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Tag: kwankwaso

  • Kwankwaso distances self from Ganduje bribe-scandal video

    Former governor of Kano State Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso has distanced himself from the videos indicting the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje of allegedly collecting 5million dollars as bribe.
    Following the emergence of the videos, the Commissioner for Information, Mallam Muhammad Garba, had claimed that Jafar Jafar, Publisher of Daily Nigerian, was working with Kwankwanso.
    However, the senator representing Kano Central Senatorial District, insisted that there was nothing between the publisher and him.
    Kwankwaso’s stance was contained in a statement by his spokesperson, Hajiya Binta Spikin.
    The statement reads, “Everyone knows that Jafar Jafar is an independent journalist and his medium, Daily Nigerian, is also an independent news platform.
    “There is no deal whatsoever between Jafar and Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso. So if they are suspecting anything, it is left for them to prove it,” reads part of the statement.

  • 2019: We are not responsible for Kwankwaso’s inability to use Eagle Square – APC

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied reports that it is responsible for the inability of Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso to use the Eagle Square in Abuja for his presidential declaration on Wednesday.

    Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano recently defected from APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and has expressed interest to run for the 2019 presidential race under its platform.

    Recall that the management of Eagles Square on Tuesday wrote Kwankwaso to inform him of their decision to revoke an initial approval granting the venue for his presidential declaration slated for Wednesday.

    However, the approval was initially granted and payment made before the controversial revocation.

    Kwankwaso, consequently moved his formal declaration to the Chida hotel in Abuja.

    In a statement signed by its acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, in Abuja on Wednesday, the APC described attempts to link the party to the development as mischievous.

    The statement read, “We frown on mischievous attempts in some quarters to blame the All Progressives Congress for the inability of a Peoples Democratic Party presidential contestant to secure the Eagle Square for his declaration.

    “The party read in the media reasons given by the facility managers of the Abuja International Conference Centre and Eagle Square not to allow campaigns on its facility on Wednesday to avoid disruption of work flow at the federal secretariat, the main hub of civil servants in Abuja.

    “Hence the allegation is unnecessary and misplaced. We should not be dragged into a private transaction involving entities we have no business with.”

    It added, “In any case, the 2019 elections will not be won by cheap campaign ground antics but actual votes from the Nigerian electorate who are wise and know who is working in their interest.

    “Never again will we return governance of our dear country to the hands of those that selfishly have held us back for years.”

  • 2019: Kwankwaso announces new venue for presidential declaration

    Sequel to the refusal of the management of the Eagle Square, Abuja to grant him access to the facility, former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has announced a new venue for his formal presidential declaration scheduled to hold today.

    Confirming the new venue, Kwankwaso’s spokesperson, Binta Sipikin, said the ceremony will now hold at Chida Hotel in Utako, Abuja.

    Recall that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant was denied use of the Eagle Square a public open facility used for such gathering.

    Authorities maintaining the facility had, after initially granting him access, denied him usage of the venue; a move believed to be to checkmate the former Kano governor.

    In a letter signed by Usman Raji, the facility manager of the Abuja International Conference Centre & Eagles Square, the government said the decision to deny him the Eagle Square was to avoid disruption of “work flow” at the federal secretariat, the work place of hundreds of federal civil servants.

    Kwankwaso, who recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP had announced Wednesday for the official declaration of his presidential ambition.

     

  • Buhari allegedly orders police to seal Eagles Square ahead of Kwankwaso’s declaration

    The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has claimed that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has ordered the Police to seal the Eagles Square, venue of tomorrow’s declaration of Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for President.

    Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, National Spokesperson of the coalition, called on the Nigerian Media, International Community and the general public to stand up against this latest culture of intimidation and impunity.

    He said in a statement forwarded to that, “The attempt to block the venue of the declaration billed to hold at the Eagle Square shall be resisted as the venue was fully paid and approved for the event.

    “The constant attack on key opposition leaders and the use of state force against opposition aspirants cannot stop us from serving Buhari his well deserved electoral defeat come 2019.”

