Rabi’u Kwankwaso – Channels Television

Atiku’s Ally Faults Kwankwaso, Says No Party Has Won Lagos, Kano, Rivers At Once

A collage of NNPP presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso; and his PDP counterpart, Atiku Abubakar

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka has faulted the permutation of the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, on parties controlling Kano, Lagos and Rivers states.

Chidoka, an ally of PDP flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar described Kwankwaso’s analysis as “not mathematically correct” hours after the NNPP candidate said any party that can’t control the three states should forget about winning the 2023 presidential election.

While he acknowledged that the three states deliver millions of votes during elections, Chidoka said no party has won the three states in the history of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.

“It is the party that wins across all segments that wins the election and no party has won the three states at the same time – most times, two out of three. In 2019, APC won Kano and Lagos was marginal – it was 45% to 55% split between PDP and APC. PDP won Rivers,” he said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Tuesday.

The PDP stalwart said his party has won at least three presidential elections since 1999 despite losing Kano.

“As there is Kano, there is Katsina. As there is Lagos, there is Delta, there is Akwa Ibom, there is Jigawa, a state that doesn’t have high numbers but high voter turnout if you look at historical data,” he noted.

Kano had over 1.8 million cumulative votes – the highest by any state in the 2019 presidential election – while Lagos had over one million total votes and Rivers about 600,000 total votes. Kano and Lagos are currently controlled by the APC whilst PDP is the party in power in Rivers.

However, there are fears that the intra-party squabbles between Governor Nyesom Wike and Atiku over the chairmanship of Iyorchia Ayu would affect the chances of the PDP presidential candidate at the polls next February.

‘PDP Can’t Remain A Viable Party Without Winning The North’

Chidoka further explained that PDP can’t remain a viable party without winning the bulk of votes in northern Nigeria as it did to govern Nigeria from 1999 to 2015 before it lost to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“What we have in the PDP now is what I call a ‘Northern Strategy’; restoring PDP as a national platform that cuts across its base in the South-East, South-South and take it to the north again.

“Without us winning back the north into the PDP as a party, we will not be able to remain a viable national platform. So, what is at stake today is the mechanism of doing that,” he said.

The PDP chieftain, however, said his party’s strategy of winning back the north won’t be at the expense of losing its base in Southern Nigeria.

With Nigeria’s return to democracy after years of military rule, PDP produced then Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo (1999 to 2007), Umaru Yar’Adua (2007 to 2010), and Goodluck Jonathan (2010 to 2015).

The party has since jostled to return to Aso Rock for the top job in 2023 having failed in 2015 and 2019. PDP faces a major challenge in the next presidential election as it produced Adamawa-born Atiku to succeed Katsina-born Buhari — both from northern Nigeria, a development faulted by proponents of zoning.

‘Future Of G5 Tied To PDP’

On the crisis rocking the PDP, Chidoka said his party will continue to work on winning Rivers and will work on winning back five aggrieved governors of the party known as the G5 or the Integrity Group because their future is tied to the PDP.

“We will continue to work to win Rivers State and I believe that Governor Wike understands that his future is tied to that of PDP, same as the other four governors,” he stated.

The former minister said the PDP will “work towards every issue and ensure every contradiction between the party is resolved before the election and I am very hopeful about that”.

There Is So Much Money, We Won’t Borrow To Pay Salaries – Kwankwaso

The presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, says Nigeria has enough money to take care of every of its citizens.

He said this while answering questions on indiscriminate borrowing which has set back the country’s economy in recent years during The People’s Townhall 2023, a live programme organised by Channels Television in Abuja on Sunday evening.

The former Kano State governor who said he repaid all debts he met as governor in Kano without borrowing, boasted of replicating same at the federal level.

He said, “There is so much money in this country, anybody who says there is no money either he doesn’t know or he wants to be mischievous. There is enough money to take care of each one of us in this country; we have done it in Kano in 1999 to 2003, we met a lot of debts, we paid the debts after eight years. When I went back I met debts of hundreds of millions of US dollars, and we settled them before I left in 2015.

“I’m talking of borrowing money either from banks or individuals, we have never borrowed. So I believe that that can be replicated to a very large extent at national level. I will not say I will not borrow but if they are important things pay themselves, not to borrow to pay salaries, handle current expenditure and so on, I believe there is even more than enough money in this country to handle that.”

Kwankwaso also said that if elected president he would negotiate with Nigeria’s creditors to reschedule payment of debts so that government can have money to take care of other things.

“The situation as we are being told now is that whatever we are getting as our resources, as our money in this country is not even enough to service our debt, I think that is what we have heard. Now the issue is that any responsible government day one will sit down with all the people, creditors and see how they can be rescheduled, there has to be negotiation.

