A Defection That Still Feels Like a Dream
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and founder of the influential Kwankwasiyya movement, said Governor Yusuf’s decision to abandon the party that brought him to power has left him deeply unsettled.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, Kwankwaso said he often replays the episode in his mind, questioning how and why the political relationship collapsed so abruptly.
“Sometimes when I lie down, I still ask myself what really happened. Was it me? Was it the party? I honestly cannot find an answer,” he said.
‘Issues Could Have Been Resolved’
The former Kano governor dismissed claims that Yusuf’s defection was inevitable, insisting that the internal disagreements cited by the governor could have been resolved through dialogue.
Governor Yusuf had, in his resignation letter, pointed to prolonged leadership disputes, legal battles, and what he described as growing disenfranchisement within the NNPP. Kwankwaso, however, rejected that justification.
“To the best of my knowledge, there is no party more peaceful and stable than the NNPP,” he said, arguing that internal crises are not unique to his party and are common across Nigeria’s political landscape.
A Warning of Political Consequences
Kwankwaso warned that Yusuf’s realignment with the APC would ultimately prove costly, both personally and politically. He criticised the optics of the governor’s public reception by former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, a key APC figure in the state.
According to Kwankwaso, the gesture symbolised a loss of political independence rather than a gain in influence.
“If Ganduje truly had the power to raise people to victory, he would have done so in 2019 and 2023,” he said.
‘Light and Darkness’ in Kano Politics
Addressing politicians who claim allegiance to the Kwankwasiyya ideology while operating outside the NNPP, Kwankwaso framed the contest in stark moral terms.
“Light and darkness have already been defined in Kano. If you want to practise Kwankwasiyya, stay where Kwankwasiyya is,” he said.
Despite the setback, Kwankwaso maintained that the NNPP remains deeply rooted in Kano, particularly among young voters, and revealed that discussions are ongoing to build broader political alliances ahead of future elections.
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