje’s victory in Kano State.”

    Also speaking on Kwankwaso’s defection to PDP, his cousin, who is currently serving as Ganduje’s Commissioner for Rural and Community Development, Illyasu Musa Kwankwaso, described it as a blessing to Ganduje’s 2019 return. According to him, “Kwankwaso’s return to the PDP will only succeed in capturing 60 per cent of the party’s structure. The former Foreign Minister, Ambassador Aminu Wali and the erstwhile Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, including Senator Bello Hayyatu will be left to grapple with the remaining 40 per cent.”

    Ilyasu Kwankwaso further explained that, “the implication of this is that Senator Kwankwaso will never endorse the candidature of Aminu Wali and Shekarau. He will attempt to manipulate the already existing structure for his personal gain. I want you all to wait for the next one month, after the defection of Senator Kwankwaso from the ruling APC and be on the watch out for what would happen, as there would be mass defection of numerous PDP members to the APC. Kwankwaso will neither support Wali’s candidature nor Shekarau’s candidature.”

    It is however important to underscore the fact that from the forgoing scenario, Kwankwaso’s main target is to ensure that Ganduje is not re-elected as governor of Kano State in 2019. Already, he has started perfecting his plots with the endorsement of Ganduje’s deputy, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, as a potential governorship candidate in the 2019 gubernatorial elections in the state. This plot is becoming clearer because few months ago, Hafiz openly declared that he was not interested to run as deputy governor with Governor Ganduje in the 2019 elections. Also, a fortnight ago, Prof. Hafiz and Kwankwaso were sighted in London where they held a high profile political meeting with some Kano stakeholders, where Prof. Hafiz was finally endorsed to run as a governorship candidate in the 2019 governorship election.

    Reacting to Kwankwaso’s defection to PDP, Malam Shekarau, through his spokesman, Sule Yau Sule, welcomed him to the party and only hoped that he would abide by the constitution of the party and play the game of politics according to the rules.  “I hope the PDP has received a reformed Kwankwaso. I hope it is not the old Kwankwaso I knew. I hope he will, this time around, abide by the rules and regulations of the PDP. I hope he will not repeat what he did after he joined APC in 2015. At that time, he took over everything, leaving us with empty hands. I hope Kwankwaso is not coming to PDP to repeat the injustice he did in 2015. If everybody will be allowed to play his card according to rules of the party, that will be better for him (Kwankwaso) and every member of the party,” he added.

    However, though there were rumours that Kwankwaso and Ganduje are struggling to win the heart of Shekarau, the former Minister of Education however denied striking any deal yet with both of them, adding that he never sat one-on-one with Kwankwaso since 2015.

    Be that as it may, pundits have continued to doubt the possibility of Kwankwaso working together Shekarau as many of Shekarau’s lieutenants are said to have started piling pressure on the two-time Kano State Governor to dump PDP for Kwankwaso before it is too late. Come what may, as events continue to unfold in the weeks ahead, the compass is focusing on Ganduje, Shekarau and Kwankwaso as no one can predict, for now, where the pendulum will swing.

     

  • Defection: Kwankwaso must abide by the rule – Shekarau

    Former Governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has described the defection of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso from APC to PDP as a welcome development but urged him and his supporters to abide by the rules.

    Recall that Shekarau, a founding member of the APC had to leave the party for Kwankwaso in Kano when serving governors who dumped the PDP for the APC were asked to lead the party in their states.

    The former governor who spoke through his media aide, Sule Ya’u Sule, said he hoped Kwankwaso had changed.

    Many fear that those who defected to the PDP would have to fight for supremacy in their states where some chieftains had institutionalized themselves in the last three years.

    Read Also: Defections: The drama, the facts

    “I hope the PDP has received a reformed Kwankwaso. I hope it is not the old Kwankwaso I knew,” Shekarau said.

    “I hope he will this time around abide by the rules and regulations of the PDP. I hope he will not repeat what he did after he joined APC in 2015. At that time, he took over everything leaving us with empty hand,” he said.

    Shekarau regretted that the party they had laboured for at the end  handed over the leadership of the party to Kwankwaso in 2015.

    “I hope Kwankwaso is not coming to PDP to repeat the injustice he did in 2015. If everybody will be allowed to play his card according to rules of the party, that will be better for him (Kwankwaso) and every member of the party,” he said.

  • Kwankwaso’s defection to PDP, blessing to Ganduje – Iliyasu Kwankwaso

    The Kano State Commissioner for Rural and Community Development, Alhaji Iliyasu Musa Kwankwaso, on Tuesday described the defection of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso from the ruling APC to the PDP, as both a blessing to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and President Muhammadu Buhari.

    While reacting to the defection of Senator Kwankwaso to the Opposition party, (PDP), Iliyasu Kwankwaso, said his defection is longer news because he has been echoing it for the past six months, as such, his sudden defection will not affect the fortunes of Governor Ganduje’s re-election, come 2019.