“You cannot be collecting all your resources and paying interest to the creditors, there has to be arrangement to make sure that you are given a breathing space so that you can start bringing in the good things that are necessary for the country to move forward,” he added.

2023: We Are Open To Restructuring, State Police – Kwankwaso

The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has expressed an openness to restructuring, including the enactment of state police across the federation, as long as it is in accordance with the constitutional provisions.

“If you check our blueprint, you will find that we’re very much open to restructuring, including state police. They are part of our own understanding of restructuring,” Kwankwaso said during The People’s Townhall 2023, a live programme organised by Channels Television in Abuja on Sunday evening.

“While we believe that we will listen to the people, we will do the right thing, at the same time, we will follow due process. This is not something that the President will sit in his bedroom and announce the change of constitution to insert the issue that affects the relevant clauses in the constitution.

NNPP Presidential Candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso at Channels Television's The People's Townhall 2023 in Abuja on November 13, 2022. Sodiq Adelakun/Channels Television — NNPP Presidential Candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso at Channels Television’s The People’s Townhall 2023 in Abuja on November 13, 2022. Sodiq Adelakun/Channels Television

“We are ready to follow due process as long as Nigerians are interested in that. But on the other hand, we believe most of these things coming up are as a result of government failure. Once everything is going well, all these things will die down.”

Security votes

Kwankwaso, who is a former governor of Kano State, also promised to put an end to the allocation of security votes for the sitting president.

“For the eight years I was governor, I have never taken one naira on the issue of security votes and I have inherited governments there were taking N10m in a day seven times, ten times. In fact, at a stage, we had a record of 12 times because the governor can only approve N10m so they would take N10m times whatever number they want,” he said.

“The only thing that we did not publish for the eight years I was governor was the money given to the security agents but we have the record. So, security votes, in my own opinion, is a big way of stealing money because that is why I have never done it; if I have the opportunity again, there would not be anything like security votes in the presidency.

“So, we have seen cases where a lot of money is been siphoned in the name of security votes and nobody can defend it and, in my opinion, I think that should be stopped using whatever means because it’s only a good way of taking cash from the treasury”

Kuje Jailbreak: There Must Be Penalties For Security Breaches, Says Kwankwaso

NNPP Presidential Candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso speaking at Channels Television's The People's Townhall 2023 in Abuja on November 13, 2022. Sodiq Adelakun/Channels Television — NNPP Presidential Candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso speaking at Channels Television’s The People’s Townhall 2023 in Abuja on November 13, 2022. Sodiq Adelakun/Channels Television

The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has advocated penalties for security breaches such as that which resulted in the July 5 attack on the Kuje correctional facility in Abuja.

Kwankwaso, a former Governor of Kano State, spoke during The People’s Townhall 2023, a live programme organised by Channels Television in Abuja on Sunday evening.

He stated that nobody in Nigeria should be over and above the law.

“One of the issues that we’re having, in our opinion, today in Nigeria is that everything goes. Nobody is punished — 100 people killed, 50 people killed, one person killed. That’s the story,” he said.

“A place was broken; so many people escaped. It doesn’t matter, and so on and so forth. There must be the issue of penalties. There must be an issue of reward. If you do the right thing, you would give the necessary reward. If you’re wrong, you are wrong.

“These are some of the things that are already in our manifesto or blueprint. In the first place, it must be prevented. Even from the official versions we hear, there were so many missing links.

“We were told that many of them, according to the information, people were being seen around for a long time. And that is what even happened with Boko Haram.”

According to the NNPP presidential candidate, though many of such attempts began in Kano, his administration passed on the information for swift response.

“Every time, for many obvious reasons, people are finding it difficult to take the action at the right time, that timing is very critical, that’s what happened in that case. What we would have done is to prevent, to make sure it didn’t happen,” Kwankwaso said.

“Of course, you have to make provision. For any security breach to happen for hours in any part of Abuja is most unfortunate. I will tell you that our reaction (time) in Kano at that particular time was not more than 10 minutes within the metropolitan (area).

“We provided all the vehicles, we provided all the communications necessary to function effectively. We gave them all what they required and they were staged at critical positioned in Kano. And when you called, maximum at that time — I don’t know if it’s the same now — 10 minutes, somebody will be there.”

2023 Election Is About Capacity Not Sentiments – Kwankwaso

NNPP presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso speaks at the Ebonyi State Govt House in Abakaliki on November 9, 2022.

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said that Nigerians will not vote for any individual who campaigns on sentiments for the office of president away from the capacity to deliver on the job when elected.

