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It is no longer speculative that the political union between the leader of the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf has hit the rocks. Earlier this week, the wind of differing interests blew, shook and scattered the long lasting relationship which had lasted for about four decades and had produced both of them as governors at different times, including helping them nurse to adulthood a band of ideological knitted followers who are known as Kwankwassiyya members.
The key note in the sorry divorce is that while Kwankwaso, a one –time Governor of the state and former Minister of Defence, is staying behind in the NNPP to pursue his presidential ambition or to reconnect with the rest of the opposition elements in the country, his political godson will, in the coming days, defect to the ruling APC to pursue his second tenure in office as Governor of Kano State.
Sunday Sun gathered that the official defection might happen sooner than is expected to give the governor time to fully participate in the forthcoming congress of the APC.
Already, the governor has been holding meetings with the headship of the APC in the state, a recent one being the meeting on Wednesday with the APC state party chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, shortly before the chairman travelled abroad. Governor Yusuf had earlier in the week also held a midnight meeting with the House of Representatives member and former Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Kabiru Rirum. That is apart from his chance meeting with the former National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, not long ago.
This holiday week also featured a test of power between the differing camps. The week was marked by attempts by both sides to sway the party stakeholders. While some of the party members were willing to renounce their NNPP badges and throw away their red cap symbols for the greener pasture of the transition, others were foot dragging all through the week or had refused to jump on the bandwagon. Sunday Sun gathered that the reason for this is that many of them were indebted to Kwankwaso for their nomination to whatever position they now occupy. There was also the lesson of history, which Kwankwaso himself referenced to when he warmed party members against dumping him and taking up the APC option. Previous attempts of defection against Kwankwaso had somehow wound up in his favour against those who disengaged from him. The impact of this public truth has, so far, made the journey to the APC for defectors a little bit difficult and different from what was applicable in other states where the governors defect with almost every party member.
As of now, some of the big names who will stay with Kwankwaso in the NNPP included the Deputy Governor of the state, Abdulsalam Aminu Gwarzo, the State Chairman of the party, Hamisu Dungurawa, the Governor’s Political Adviser. The list also consists of a few members of the State House of Assembly who have professed their loyalty to Kwankwaso. Among the local government chairmen, it was gathered that a few of them were not exactly inclined to abandon the NNPP, but were afraid of the grave consequences of not aligning with the governor in his expedition.
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The news of the defection has hit the state like a tsunami. Many will likely lose their positions in the wake of the defection. Many would be caused to resign and many will be sacked. One of those that have suffered a sledge hammer so far is the state party chairman, Hashimu Danguruwa. Just hours after the defection speculation became public, the NNPP executive in his ward in Gargari ward in Dawakin Tofa announced his suspension. Later on the same day, a faction of the party state executive appointed Abdullahi Zubairu Abiya as his replacement. However, the purported suspension has since been contradicted by the National Working Committee of the NNPP, which described the exercise in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Bamofin Ladipo, as misplaced, undemocratic, null and void. There was also an unconfirmed report of the resignation of Mustapha, son of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso from the Kano State Executive Council.
What are the possible reasons for the current dispute? Insiders point at a number of issues ranging from undue interference by Kwankwaso to incitements by go-betweens who had worked tirelessly to ensure that Kwankwaso and the governor remained miles apart. Sunday Sun was told that the very structure of the Kwankwassiyya Movement, which places Kwankwaso at the head of affairs, with full commanding powers, did not help the dispute.
Despite this, the simple truth is that both men fell apart because their interests were no longer the same. It is an open secret that Kwankwaso has a presidential ambition and had bargained for a number of favourable conditions ahead of his defection to APC, but it is obvious that these conditions were not met. The governor, on his part, has his own set of personal ambitions and calculates that joining the APC at this time is the surest means to retaining his seat in 2027. Insiders said also that there was a certain gentleman agreement that has not been honoured. Under the terms of the agreement, the governor is expected to join the APC ahead of the 2027 polls but Kwankwaso is not disposed to this agreement.
“This is the crux of the matter. The governor goes to APC, gets the ticket and easily wins the elections in 2027. Kwankwaso goes with him to the APC and gets what in 2027? Not the vice presidential slot- and maybe, not even a ministerial slot. That is why he has been reluctant to defect to the APC with an empty promise, despite the persistence of the governor. However, the time has come for the governor to move and there is really nothing any of them could do. That is the main problem in simple terms. A clash of self interests” said a source.
“I don’t think that there is much of malice and bad blood between them except for the rash being perpetuated by some of their loyalists” said the source who still reminded the reporter that Kwankwaso and Governor Yusuf were related by family ties.
In the meantime, an unusual anxiety has gripped the state, especially the political class as a result of the evolving political strife. Aides are panicking, especially those who may lose their jobs while those on the side of the governor are springing for war, bearing in mind the opportunities presented by this kind of dispute. The other political parties, especially the PDP, are looking out for the opportunities that the dispute would present and how they can leverage on them. In fact, the greatest beneficiaries of the raging dispute are the APC members in the state, many of whom were previously reduced to object of caricature in their homes, communities and political wards since losing the elections in 2023. By some stroke of luck, it is now their turn to smile and watch their old foes walk back to the wilderness.
