Follow Us on Google
By Chukwudi Nweje and Chinelo Obogo
Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, yesterday, stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were responsible for Nigeria’s woes and thus did not deserve to be returned to office in 2023 or at any other time.
The former governor of Kano State, spoke at the third edition of the Editors Forum in Lagos yesterday. The Forum interrogates candidates for political office on national issues, their position on the issues and programme if elected.
Kwankwaso said the problems of insecurity, weak economy, mass unemployment and other vices plaguing Nigerian were the product of 16 years of PDP and eight years of the APC.
He said the NNPP is the only hope to restore Nigeria to greatness, and added that, if elected, his government would be open to discuss the issues of constitution amendment, restructuring, devolution of power and other things Nigerians were agitating for.
He said he had tried both the PDP and the APC, and noted that there was no marked difference.
“I am a founding member of the PDP. When we formed the party, it was for the interest of the country but after we won the election, the PDP began to stray. In 2013, after the national convention, I was one of the five governors that walked away from the PDP. We joined in the formation of the alliance that produced APC. But, the APC has failed Nigeria too. We are tired of the status quo. The APC and the PDP, the country is not on the right path, it needs a change. The NNPP is the right party to clinch the Federal Government in 2023.”
On poverty in the north, Kwankwaso blamed northern elite for the suffering of the people.
“The poverty in the northern parts is a big problem. I believe it is higher than 65 per cent. I believe the northern elite are to blame because some of them did not do what they are supposed to do. I believe that Islam and Christianity are religions that encourage people to do the right thing.”
He also said his administration would be open to discussions on issues of constitution amendment, restructuring, devolution of power and other things Nigerians agitate for untill the best arrangement for national unity is achieved.
Kwankwaso said contrary to speculation that the presidential election would go into a runoff, the NNPP will win the poll decisively at the first ballot.
He dismissed rumours that he would step down for the candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, to consolidate votes from the north for the former vice president.
“It is wishful thinking for anyone to be talking of me stepping down for Atiku at this time. We have crossed that bridge. NNPP is in the 2023 presidential election to win. It is only the NNPP that is growing by the day.”
He stated that the NNPP talks of merger with Labour Party collapsed because they could not agree on who would be presidential candidate and who would be running mate.
“Several things were considered. We considered age, experience and other things. There were sentiments from the south east that the presidency should go to the region. But, we have crossed that bridge. Politics should not be based on religious and ethnic sentiments because part of the country can win the presidential election alone. We must stop these religious and ethnic sentiments in politics because no part of the country can win the presidential election alone. Even the north has only 19 states and you need 24 states to win the presidential election.”
Meanwhile, a Yoruba sociopolitical group, New Afenifere, has endorsed the NNPP candidate.
Coordinator of New Afenifere, Ajibade Adeyeye, said his group chose to identify with the NNPP presidential candidate because of his track record.
“The New Afenifere hereby states that we have decided to take our future into our hands to prepare for the upcoming 2023 election.
“We have called on our elder statesmen not to impose on us anymore but to allow us to choose our preferred presidential candidate because we believe we are old enough to make decision for ourselves and for our future.
“So, on behalf of the New Afenifere, we have decided to forge ahead and endorse the candidature of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, together with his running mate, Bishop Isaac Idahosa to see toward a new Nigeria.”
