The Chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, in Kano State, Hashimu Dungurawa, has dismissed rumours suggesting that the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is set to defect to the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
Speaking with journalists on Monday, Dungurawa criticized the speculations, stressing that Kwankwaso remains firmly rooted in his political ideology and is not one to make hasty decisions.
“The question of Kwankwaso joining ADC or any other party is just a miscalculation of politicians who are afraid of the leader of Kwankwasiyya Movement, but I know Kwankwaso too well; he is not in a hurry to show where he is going,” he said.
He emphasized Kwankwaso’s influence in Northern Nigeria’s political space and said his moves are being unnecessarily overanalyzed.
“Don’t forget, Kwankwaso today is the political leader of Northern Nigeria, and every politician specifically in this region, is looking up to him, so it will be malicious to say he is decamping out for now,” Dungurawa stated.
He added that politicians worried about Kwankwaso’s engagements with other parties were being unnecessarily paranoid.
“Why are Nigeria politicians panicking about Kwankwaso movements? Let them calm down, the time of decision is yet to come, we are people who are too calculative, we don’t just take actions without due consideration.”
Addressing sightings of Kwankwaso interacting with different political figures, he said such behavior was not unusual for a seasoned politician.
“As a politician who has a PhD in the field, do you expect him to hide himself or desert people? No way. He can talk to anybody, but it does not mean anything, it is a normal thing.”
He also criticized those who claim to be followers of Kwankwaso but are nervous about his political plans.
“Those so-called followers and supporters of Kwankwaso who are jittery of where he is going, they are pretenders followers, but the genuine ones know that Kwankwaso doesn’t take any decisions without consulting them and seeking advice from as low as a ward supporter.”
Commenting on the performance of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf over the past two years, Dungurawa praised the NNPP-led government in Kano for its development strides.
“Governor Yusuf’s heavy infrastructural development overwhelmed the opposition. They can’t even show their presence anywhere in Kano, that is why we are proud of what he is doing,” he said.
