Kwankwaso is not founder of Kwankwassiyya Movement, says former Kano Deputy Governor

From Desmond Mgboh, Kano

A one-time Deputy Governor of Kano State, Hafizu Abubakar has dismissed the narrative linking the leader of the New Nigeria People Party, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as the founder of the Kwankwasiyya Movement.

Speaking at the distribution of 600 motorcycles to social media influences held at Kano Government House, Hafizu explained that the Movement was the brainchild of six of them adding that it emerged out of need to help the first tenure of Kwankwaso’s administration overcome its initial challenges within the Peoples Democratic Party as at then.

He insisted that red cap dress- code and the choice of the name of the now highly popular  Movement were also not original to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, adding that he, Hafiz, personally suggested the name of the Movement while the idea of the red cap symbol  was arrived at during a political activity in Gwale LGA years ago.

Hafiz, a BUK professor, recalled that they, the founders, felt it was better to establish a strong Movement to counter the political realities and  adversaries within the PDP rather than move out to establish a new party.

Hafiz, however, expressed bitterness that the history of the Movement has been hijacked and the narrative misrepresented, likening their situation to builders who jointly contributed money to build a house, invited someone to live in it, only to be accused of betrayal and chased away from the House.

It could be recalled that Hafiz was a Finance Commissioner and one the most trusted allies to Kwankwaso during Kwankwaso’s first tenure. He was, years later, nominated by the same Kwankwaso as a running mate to Abdullahi Umar Ganduje  in 2015. Both men, however, fell apart soon after Hafiz emerged as the Deputy Governor of the state.