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From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
As the defection crisis continues to colour the politics of Kano State, a former governor of the state, Ibrahim Shekarau, has dismissed the accusation of betrayal levelled by his predecessor in office, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, against the incumbent Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Recall that Kwankwaso, who was the Governor of Kano State from 1999 to 2003 and from 2011 to 2015, had at the weekend decried the current moves by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the APC, describing it as an act of political betrayal.
Shekarau, in a viral message shared on his verified WhatsApp platform, however held that Governor Yusuf was only walking the same path set by Kwankwaso himself years ago and cannot be labelled a betrayer.
“Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf should not be accused of betrayal because political realignments are personal decisions guided by circumstances and consultations,” Shekarau said.
“I listened to some of my brother Kwankwaso’s remarks. To me, Kwankwaso has either forgotten what happened in the past or thinks people have forgotten,” he said.
Shekarau recalled that Kwankwaso defected to the APC without relinquishing his position as the Governor of Kano State.
“When he was in PDP, he moved with the governorship seat to APC. Why didn’t he drop it for PDP? The way he took PDP’s seat to APC is likely the same way Abba will take the NNPP seat to APC,” he added.
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Shekarau, also a former Minister of Education during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, stressed that if such an action was now being considered offensive and distasteful, then it was Kwankwaso himself who had established the precedent.
The former governor also shed light on events surrounding the formation of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano and his break from the party at its nursery stage.
Shekarau recalled that after he and Kwankwaso had defected from the APC to the NNPP, several meetings were held in Abuja and Kano to agree on how elective positions and appointments would be shared.
He disclosed that a committee was constituted to work out the sharing formula, with Governor Yusuf appointed as chairman because he was to fly the governorship ticket.
“Abba spent about three months without delivering the assignment. Suddenly, a list emerged and there was no single person from our side except me,” he said.
“I rejected the arrangement because I could not take a senatorial ticket alone while my people got nothing,” he added.
