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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Presidential candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, has insisted that his party had outstanding performance at the just concluded elections despite the fact that he came fourth in the presidential poll.
Dr. Kwankwaso, in an interview with BBC Hausa, however, said the outcome of the election provided opportunity for the party to return to the drawing table, review the process and plan better ahead of other coming off-season elections and the 2027 general elections.
He also stated that his party, NNPP, would have performed better if they have had good leaders and representations across the states.
What’s your assessment of the just concluded general elections?
I am happy and impressed with the performance of my party, NNPP, at the last polls. We recorded an outstanding performance in the past election considering the fact that myself and my supporters moved into the party and revived it within one year. My supporters trusted me and joined NNPP without much persuasions, and they voted for me during the presidential elections. Shortly after the election, we had a review process and noted that we had challenges particularly as regards party leaders and contestants. We have taken note of all these and we would work accordingly to make necessary corrections preparatory for other opportunities. We have up to four years to do that, and we would start as soon as possible. Another interesting thing is that more people, particularly big politicians are seriously indicating interest in our party, and they are willing to make necessary contributions to move the party forward. Take a look at our rivals, particularly the PDP. They are in serious crisis, particularly as it concerns its leaders. In Kano State, some thought PDP will be of help to them, or game changer, but they were disappointed woefully. Same with the APC. All these votes you see INEC mentioned were fraudulently allocated to its presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The truth is that Nigerians don’t like APC anymore, hence our party is the one that has the future.
You lost the presidential election but you didn’t approach the court like PDP and Labour Party (LP). Why?
Yes, you are right but that was because we are happy with our performance as against the other parties. You can see that those that frustrated us out of PDP are lamenting while we are laughing. PDP is on the verge of collapse because of leadership issues. But we are happy that we were able to find and build another party/platform that commands the respect of the people, and people of integrity are jostling for opportunities in the party. We can see light at the end of the tunnel. So, we don’t have much problem. All we know is that there were massive fraud in all that happened in the last election. Nevertheless, since Labour Party and PDP have approached the court, there’s no need of joining them. We would wait and watch the outcome of the court process. But until then, we would continue to work and strengthen our party so that we can stand a better opportunity next time.
Before the last election, people had suggested that you join forces with LP so you stand a better chance of winning the election. Do you have any regret for not doing that?
I have no regret for not joining forces with LP or other political parties. Besides, you must know that these parties have different reasons for establishment and different ideologies that are far different from ours. However, I knew from the beginning that both parties, NNPP and LP, won’t work together because of the conditions attached. On my own as a respected political leader, there are things we are working, believing and looking forward to establish. It’s not about winning the elections only, but for the general wellbeing of the country. It was not only LP, people suggested that we collapsed our structures into PDP but that couldn’t work. Many people believed that if we had joined LP or PDP, and if not that APC rigged the election, we would have won the election. Undoubtedly, we want to win election but we considered several things in all our steps and approaches to that exercise. Most of the parties had plans different from ours which focused on education, youth empowerment, maternal health care, among others. These are some of the reasons that we couldn’t work together in the last election.
Aside Kano and one other states where NNPP won a legislative seat, you didn’t show good presence elsewhere in the country. Is it that people across other regions didn’t accept your party?
That statement/belief is not true. We registered good presence across the states. The problem we had was that people couldn’t defend their votes as we did in Kano. Kano has a lot in common with Kaduna, Katsina, Jigawa, Kebbi or other northern states, where we have massive supporters. Secondly, our party logo was not well represented in the ballot paper. It was compressed to the point that our supporters could not differentiate it with other party logos in the ballot paper. Our votes were also distributed or voided in places where we didn’t have party agents. However, these highlighted issues were discussed at our NEC meeting where we formally registered our discontent with INEC and security agencies on the process that culminated in the general elections. Also, some of our state and local government officials often work with/for other parties in the past. These are some of the issues that affected our perceived “unimpressive” performance at the polls. But I can assure you that as a supporter, lover of NNPP and Kano State, the support and love you saw in Kano is same love and support we have and enjoy across northern states and some parts of southern states where there is a good number of northerners.
Do you see a better performance in subsequent elections?
Yes!. We have taken note of the challenges we identified and had proffered good solution to that. We have met with INEC regarding our observations and complaints. We requested for several adjustments to be made regarding our party logo and other things in the governorship elections that would be conducted in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo states. We need our logo to be emboldened the more, so that our supporters can easily identify it and vote for us. Last election was marred by violent activities, and unfortunately, the government, federal and state, and several stakeholders kept quiet about it. In Kano, thugs unleashed terror on the people freely. Someone woke up on a faithful morning and took actions that led to the destruction of electoral materials, burning of offices and other violent steps that culminated in the death of about 16 persons. He was accused and taken to court but was granted bail within two days. These things are not good and it could lead to increased violence.
Back to Kano politics. What led to the victory of your candidate, Abba Kabir Yusuf, at Kano governorship poll?
It was the people of Kano that chose and voted him to lead them at this time. You could see joy and happiness in the faces of the people when he was announced the winner of that election. Kano was agog in jubilation and excitement. Every good and lover of Kano is happy with the outcome of the election. This is because people saw what we have done in the past, and how we rescued the state and set it on the part of socioeconomic development before the outgoing government came in and mismanaged the economy and assets of the state, and even messed up with our culture and tradition. Infrastructures are in dilapidated state because of mismanagement. However, we are hopeful that the new administration will meet the yearnings of the people.
Were you afraid when there was delay in the announcement of the election result?
Yes, and that was because of what happened in the past especially in 2019 elections. When the announcement were being delayed, I was forced to raise concerns because we are doing things with people who are not sincere and fraudulent. We needed to let the world know about the alleged plans of the government and INEC to thwart the will of the people. In 2019, it happened. The people’s will were changed. They changed figures at different times and we ended up loosing that election after it was manipulated by some people. That time, we trusted the system with hope that there were still people with integrity, but we were proven wrong. We approached the court then but we couldn’t get justice, then we left them to God. So, this time, we decided that we won’t make similar mistake again. It’s unfortunate that we have helped and empowered so many people in the state but they turned and worked against us. There were several cases of over-voting in different locations but we had enough votes that swallowed their manipulated results.
Many people are afraid that you will be running the affairs of the state through the incoming governor.
My role as former governor will be advisory and that is if the governor requests for it. If not, I will leave him to run the affairs of the state. He is in charge as the elected governor of the state. Besides, the incoming governor has been in the system, and he was been part of my government years ago. I am of two kinds. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, leader of a political party, NNPP, and Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, a politician, Kano citizen and a stakeholder in the affairs of Kano State. So, we can’t allow any one in the name of governor of Kano State to mess up with the people and the system. We have built up this state over the years through the contributions of different people. So, it will be unwise and disservice for me and others to distance ourselves from the affairs of the state. We would offer advice and suggestions to whoever is in charge of the state at any point in time irrespective of party affiliation. That’s the right way to go.
You were reported to have said in 2021 that those buying lands being sold by Governor Ganduje will regret it.
That’s the responsibility of the incoming governor of the state. But all I know is that whatever that was done by this outgoing government will be reviewed and reversed if need be.