The former Kano State governor stated this on Wednesday Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital after he was received by Governor David Umahi, represented by his deputy, Kelechi Igwe at the Government House.

He, however, said Nigerians must elect the next president of the country on the basis of the competence and capacity of the individual and not on the basis of his religion or ethnicity.

“Anybody who goes out and feels that I am an actor now with the face of religion, ethnicity, that person has lost the election even before the date of the election,” he said.

“It doesn’t work that way. I was at the constitutional conference of 1994/1995. We deliberately put that clause in the constitution, and it has always been there since 1979 that nobody can be declared a winner in this country unless he has the highest vote and two-thirds of the 36 states which is 24 states.

“We don’t have 24 states in the north, the entire south does not have 24 states, meaning you have to reach out.”

The presidential hopeful, who thanked the government of Ebonyi State for the warm reception granted him and his team, went further to state that nobody should personalise becoming president in 2023.

Noting that the NNPP was bringing renewed hopes for Nigerians, Kwankwaso said that those who were aggrieved with the situation could change the narrative in 2023 by voting him as president.

If elected, he pledged to tackle cases of oil theft which have negatively impacted the growth of the nation’s economy.

Kwankwaso Not Working For Tinubu – NNPP Spokesman

Combo of Rabiu Kwankwaso and Bola Tinubu

Ladipo Johnson, a spokesman for the Presidential Campaign of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, says the party’s presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, is not working for his All Progressives Congress counterpart, Bola Tinubu.

Johnson spoke in Lagos on Tuesday when he was featured as a guest on Channels Television’s breakfast show, Sunrise Daily.

When asked to respond to reports that Kwankwaso was working for Tinubu, Johnson said, “He is not working for Tinubu. Senator Kwankwaso is much more qualified for the post; he is not working for Tinubu.”

He also said Kwankwaso did not betray the Senator representing Kano Central, Ibrahim Shekarau, who left the NNPP for the Peoples Democratic Party on Monday after he joined Kwankwaso’s camp in May.

Speaking on the rift between Kwankwaso and Shekarau, Johnson said the latter demanded certain NNPP elective slots in the Kano State House of Assembly and the Federal House of Representatives but couldn’t get it because tickets had been sold and primary elections conducted to fill such nominations.

The Kwankwaso’s presidential campaign spokesman said, “I will just give a brief background. When Shekarau was pushed out by the APC, the Court of Appeal said the structure belongs to (Governor Abdullahi) Ganduje. People reached out to or I think he reached out.

“When they (Kwankwaso and Shekarau) were coming together, there was an agreement and we both travelled to Kano from Abuja to announce everything.

“Apparently, tickets have been bought and everything and the distinguished senator pulled out. Next thing, Ganduje was in his (Shekarau’s) house. I think a day or a few days after, Asiwaju Tinubu sent him a jet and he was in Lagos as well.

“He came in and he had some members in this house who were easily accommodated but the problem I think was that he demanded about 31 seats in the House of Assembly out of about 40 and some seats in the House of Reps and he was told that people had bought their forms and things like that.”

“I will not say that he (Kwankwaso) made a promise that he didn’t keep,” Johnson said, stressing that his principal did not breach trust.

‘A Man Of Impeccable Integrity,’ Kwankwaso Unveils Idahosa As NNPP VP Candidate

The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has unveiled Bishop Isaac Idahosa as his running mate for the 2023 elections.

While speaking at the unveiling ceremony held on Monday at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja, he described the Edo State-born clergyman as a man of integrity.

“Idahosa is a man of impeccable integrity and credibility who clearly understands the country’s contemporary challenges,” said Kwankwaso who is a former governor of Kano State. “He is a full-time believer and promoter of united Nigeria.

“I believe we can work together with sincerity to heal the wounds inflicted on the country. Let us come together and work towards healing our country. We must endeavour to face the challenges of the moment, rise together and work together to build the Nigeria of our dreams.”

Idahosa is the Presiding Bishop and Senior Pastor of the God First Ministry, Lekki Light Centre in Ajah, Lagos.

According to the presidential hopeful, a combination of himself and the party’s vice-presidential candidate will result in a formidable team that is well rooted and in a position to rescue the country.

A file photo of NNPP presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, with his running mate, Bishop Isaac Idahosa, at an event.

He added that the NNPP and its candidates have the sagacity and managerial skills to steer the affairs of the nation, as well as the commitment to rebuilding friendship and fraternity among its people.

“We live in a country where victims of insecurity are constantly being ignored while still being accused of exaggeration, lying, or both,” said Kwankwaso. “We live in a country where victims of unemployment are accused of laziness, where universities and other tertiary education Institutions are frequently being shut down for months, and our children’s future being jeopardised while leaders are busy throwing out hundreds of millions of Naira to purchase party forms.