  • 2019: Kwankwaso shuns Kano, to declare presidential ambition in Abuja on Wednesday

    Senator representing Kano State Central Senatorial District and presidential hopeful under the Peoples Democratic Party platform has revealed that he will formally declare his presidential ambition in Abuja and not in his state (Kano) contrary to public expectation.

    Kwankwaso who currently is at loggerheads with his predecessor and longtime political associate, Abdullahi Ganduje, announced Wednesday as the day he will declare his 2019 presidential ambition.

    The announcement was contained in a statement by Kwankwaso’s Presidential Campaign Committee on Sunday.

    The declaration, according to the statement, would hold at the Eagle Square, Abuja, by 11 a.m.

    Confirming the development on Monday, Kwankwaso’s spokesperson, Binta Sipikin, said Abuja is the nation’s capital and many of Kwankwaso’s political associates and supporters from across the country would be attending the event, hence the choice of Abuja.

    She said it is not a Kano event, and it will be more convenient for people to come from any part of the country to the nation’s capital.

    “He is declaring in Abuja because it is the nation’s capital, and this is a national event,” she said.

    “We are considering people from various parts of the country who may want to come, but could find a meeting in Abuja easier than in Kano.”

    Recall that Kwankwaso and Ganduje were political allies with the latter serving as deputy governor when Kwankwaso was the state governor.

    They have since parted ways with Kwankwaso leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rejoin the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he left in 2014 as part moves to achieve his presidential ambition.

     

  • 2019: Tambuwal, Kwankwaso, Saraki cleared to contest PDP’s presidential ticket

    2019: Tambuwal, Kwankwaso, Saraki cleared to contest PDP’s presidential ticket

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has given room for Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State, former governor of Kano State, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Senate President Bukola Saraki to contest its presidential ticket ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    The party also gave leeway to other returnees who wished to contest various offices to do so.

    Tambuwal, Kwankwaso and Saraki dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the PDP a few days ago ‎ostensibly to contest the party’s presidential ticket.

    Speaking at the 81st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the PDP yesterday in Abuja, the party’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, said the returnees have equal rights as the existing members.

    “Three more governors and some ministers are coming to our fold, they (APC government) are not aware. Security and economy have collapsed, they are ‎not aware. There are killings in different parts of the country, they are not aware. Until we reclaim power in 2019, they won’t be aware of anything,” Secondus said.

    Secondus also warned against any plot to impeach Saraki.

    All other presidential aspirants on the platform of the party were present at the NEC except former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

    Speaking at the event, Tambuwal said the PDP would resist any attempt to impeach Senate President Saraki, arguing that the law is clear in that regard.

    Saraki urged all party leaders to return to their constituencies, open their arms and receive the numbers that would give the party victory in 2019.

    Addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the NEC approved the amendment of PDP laws to be in tandem with the Not Too Young to Run law to allow youths’ participation in electoral contest.

    He said the NEC discussed the nomination processes for primaries, but said the date for primaries and sale of nomination forms was yet to be fixed.

  • 2019: Ex-Governors Kwankwaso, Shekarau meet in Abuja

    Two former governors of Kano state, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Ibrahim Shekarau, met last night in Abuja.

    The erstwhile political opponents discussed Kano politics, forthcoming state and national general elections and success of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

    Newsmen had reported details of the prominent figures’ earlier agreement ahead of 2019.

    The Saturday meeting was held at Shekarau’s Asokoro residence and it was prelude to an extended meeting with other party leaders.

    Shekarau was quoted as saying there was “no hard feelings, and I don’t bear any grudge”.

    Responding, Kwankwaso said he was at peace with Shekarau and that they would collaborate towards the success of the party.

    Party leaders at the national level were said to have favoured Kwankwaso to have 51 percent stake in the party structure, having joined the party alongside nine members of the House of Representatives.

    A source said: “The party leaders know the political weight of the senator. Aside his being a serving senator, he currently has a serving deputy governor, nine serving Reps and six serving members of the House of Assembly in his political kitty.

