Former Kano State governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has refuted claims of a power-sharing arrangement involving Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, Kwankwaso dismissed the rumors as baseless, accusing Atiku’s associates of fabricating the story to mislead the public.
“This issue deeply angers me,” Kwankwaso stated. “To hear that respected elders are spreading lies about something that never happened is disappointing. I was told nearly 45 clerics were informed of this fabricated story that I had agreed to a deal where Atiku serves four years, I serve another four, and Peter Obi serves for eight. This is completely false.”
Kwankwaso attributed the false claims to the same reasons he and other politicians, including Peter Obi and Nyesom Wike, left the PDP. He criticized those seeking to reconcile with him, accusing them of having humiliated him in the past.
The former governor also addressed a growing movement urging Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to distance himself from him. He described the campaign, known as “Abba Tsaya Da Ƙafarka” (Abba, Stand on Your Own), as an attempt to sow discord between him and the governor.
“Kwankwasiyya is a movement, not just a political party,” he emphasized. “If a governor or legislator endorsed by us fails, it reflects on the movement. Some individuals want to create a rift between us for their selfish ambitions.”
Kwankwaso clarified his role in Kano State’s governance, noting that he only offers advice when requested. He commended Governor Yusuf for his loyalty and urged him to resist attempts by political actors seeking to exploit the situation for personal gain.
“These individuals hope to capitalize on any mistakes Governor Yusuf makes to discredit both him and Kwankwasiyya,” Kwankwaso warned.
The former governor reiterated his commitment to the principles of the Kwankwasiyya movement and urged supporters to remain united despite attempts to undermine their collective goals.