“While searching for my running mate, we scrutinised over 20 prospective candidates, all of whom were eminently qualified to be the vice president of the country but considering the severity of the wounds that have been inflicted on the country in recent years and the necessity of healing them, given the necessary desire to carefully balance old sensibilities, sensitivities, and differences to have an all-inclusive government that will be fair, and just all Nigerians and bear in mind that the country requires competent, credible and pathetic, courageous leaders, I came to this conclusion.”

On vote-buy, the NNPP presidential candidate asked Nigerians to be vigilant and ensure desperate politicians do not destroy their collective gains.

Talks About Labour Party, NNPP Alliance Long Dead – Doyin Okupe

A combination of file photos of Mr Rabiu Kwankwaso and Mr Peter Obi.

The chances of an alliance between former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, and former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, seem impossible contrary to what many had expected.

Ahead of the forthcoming presidential election, Obi has since emerged as the candidate of the Labour Party while Kwankwaso is the flagbearer of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).

Contrary to the expectations of many, a chieftain of the Labour Party, Doyin Okupe, on Tuesday declared that there would be no alliance between the duo.

“That discussion, or those discussions about a merger, alliance and all that were led by me from our side; it is dead – DEAD and buried,” he said during his appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

“It is not Mr Peter Obi; the Labour Party and its presidential candidate have long since withdrawn from that conversation and it was NNPP that continued to try to benefit from the traction of the popularity of Obi. Out of maturity, I decided that we will not take them on media-wise, so we kept quiet, but they kept going on.”

Both Obi and Kwankwaso are in the race to become the next president when President Muhammadu Buhari completes his second term in office in May 2023.

Amid concerns for a total shift of power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s grip, there have been calls for both men to form an alliance to boost their winning chances in the coming poll.

Although Kwankwaso had in a recent interview with Channels Television said an alliance was ‘highly likely’, he stated that he cannot be a running mate not just to Obi but any candidate of the south-east extraction.

According to him, an average northern voter will prefer to support a candidate from the region than cast his/her ballot for a south-eastern contender.

But it appears neither Obi nor Kwankwaso is willing to be a running mate to the other as Okupe insists talks about an alliance are long dead.

“The talk for an alliance had been dead for over four weeks,” he stressed. “I am the leader of the team that went to discuss with Kwankwaso’s team, and it was dead.

“The moment I asked them one single question: would they consider it appropriate and okay for a president of northern extraction and Muslim to finish eight years and another Muslim northerner from the next state to take over?

“And they said there is nothing wrong with that; as far as I’m concerned, the discussion was over and it has remained over since then.”

Labour Party Cannot Win 2023 Presidential Election, Says Kwankwaso

Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has ruled out the possibility of the Labour Party winning the presidential election in 2023.

Kwankwaso, who is contesting the election on the platform of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), made the comment during his appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.

Rather, he proposed an alliance with the presidential candidate of the Labour Party and former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, whom he wants to be his running mate in the poll.

“I believe it is in the interest of Labour Party and the NNPP, and even in the interest of this country … because LP, as it stands today, certainly cannot win election,” said the former Kano governor. “Yes! It cannot win election.

“Because mainly, the support is mainly in a particular zone and not spread, and the figures there cannot earn anybody a presidential seat in this country.”

An Alliance

Both former governors alongside others are in the race to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari who completes his second term in office in May 2023.

In a bid for a third force, there have been calls for the duo to form an alliance as an alternative for Nigerians besides the two major political parties – All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics on July 3, 2022.

Although Kwankwaso is hopeful of an alliance, he explained why he cannot be a running mate to Obi and why the latter should accept the vice-presidential slot.

“The major issue, as it stands today, is the issue of who becomes the president and who becomes the vice president and I believe this is the time really to advise – especially those who are positively behind the candidate of the Labour Party – that for me, I have seen an opportunity for the South East to be relevant in the next dispensation. In PDP, they are completely out, and so in the APC. The only opportunity now is the NNPP.

“Most of the things that are happening in the South, especially in the South East; people are not comfortable with that and as long as you have somebody from there in any party, it will be very difficult for the northern voters to vote, and that’s the situation now,” he said.

2023 Presidency: Why I Cannot Be Running Mate To Peter Obi – Kwankwaso

Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has explained why he cannot be a running mate to a former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, in the forthcoming presidential election.

Both men are in the race to become the next president when President Muhammadu Buhari completes his second term in office in May 2023.

