EGWUAGHA AMARACHUKWU reports that in Abakiliki, Ebonyi state capital, the visit, cash and rice donation by Senator Rbiu Kwankaso, former governor of Kano state, last week, has stirred mistrust, protest as well as drama
Story as misleading
Last week, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state, while refuting stories circulating round the state that Ebonyi state was mobilizing support for Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s presidency, said that the state will vote for any presidential candidate who will factor the state’s interest and well-being in national building. It will be recalled that Kwankwaso is a 2019 presidential aspirant on APC platform.
The visibly angry governor described the story as not only misleading but false, adding that there is no place for Kankwaso support group in the state, especially as the state is hundred percent in support of PDP.
Lambasting the promoters of the story which alleged that Ebonyi was in support of Kwankwaso, Umahi called on journalists to always verify their information before going to press to avoid misinforming the public. He assured that the state will only vote for anybody who will not relegate the state
to the background as President in 2019. By implication to avoid Kwankwaso in the state could be the beginning of wisdom.
Cracks in support group
Meanwhile, the Kwankwaso Support Group in the state has been hit by crisis as some members protested alleged highjack of cash and food items donated to it by the former Kano governor.
Our correspondent learnt that Kwankwaso had given an undisclosed amount of cash and some bags of rice to leaders of the group in the state to share to among the group but the leaders under the aegis of Integrated Youth Forum, allegedly diverted the items.
Piqued by the action of their leader, some members of the group took to protest.
One of the protesting members, Onele Chijioke said: “we had meeting on Sunday and it was agreed that the money given to us by His Excellency, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, will be shared to us in Effium, where we had the meeting but to our greatest surprise, they refused to share them to us.
Why we protested
“When we mentioned it at the meeting, our leaders claimed no cash was released to them while about N2million was given to them in cash. They agreed that bags of rice were given for us to share and they refused to share the rice. They told us that it is the leaders that will share the rice and that is why we are protesting.
“They can’t share everything and scheme us out because we are also stakeholders like them. Without us, there will be nothing like the group because one or two persons cannot make a group of this nature.
“We have decided that we will pull out of the group because we cannot be slaves. We are not attending the meeting being conveyed by Senator Kwankwaso on June 29. We will rather join a group that will accommodate us rather than scheme us out”.
However, the National President of the Ebonyi Integrated Youth forum, Hon Sunday Orogwu, refused to comment on the matter when our correspondent contacted him.
Instead, Orogwu, who is also the state youth leader of Kwankwasiya, a political movement of Kwankwaso showered praises on his boss saying that Kwankwaso with his experience has the capacity to lead the nation to success.
He described the senator as a detribalized Nigerian who will rescue the nation from its present woes which he said was characterized by killings, nepotism, tribalism and poor economy.
“Kwankwaso is the solution to Nigeria’s problem, Kwankwso represent unity, he represents vibrancy, he represents honesty, he represents everything that will make Nigeria better”, he insists.
Orogwu said since 2007, the nation has been experiencing bad leadership occasioned by inexperienced leaders.
Kwankwaso, Ganduje’s leadership tussle
But back in his state, Kano, it is an open secret that Kwankwaso’s presidential ambition has been fueling crisis. Also an open secret is that the Kano state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on which Kwankwaso hopes to pursue his presidential ambition is deeply factionalised, occasioned by leadership tussle between the senator and his former deputy, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, presently, governor of Kano state.
Only yesterday, Ganduje criticised his former boss and predecessor, over the latter’s recent boast about the 2019 presidential election.
It would be recalled that over the weekend, Kwankwaso had reportedly claimed that he can defeat President Muhammadu Buhari should the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) give him its mandate ahead of the polls.
But reacting to the report, Ganduje said Kwankwaso, who represents Kano Central at the Senate, cannot defeat Buhari. He said the senator cannot win the election in his own village.
In a statement made by the state Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, on Sunday, the governor said Kwankwaso’s political structure has been “squarely dismantled in Kano so much that he has lost grip of the realities of Kano politics.”
The statement described Kwankwaso as “a political fugitive who does not have the platform, the intellectual capability and mental ability to manage the affairs of Nigeria.”
“Senator Kwankwaso’s latest utterances have confirmed the fact that he is now a confused politician who is grabbing every opportunity to relaunch himself back to relevance.
“For over three years, he has been sleeping at the Senate without sponsoring even a bill that will positively impact on the lives of Nigerians. This is a clear indication that he has nothing to offer. He is just being boastful.
“For over three years, Kwankwaso has been at the Senate, he has not visited Kano Central, his senatorial district. He has not executed any tangible constituency project for his people.
“Since then, he has not been around and we have been here in Kano playing the game of politics the way it should be done. The good people of Kano are appreciating our modest achievements and they have expressed confidence in us.”
Dream to Get PDP Presidential Ticket
The statement further stated that, “Senator Kwankwaso’s dream to get the PDP presidential ticket remains a tall one that can never see the light of the day because those he is going to meet there are familiar with his antics. They have not forgotten in a hurry, the role he played in destroying the same PDP.
“I am surprised that Kwankawso is now talking about people like Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, a man he persecuted and betrayed in many occasions. I am surprised he is talking about the PDP, a party he destroyed and betrayed many of the chieftains who are still there today to pay him back with his own coin.”
The governor maintained that Kwankwaso is no longer relevant in Kano politics.
“All his political structure has been completely dismantled. Those who know him will understand that he is overrating himself and cannot be seen as a major contender in the 2019 presidential election. He is an usurper who wants power by all means. Here in Kano, the support for President Buhari and the APC is non-negotiable.”
Blueprint recalls that Kwankwaso, as Kano governor, was one of the PDP leaders who defected to the APC in the build up to the 2015 elections. He came second in the APC presidential primary.
Umahi cautions ‘saboteurs’ in PDP
As the rivalry between the men rekindles, Umahi over the weekend warned those he called saboteurs in PDP not to play pranks by working against the decision of the party in the build up to the 2019 general election.
Umahi sounded the warning at the 42nd State Executive Committee meeting of the party, in Abakaliki.
Umahi had warned the PDP members saying: “As we approach our election, there is a need to do this meeting. I have always made reference to 2015 election, a lot of people who were working against PDP, today, they are the worst hit.
“I am sad with what is going on. If in a particular local government where there is a governor and somebody jumps out for senator, is not allowed”.
