Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan, has officially received the former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, alongside over 10,000 people who joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He also accused the Kano State governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, of deliberately denying Kano delegates their mobilisation fund and refreshments given by his campaign headquarters in 2011.
At the ceremony organised by the PDP on Tuesday to receive new members that defected from other political parties, President Jonathan promised to work hand in hand with the former governor in bringing back Kano State to his party.
Mr Shekarau was also a presidential candidate in 2011 presidential election.
At the airport, where he was received by the former governor, President Jonathan expressed his satisfaction with the turnout of party supporters who came out in large numbers to welcome him.
On his part, Shekarau pledged his commitment to working under the ideology of the PDP.
“As long as I remain in active politics, I will continue to work under the ideology of my party, the PDP.
The celebration, however, took another turn when President Jonathan accused the Kano State governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, of diverting mobilisation and refreshments funds belonging to Kano delegates during 2011 presidential primaries.
President Jonathan’s comment was triggered by a newspaper report that quoted Kwankwaso as saying that he voted for President Jonathan during the said primaries.
President Jonathan denied the claims published in a newspaper showed to him by the PDP national chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, with the caption “Kwankwaso regrets voting for Jonathan”.