    According to him, Kwankwaso’s dumping the APC for the PDP is rather a blessing in disguise for the ruling party in the state, because Senator Kwankwaso’s ploy politics is to capture the already established structure of the PDP in the State, as well as installing his preferred candidates.

    Kwankwaso’s return to the PDP will only succeed in capturing  60 per cent of the party’s structure, pointing out that the former Foreign Minister, Ambassador Aminu Wali and the erstwhile Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim  Shekarau, including Senator Bello Hayyatu will take the remaining 40 per cent.

    Read Also: Kano has over Three Million out of school Children – Ganduje

    The implication of the development, he said is that Senator Kwankwaso will never endorse the candidature of Aminu Wali and Shekarau, just as he emphasized that the embattled Senator will attempt to manipulate  the already existing structure for his personal gain.

    He said: ”I want you all to wait for the next one month,  after the defection of Senator Kwankwaso from the ruling APC and be on the watch out for what would happen, as there would be mass defection of numerous PDP members, as Kwankwaso will neither support Wali’s candidature nor Shekarau.”

    He  said: ” I have re-echoed about six months ago that Kwankwaso is no longer a member of our party, the APC and here we are today, my projections have been confirmed.

    Kwankwaso’s presence would only end up driving away a lot of people from the PDP, as it has always been the case wherever he goes.”

    Similarly, he noted that Kwankwaso would attempt to impose a gubernatorial candidate, as well as other key positions on the people of Kano and once that is achieved, he would end up using the party to his own advantage going by his antecedents and this, would bring about great misunderstandings within the party, leading to mass exodus of supporters of PDP, whom will end up with the APC.

    He said, Kwankwaso would attempt to change PDP structures in the state, and I am telling you that this would force major stakeholders to move out of the party.

    ”Let me make it abundantly clear to you that Kwankwaso is just deceiving the public, with his Presidential ambition, what he’s after is to maintain his Senatorial seat.”

  • 2019 election: Ganduje dismisses Kwankwaso’s influence

    Kano state Governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Tuesday dismissed the former governor’s, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso’s, acclaimed influence on the forthcoming general election, in which Ganduje would be contesting for the second term, come 2019.

    Ganduje said, “Power belongs to Allah, Who gives to whoever He Wishes and Takes Away from whomever He so Wishes. As such nobody, whatever positioned he may think he is, can stop us from winning our election. We place everything in Allah’s Hand.”

    He made the disclosure at the residence of party elder Malam Musa Gwadabe, when the governor paid him a visit for the celebration of Sallah festivity, adding that, “Whoever says he is ready to face us, we are also ready for him or for them. We are assuring you that there is no fracas in our party All Progressives Congress (APC), anymore.”

    “Our elder we are assuring you that crisis in not in our dictionary at all. When we had our local government elections there wasn’t a single fight for the purpose of the election,” he said.

    Ganduje who lamented that, “There was a time the state had bad experiences immediately after local government elections. About seven local government secretariats were razed down. But we didn’t experience that during our last local government polls.”

    He added that the party had recently conducted congresses from ward to local governments up to state level, “…and there was no crisis. Not a single person was injured. Everything was successful and peaceful. This shows how our party is strong and peaceful”.

    Governor Ganduje says “We have 444 delegates from Kano going to national convention coming up in the next few days. This shows how strong and powerful the party is.”

    To further encourage party members governor said “All parties that merged to become APC are solidly with us. As such we are not waiting for anybody any longer. If you are ready to follow suit is up to you. It is Allah Who will give us and see us through.”

    In his remarks elder Gwadabe assured that, all parties that merged to become APC prior to the 2015 general election are solidly behind the governor in all his political activities.

    He said “Since from the beginning we told Governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje that he should always be patient with what will come his way as a governor. We thank Almighty Allah that our dear governor is still on it.

    At the residence of the Chairman Elders of APC in Kano, Salisu Buhari, governor Ganduje reveals that, “Many at times some people tried their best to reconcile between myself and the former governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, but he always rejects such good move.”

    “There was a time when we were assembled in a room with some elders all in an effort to reconcile us. But he threw away the good move, to the dismay of all of us gathered there, he bang the door on us,” Ganduje lamented.

    The governor said he still urged those people to continue pursuing the former governor for the continuation of the reconciliation process, emphasising that, “He did not allow them to see him. When he was going out he said to us he was not a kid. But he should know that I am not also a kid.”

    Ganduje appreciated those followers of the former governor, Kwankwaso, otherwise called Kwankwasiyya followers, who cross carpeted and accepted the newly inaugurated party leadership in the state.

    Calling those that are still on the fence to understand reality, disclosing that, “…we are extending our hands of friendship to them.”

