March 14, (THEWILL) – Former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has denied media reports that he has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
THEWILL reports that Kwankwaso has been strongly linked to the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The former Minister of Defence along with some of the country’s leading politicians, had last month, launched The National Movement (TNM).
Prominent personalities and politicians in attendance included Alhaji Tanko Yakasai and Capt. Idris Wada, former Kogi governor and former PDP information secretary, Rufai Alkali.
Others are Aminu Ibrahim Ringim, a former governorship candidate in Jigawa State, and Engineer Buba Galadima.
The meeting was held at the International conference centre in Abuja.
But speaking during a BBC interview, the former Minister of Defence, said ‘The National Movement’, gave birth to NNPP
Senator Kwankwaso, however, hinted that the new party is for people who believe that there is a need to change the system introduced in 1999 to one that will benefit Nigerians.
According to him, there is a need to study what the country can change to and get a new focus, but he insisted that he is still in the PDP.
Kwankwaso maintained that he is still an active member of the PDP.
He said, “As we speak, I am still in the PDP. We started the movement step by step.
“The first is to withdraw to the background, thinking some people within the party will want to hear our grievances, but the party didn’t do anything, we joined the group and still nothing was done by the party, now we are at the level of a political party.”
He further disclosed that “Even as I speak with you, we are still between a group and a political party, and I have not left the PDP, but this group has linked up with the NNPP. Whenever I am quitting the PDP you will be among the first to know because we are carefully following our programme.”
He noted that “the issue is not about Rabi’u Kwankwaso or Kwankwasiyya movement. It is about ‘The National Movement’ and we are many in it, and most of the people in the movement are big people, so I can’t take any decision alone.”
However, when Senator Kwankwaso was asked about the reported dissolution of the NNPP leadership even before they joined, he said: “Actually, the party is not ours, but they want us to be involved. That was why they want to bring their representatives and want us to do the same. And their tenure has lapsed and they have all stepped down, including the person that registered it more than 20 years ago.
“So it is a fresh arrangement that they are making to involve all of us because in most states they don’t have anybody.”
Meanwhile, a former Governor of Kwara State and one-time Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has hailed Kwankwaso for coming out to make his political affiliation known.
Saraki in a post on his verified official Facebook page said “it is the right decision to take.”
The former Senate President wrote: “I am happy to read that my friend, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, has clarified the air on his party affiliation. This is the right decision to take.
“Following my consultation with several leaders and stakeholders of the PDP in Kano State, who paid me a visit this past weekend at my home in Abuja, I am resolute that Senator Kwankwaso and his structure will remain in the party to rescue and rebuild Nigeria.”
