April 21, (THEWILL) – Of late, the Nigerian media have been awash with speculative reports about the possible return of the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Political Movement worldwide, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to the All Progressives Congress (APC), of which he is a founding bigwig.
The latest speculative news reports indicate that Kwankwaso has quietly perfected his plans to return to the APC. Such rumoured plans include that he had visited President Bola Tinubu in Paris, France, where the deal, as per his defection, was sealed.
Suddenly, the speculations gained more prominence with the reaction of the Kano State chapter of the APC, which described the “speculated impending defection” to the party as a welcome development.
The party chairman, Prince Abdullahi Abbas, addressed newsmen last Friday and said: “Recently, the party’s attention has been drawn to speculations of the impending decamping of the leader of the expelled faction of the NNPP, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
“This is a welcome development, especially given the fact that the APC remains his last political refuge as he has successfully destroyed his relations with all other political groupings in the country.
“Without prejudice to our desire as a party to welcome new entrants and in respect of the constitutional rights of citizens to belong to political parties of their choice, we wish to state our position as a state chapter of our great party in Kano state”, Abbas said.
He said the party had already directed its ward chapters to open registers for new decampees, irrespective of their political and social stature, in line with the party’s constitution.
“We advise all those desirous of joining our esteemed party to go to their respective wards and register”, he said.
To add colour to the conversation, the APC Persons With Disabilities Support Organisation in Kano State, however, rejected the rumoured defection of Kwankwaso to the APC, saying his return may not augur well for the party.
The group, which made its position known through its Chairman, Comrade Aminu Mu’azu Fagge, however, said it welcomes individuals “who genuinely contribute to APC’s growth, while maintaining zero tolerance for discord. Because APC is not one person’s property; it’s a great party for all good citizens of Nigeria.
“The APC Persons with Disabilities Support Organisation, Kano State, representing the collective interests of our members, unequivocally and categorically rejects Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s potential return to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“This decision is guided by our commitment to uphold the party’s stability, prosperity, and unity. Kwankwaso’s self-interest would undermine the party’s peace and success, treating APC like his personal company, similar to his past parties”, it said.
The response of the state chapter of the NNPP also enriched the discussions. Its Chairman, Hashimu Dungurawa, dismissed the raging speculations about Kwankwaso’s possible return to the APC.
Dungurawa, while speaking with journalists in Kano, said Kwankwaso does not have any plans or intention to defect to the APC.
“We have no business with the APC, and do not have any intention to defect to it”, dismissing the rumours as mere mischief.
As the conversations persist, Nigerians, especially members of the Kwankwasiyya movement and supporters of the NNPP, have been earnestly waiting for the response of Sen. Kwankwaso to confirm or deny plans to return to the APC.
Not even the response of Hashimu Dungurawa could douse their yearnings, as the stakeholders seem to prefer to hear from the Jogora himself, but that has yet to come. The Madugu has so far kept mum over the matter.
Some supporters of Kwankwaso spoke to express confidence that Jagora would break his silence on the burning political issue at the appropriate time.
“No matter how long it will take, Madugu will respond to this speculated issue of returning to the APC; whether to confirm the rumour or to dismiss it. Whatever decision he takes, Kafarsa, Kafarmu (We are with him)”, the followers said.
Political activities have begun to mount ahead of the 2027 general elections, and Dr Kwankwaso’s rumoured defection is one of the surging political issues.
Thus, Kwankwaso’s response is very germane to the many political calculations, alignments and realignments happening in the nation’s body politic, in view of his huge stature in the political spectrum.
I am told that politicians sometimes keep silent over certain political issues as a way of keeping their opponents in suspense until the chips are down. So, Jagora’s silence may be golden, after all.
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