    “Essentially, he is the most powerful force in the state today. This is what the party at the national level considered to cede the control to him”.

    Incumbent Governor Abdullahi Ganduje was Kwankwaso’s deputy for eight years (1999-2003 and 2011 to 2015) but the two fell apart shortly after the 2015 election.

    Kwankwaso, a Minister of Defence during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, joined the APC with other aggrieved PDP governors on November 23 2013.

    Two months later (January 29 2014), Shekarau joined the Goodluck Jonathan government and was later appointed Minister of Education.

  • 2019: Buhari will lose Kano, other northern states, Kwankwaso fires back at Amaechi

    Sequel to a statement credited to the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi that President Muhammadu Buhari will win Kano, Bauchi and Sokoto states despite the recent defections of some senators in those states, former governor of Kano, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso has insisted that President Buhari will lose those states, Kano in particular.

    Kwankwaso’s spokesperson, Binta Spikin reiterated that President Buhari’s loss in some key northern states was imminent

    “On those that defected at the House of Representatives and Senate, where do they come from? They come from areas that the President is comfortable. Do you honestly believe that the President will lose election in Sokoto? We are not God, but it’s one of his comfort zones,” the Punch quoted the minister as saying.

    “If you bring the President on a sick bed to Bauchi and Kano, he will win and he has never lost election in Bauchi. But that is a bit arrogant on our side; we should not underestimate them,” the minister who also doubles as Director General of Buhari’s campaign organisation said in an interview with The Punch.

    However, in her response, Spikin said Kwankwaso’s defection will not only affect the votes in Kano State but has brought down the APC.

    “I think his defection will greatly affect the votes in 2019. His defection will not only affect the chances of the APC in Kano, his defection has brought down APC.

    “If you look across Nigeria today, not Kano alone, there’s nowhere in Nigeria that you don’t have the presence of Kwankwasiyya (supporters of Mr Kwankwaso).

    “Kano is his home base and he is well grounded in Kano. Even without the government, he had a 60 percent of the voters, so what do you think will happen now that he has joined forces with people like Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau?” she said.

    She further said the government needs to know that there is a path that is blocked “even if you fight it.”

    “Even if the government puts whatever in place, there is no way President Buhari will win in Kano, there’s no way.”

    When asked if Kwankwaso stands a chance of winning the 2019 general election should he officially declare his ambition to run for presidency, she simply said, “He stands a very good chance to win Buhari. We are covered.”

    Recall that Kwankwaso was one of the 15 senators who defected from the APC on Tuesday.

    In his reaction, the governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje, had said the mass defection will not affect the party’s chances politically.

    He also Mr Kwankwaso’s exit will not be felt in the state: “I want you to go and study the situation on ground in Kano, his (Kwankwaso) defection does not change the political mood in the state. Nobody cares to be disturbed by their action,” Mr Ganduje said.

     

  • 2019: How Kano will fare without Kwankwaso in APC – Ganduje

    The Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje ‎ says the defection of Sen. Rabi’u Kwankwaso and other lawmakers to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) would not affect the chances of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.‎

    This is contained in a statement signed by Abba Anwar, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor and made available to newsmen on Friday in Kano.

    ‎”Their defection will not constitute any problem to our great party, the APC, at all levels. People should keep their eyes (open) to what will happen during election.

    “Our dear President has been doing the needful in terms of developing the nation, coupled with his efforts in efficient service delivery.

    “Good governance is at its peak and the war against corruption is successfully being waged.

    “I want you to go and study the situation on ground in Kano, his (Kwankwaso ‘s) defection does not change the political mood in the state. Nobody cares to be disturbed by their action,” Ganduje said.

    The governor said when his predecessor was in the APC his intention was to vie for Presidency adding, “when it appeared to him, in black and white, that there is no vacancy in the Villa, he now decided to leave on his own.”

    He said that Kwankwaso should be ready to battle it out at the polls next year.