    On his part the chairman of the party elders said “All party elders are with the governor, there is no doubt about this. We are proud of you Your Excellency Sir. You have a proven track record, you are accountable and transparent.”

  • Kwankwaso’s former commissioner docked for alleged N47.168m fraud

    Kwankwaso’s former commissioner docked for alleged N47.168m fraud

    The immediate-past Commissioner for Health in Kano state under the tenure of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Dr. Abubakar Labaran was on Thursday arraigned before a Kano High Court sitting at Audu Bako secretariat over alleged misappropriation of  N47, 168, 000.00 scholarship fund.

    The Nation reports that Dr. Labaran was also a member of the state Scholarship Committee that handled funds made for tuition fees and allowances of Kano state indigenes studying in Mansoura University, Egypt.

    The Presiding Judge, Justice Aisha Rabi’u Danlami, however, granted the accused person bail, in the sum of N200, 000 and two reliable sureties on like sum.

    The Nation reports that the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission dragged Dr. Yusuf before the court to respond to a three count charge.

    The state anti graft agency slammed the accused person with a three-count charge of Criminal Breach of Trust, Disobeying Administration direction and Corrupt Practices.

    According to the prosecution, the former Commissioner, while in office  acted in contrast to the provisions of Sections 315 and 123 (a) of the Penal Code  Law, adding that, his action further violated the provisions of Section 24 sub-section (a)(1) of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission as amended.

    The prosecution led by Bar. Mahmud Balarabe, tendered the Charge Sheet and Summary of Evidence before the court.

    The accused person denied the allegations contained in the Charge Sheet as his Counsel, Bar. Nuraini Jimoh, urged the court to admit the accused person into bail.

    He informed the court that, the accused person is already on Administrative Bail.

    In her ruling on the bail application, Justice Danlami declared that, “although the three charges leveled against the accused person are criminal offences but they are bailable, hence, this honorable court has granted the accused person bail in the sum of N200,000 and two sureties on like sum.”

    The case was adjourned to April 30, 2018 for hearing.

     

     

  • Obasanjo’s exit is PDP’s death warrant, says Kwankwaso

    Obasanjo’s exit is PDP’s death warrant, says Kwankwaso

    Kano State Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso has described the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a dying elephant.

    He said the exit of former President Olusegun Obasanjo is an indication that the party is dead.

    According to him, the resignation of Chief Obasanjo confirmed the evil ongoing in the PDP.

    Kwanwaso said: “Obasanjo has got supporters not only in Ogun State, not only in the Southwest, but across the country. For him to come out and say what he said (because most of us, who have worked closely with him, know that he is somebody who always tolerates a lot of things.), I have not seen him since he decided to leave the PDP, but I can comfortably say that so much must have happened in the party for him to come out to tear his card, saying he has left the party.

    “Some of these people who made those mistake at the time of our exit, now, they are making the same mistake, and I hope they will handle it in such a way that it doesn’t create more problems for them and even for the country. So, I think PDP has a serious challenge now.”

    Fresh facts are emerging on the issues, which led to the break-up of the G-Seven Governors, who protested at the 2013 PDP special convention when Bamanga Tukur was the chairman.

    Leader of the G-Seven, Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, who is now the Northwest coordinator of President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential campaign, described his five colleagues, who left the PDP in sustenance of the struggle, as non-issue to the progress of the party.

    He said the exit of Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto), Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara) and the impeached Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State from the PDP remained inconsequential and of no effect to the success of the party in the coming elections.

    But Kwankwaso took a swipe at Lamido’s utterances, describing him as a betrayer.

    His words: “I don’t want to talk too much about the Jigawa State governor. Everybody knows that he was part of us. He worked so hard. In fact, he was the leader of the group. He took us to a level that we felt there was no going back, and we were surprised that he had different things in mind. He stayed in the PDP and we felt we had no business being in PDP.

    “I think if there is anybody who should criticise our exit, I believe it shouldn’t come from him or the Niger State governor. I don’t want to join issues with any of my colleagues. Nigerians are the best judges on our actions and utterances; and of course what we have done. I believe that that judgment will be part of what will happen at the next election.

    “What we have done is not a secret, it is not something that anybody can hide; and I believe we have done the right thing, we have deepened democracy. PDP is no more the monster it used to be where nobody was important, where people were not respected, even the governor of the most populous state who won election almost single-handedly in the party to come back as a governor.

    “I was not being respected and they see me as an irritant and so on; but I can tell you, now if there is anything they can do under the sun to take me back to their party, I can assure you that they know the importance of Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso in Nigerian politics—I have no business talking about my colleagues. You can bring another topic.”

    Kwankwaso described Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose’s recent statements against General Muhammadu Buhari as reckless and unguided, saying it was unexpected of a person who called himself a leader.