A three-time commissioner in Kano State, Musa Ilyasu Kwankwaso, has alleged that the Kano State governor, Abba Yusuf, entered an agreement to dump the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Kwankwaso, who stated this while speaking on the intrigues in Kano politics, claimed that the agreement led to the declaration of Abba Yusuf as the Kano State governor by the Supreme Court.
The former commissioner and APC chieftain, in an interview with newsmen in Kano yesterday however said the former governor Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso was initially not involved in the deal but was convinced to play along.
He was however silent on whom, in particular, the governor entered the defection deal with.
He said “They (governor and his team) accepted to join the APC at the last minute and all arrangements including power sharing in the state and the party were made at that last minute.
“They agreed to it behind their boss (Kwankwaso) for which he was not happy but had no choice. He later gave some conditions which might not necessarily be agreed to.
“Now that they are yet to fulfil the conditions given them, they have asked for additional time, about five months, to complete the arrangements and come and join the APC” he revealed.
He however added that loyal APC are not against any opposition party member joining our party.
“All are welcome to the canopy of a bigger party. All that is required of them is to contribute their positive quota to the progress and development of our party” he said.
Kwankwaso also called on opposition leaders from all the respective political parties, to engage in constructive criticisms and avoid sentiments to pave way for better politics in the country.
Kwankwaso also expressed concern over the current political terrain in the country.
“It is part of this that led the NSA to mobilize and direct the Northern governors on how to enhance security in their states, a project that led some of them to the United States of America recently. This is indeed praiseworthy” he stated.
He also condemned the recent protest against the Minister of State for Defense, Dr. Bello Matawalle, describing it as targeted at president Bola Tinubu, the national chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) Abdullahi Ganduje and other leading politicians of the ruling party.
He also revealed that there were agreements in the past that led to the merger that founded the ruling APC as a strong political party in the country that began with the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari to which some people are now not very loyal.
He explained that the same agreement was what led to the emergence of Tinubu as president and he fulfilled his part of the agreement satisfactorily.
He added that those behind the protests are the same people that slipped out of the earlier agreements and are now trying to follow channels to bring the president and his men down.
“Those going on social media to reign insults on the president are only doing disservice to the nation and misleading the public.
“Within the last one year of being in office the president has achieved a lot but mischievously those attacking him close their eyes against the achievements” he stated.
“Tinubu is working hard towards seeing the end of insecurity in the region and the results can be seen in the fact that people can now travel freely between Abuja and Kaduna without fear of being attacked as it used to be in the past” he added.
He appealed to the elders in the Northern region in particular to be focussed and work hand in hand with the governors of the region to bring dividend of democracy to the region as president Tinubu is there for them.
“Instead of engaging in mischievous and unproductive missions they should rather support the Tinubu administration in bringing the dividend of democracy to the region.
“They should come out and call for the completion of the Abuja – Kaduna – Kano road, Abuja – Kano – Niger rail line, AKK Gas pipelines, Mambila Power project, Bauchi/Gombe oil exploration and many others. Tinubu is ready to do all these and many others to the North.
“Get your Governors together and go for the development and progress of the region” he appealed.
He however added “the plot to pull president Tinubu down will never be condoned and we are ready to defend him with our last blood. Because we diehard supporters of Tinubu believe in him, that he has a very good intention to re-write the wrongs of the past”.
He also expressed appreciation with President Bola Tinubu for making an intelligent police officer the national security adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu.
The APC chieftain stated this while also noting that all past NSAs were retired military officers that were not as experienced on issues that are related to civilian dispensations.