While Kwankwaso is the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Obi will fly the flag of the Labour Party in the poll.

Amid calls for the duo to form an alliance as an alternative for Nigerians besides the two major political parties – All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the former Kano governor wants his Anambra counterpart to accept to be his running mate.

“The northerner voters have made up their minds on what to do; certainly NNPP, nobody can change it,” he said during his appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics where he was asked who the people of the North would vote for.

Although Kwankwaso said he would not mind the opportunity to become a vice president since he has no job at the moment, he explained the rationale behind contesting the presidential election and a candidate and not a running mate to a south-easterner.

“Unfortunately, there are many issues in the South East, and a northern voter is the worst-hit in this issue of maladministration in this country,” he asserted. “But even under that circumstance, a northern voter also believes that he is better with one united Nigeria.

“Therefore, most of the things that are happening in the South, especially in the South East; people are not comfortable with that and as long as you have somebody from there in any party, it will be very difficult for the northern voters to vote, and that’s the situation now.”

Opportunity For South East?

The NNPP presidential candidate, however, did not rule out the possibility of forming an alliance with his Labour counterpart, but only if the latter accepts to be his running mate.

According to him, his team is making consultations with various individuals, groups, and political parties in order to take the leadership of the country at all levels.

Kwankwaso stressed that an alliance with Obi was highly likely with the aim of coming together to work as a family and give Nigerians an alternative to the PDP and the APC.

He said, “We have seen the situation in the country today in terms of economy, in terms of security, in terms of education and infrastructure … and the voters of this country are yearning for a change and I believe we will only be fair to ourselves if we come together and bring out a real alternative for the people of this country and I am happy to say that even at the moment, the NNPP, even though very new in some ways – just about four months – is everywhere in this country.”

On the party to be used should an alliance is formed, the presidential candidate responded, “My belief is that there are so many modalities that can be worked out, it’s just a matter of getting the right calibre of people to sit down and look at the situation as it is.

“The major issue as it stands today is the issue of who becomes the president and who becomes the vice president and I believe this is the time really to advise – especially those who are positively behind the candidate of the Labour Party – that for me, I have seen an opportunity for the South East to be relevant in the next dispensation.”

“In PDP, they (the South East) are completely out, and so in the APC. The only opportunity now is the NNPP. I believe it is in the interest of Labour Party and the NNPP, and even in the interest of this country.”

We Are In Talks With Peter Obi, Says Kwankwaso

COMBO of NNPP Presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso and Labour Party flagbearer Peter Obi

The presidential aspirant of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has revealed that his camp is in talks with Peter Obi and members of the Labour Party over a possible alliance.

There have been speculations of a “third force” to challenge the APC-PDP duopoly and Kwankwaso and Obi are reportedly exploring the possibility of creating an alliance in the 2023 elections.

Speaking in an interview on BBC Hausa, the former governor of Kano state said family and well wishers were optimistic about the grand alliance.

“We are really talking to Peter Obi, or at least saying that the committee is working to look into the matter (and cooperate with him), and friends and family are coming to talk to us about it, ” he said.

“Merging with the Labour Party is very significant at this critical moment especially looking at the fact that both PDP and APC Presidential candidates did not pick their running mates from the South-East.”

Similarly, the official handle of the NNPP conformed to the discussion between both parties on Saturday via its Twitter handle.

“We wish to inform Nigerians that, our discussions with Peter Obi and the Labour Party are still ongoing. The special committee was set to discuss arrangements,” it read.

“We hope for good results that will give Nigeria a chance to be alive, once again.”

2023: Kwankwaso Will Take Nigeria To The ‘Promised Land’ – Buba Galadima

'This Govt Is Desperate,' Galadima Condemns Rejection Of Electoral Act Amendment — Buba Galadima speaks during his appearance on Sunday Politics on December 9, 2018.

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, a former ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, Buba Galadima, has backed ex-Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso for the presidency, saying he will take Nigeria to the promised land.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Galadima said the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) is the best suited for the post.

“We have done everything under the sun to make it (things in Nigeria) work, it didn’t work. Now we have somebody with the pedigree of performance, somebody with the foresight that can take us to the promised land. Why not him?

“If the Queen will colonise Nigeria again and allow me to go to Kaduna freely, let it be,” he said in reaction to why Nigerians should trust NNPP differently.

“There are only two political parties in Nigeria today: NNPP and the rest. It is the winning party,” he said.

“It is 22 years old but reinvented two months ago. We’ve seen [shivers] across the spines of all those that you fear because they know that our candidate will be the next president of Nigeria, God willing.

“Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is the only politician in Nigeria that has got the CV that nobody has among all the flock that is running across the country,” he added.

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