    Ganduje said when Kwankwaso secures a presidential ticket from the party he cross carpets to, then he should wait and see how we will slug it out with him.

    He said that when the time comes, the senator would fully understand how popular and loveable President Muhammadu Buhari is.

    “Kano will give more votes to our President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 , than what he got in 2015 election.

    “From the 2015 election to date, those who could not vote because of age limit, are now grown up, meaning they will now be eligible to vote.

    “Therefore, President Buhari stands the chance to get five million votes from Kano State by grace of Almighty Allah,” he said.

     

  • 2019: Kano will be a battle ground

    By Nathaniel Ikyur
    An interesting political war will be fought in the ancient city of Kano in the 2019 general elections. And this will be centered around three leading lights in the politics of State.
    These are the incumbent governor of the state, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his predecessor, Sen Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and another former governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau. The three have had a close working relationship with each other. These relationships may not have been the best in the circumstances but they worked all the same.
    HERE IS HOW:
    In his first tenure as governor between 1999-2003, Sen Kwankwaso had an altercation with Malam Shekarau, who was then the Permanent Secretary in the Kano state civil service. That was at the time the public launch of Sharia Islamic legal system in Zamfara State began to gain currency across northern states.
    Shekarau is a man versed in Islamic tenets. He was said to have defied the directives of the governor to address the Muslim Ummah in the state on the benefits of Sharia as an important part in the lives of Muslims. The governor won’t have it. Pronto, Shekarau was first redeployed and later demoted to a classroom teacher.
    Luck however smiled at Shekarau in 2003. Even after losing the ANPP gubernatorial primaries to youthful Alhaji Ibrahim El-Amin, aka Ibrahim Little, the Council of Ulama in the state prevailed on the ANPP presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari to get the ANPP national leadership to give the ticket to Shekarau. It was somewhat messy but the Islamic leaders had their way and Shekarau was presented to INEC to fly the ANPP’s governorship ticket where he defeating Kwankwaso.
    Supporters of Kwankwaso have consistently alleged that Shekarau used his eight years as governor to harass their leader and his supporters thereby widening the enmity between them.
    In 2011 general elections, Sen Kwankwaso staged a comeback by defeating Alhaji Takai, the ANPP candidate sponsored by Shekarau to win the governorship elections with Dr Ganduje in tow as deputy.
    By the time the legacy parties merged to form the All Progressives Congress, APC, Shekarau was a key member in the merger arrangements playing vital roles as one of the leaders of the ANPP. Along the line, leaders of the legacy parties decided that state governor’s who decamped should become leaders of the party in their respective states. This didn’t go down well with people like Shekarau, Ali Modu Sheriff from Borno and Attahiru Bafarawa from Sokoto state. They protested and because their grievances were not attended to, they left the party in anger.
    Shekarau joined the PDP and was appointed a minister by the former administration of Goodluck Jonathan.
    But three years down the line as a member of the APC, Kwankwaso is unable to hold his membership of the party due to irreconcilable differences with his successor, Ganduje. Reports from Kano shows that the seeming robust relationship between these two former political associates turned sour immediately Ganduje took over power. Much of what may have given rise to this remains speculative except the duo volunteers information.
    Now, Sen Kwankwaso has rejoined the PDP where Malam Shekarau is one of the key leaders. And the statement credited to Shekarau indicates that much of their grievances will still play out in the coming months as the nation goes to the polls in 2019.
    The departure from which the duo may give Ganduje an upper hand against their ambitions to be president of Nigeria. It then means that the likelihood of coming together may be a tall dream that may never materialise.
    The question then remains: will Kwankwaso and Shekarau now close ranks and work together for the success of the PDP in the state against a common foe or will it provide a fertile ground for the APC and Ganduje to maximize the moment and use it’s advantage as party in power and reap from the possible cracks? Time. Just time will provide the answer.
    And as it stands now, the followership of all these three gladiators should begin to stick to their lanes and discharge their responsibilities accordingly.
    Ikyur lives in Makurdi