A former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has faulted the actions of a few individuals claiming to be Northern leaders” who meddle in the selection of candidates, especially for the presidency, under the guise of representing the region.
He asserted that Northern leaders must desist from displaying favouritism in selecting candidates.
Speaking during an interview with BBC Hausa Service, Kwankwaso argued that such actions could divide the people, disrupt democracy, and, most importantly, lead to the election of unqualified leaders.
It will be recalled that the former governor dismissed rumours of an agreement between himself and former presidential candidates Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, suggesting that each would serve a specific term in office.
Meanwhile, the acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, has stated that the party nurtured Kwankwaso and contributed to his political success.
Damagum stated this while responding to Kwankwaso’s claim that the PDP was dead. He insisted that Kwankwaso should be grateful to the party despite its internal challenges.
Speaking during an interview with the Hausa Service of the BBC on Tuesday, Damagum expressed hope that Kwankwaso would return to the party and contribute to its resuscitation.
According to him: “It (PDP) nurtured him (Kwankwaso) and contributed significantly to his political success. We still hold hope that he might return to the party and contribute to its rejuvenation, so we can collectively address the injustices of the current government.
“Every member has the right to express his opinion. But let me remind him (Kwankwaso) that when he left the party in 2015, despite the challenges we faced then, the PDP was not ‘dead.’ If the party could survive his exit then, why would anyone think it is irrelevant now?”
Damagum also queried the impact of Kwankwaso’s move to other political platforms.
He added, “Senator Kwankwaso may have left, but how many states did he win with his new party? The facts speak for themselves. For over two decades, the PDP has remained steadfast, maintaining its identity and producing governors and lawmakers in every part of the country.
“Even if four parties merge without the PDP, they cannot win an election. We’ve seen this play out repeatedly. Where are those parties now? Even their alliances with other parties have not delivered the desired results.
“I admit that some of his claims about the challenges we faced back then are valid. As the Deputy National Chairman (North) at the time, my powers were limited, but we tried to resolve the issues. Unfortunately, those efforts fell short. He himself acknowledged this in previous interviews
“The PDP played a significant role in his political career, shaping him into the leader he is today. We remain hopeful that he will return to the party and join us in addressing the injustices Nigerians face under the current administration.”
