Kwankwaso Talks Tough
OpenLife News reports that Vice-Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has declared that governors seeking re-election in 2027 by banking on manipulation of results will be “disappointed” as Nigerians are now more politically conscious.
Kwankwaso stated this on Sunday in Abuja while featuring on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Personality Interview Series.
He also took a swipe at former Governors <strong>Ibrahim Shekarau, Abdullahi Ganduje and incumbent Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, saying they are “politically finished” in Kano.
Governors Banking On 2027 Magic Will Be Disappointed
The former Kano governor said his forecast is based on the failure of some governors to address insecurity, poverty, unemployment and collapsing public services.
“What I foresee in the 2027 elections is that most of the governors seeking re-election will be disappointed because people will not support them,” he said.
Kwankwaso accused some governors of rushing to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) with the mindset that “the party would perform magic in their favour in 2027.”
“Many Nigerians are dissatisfied with the performance of governments at both federal and state levels because of insecurity, poverty, unemployment and deteriorating public services.
“Citizens are increasingly conscious of their political choices and will not automatically support some governors simply because they control state structures.”
Shekarau, Ganduje, Yusuf Will Meet Their Waterloo In Kano
Reflecting on Kano politics, Kwankwaso said any political success built on “treachery” is unsustainable.
“You cannot succeed with treachery. I have not seen one. Now we have taken about two and a half decades. If I ask you, I’m sure you don’t know; he is going into oblivion politically. He is nowhere,”
he said, referring to his erstwhile allies.
On Abdullahi Ganduje, who served as his deputy for 8 years, Kwankwaso said:
“If you can even see the issue of Ganduje, who we came together and supported, and became governor free of charge. The day when he started fighting was the beginning of his problem. If I may ask: where is he now? It is difficult to see him.”
He said Ganduje would have commanded greater respect had he remained committed to the political structure they built together.
On Governor Abba Yusuf, Kwankwaso said the governor has “left us” and is now “in-between.”
“We went down, right down, to make sure that we picked the right person who would not go and repeat what Ganduje had done.
“Members of my political group worked day and night to field Yusuf in 2019… The same structure returned in 2023 and successfully secured Yusuf’s election.
“He left us, but he is not with Ganduje now. He is in-between because I don’t think he is happy for anybody to call him Dan Gandujiyya.”
Kwankwaso alleged that Yusuf was now attempting to “supplant” him as the dominant political figure in Kano.
On Defections To APC And National Politics
The NDC VP candidate criticised politicians defecting to APC in search of political advantage, saying Nigerians have genuine reasons to demand better governance.
He recalled his achievements in Kano on education and Almajiri reforms, saying government can improve lives if leaders prioritise resources properly.
Kwankwaso also recalled telling President Bola Tinubu during a meeting that political relationships are transient, citing former Lagos Deputy Governor Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele and former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as examples.
“I told him that when I come here, I don’t see Bucknor. When I come here, I don’t see Ambode. I started counting the people.”
He, however, singled out former Osun Governor Bisi Akande as one of the few political associates he still regards as a friend.
Conclusion
Kwankwaso expressed confidence that Nigerians will determine the outcome of the 2027 elections, urging leaders to listen to citizens and accept change where government has failed.
“It’s not very peculiar to Kano, but I think the Kano experience is special out of the general lots.”
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