Kogiflame
By Comrade Ibrahim Mustafa
Recent weeks have been so interesting with specific reference to events unfolding in Kano State where Governor Kabir Abba Yusuf who decided to leave the New Nigeria People Party, APC for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Apart from the governor, the bulk of officials of state both in the executive and the legislature have also resolved to seek their political fortunes in the APC away from the platform that brought them into power.
As an interested party and stakeholder in the politics of the state, I have been watching and reading divergent opinions of all manner of people making commentaries on the defections in the state. Many of the commentaries have been well-informed and progressive, with some of them having been shallow and lacking substance and basics in terms of contents and delivery. I have been watching with so much indignation and consternation the submissions of some uninformed commentators who have waded in without having clear knowledge and understanding with regards to why the governor and many of his officials opted to take the action, which many are not privy to the behind-the-scenes happenings between the governor and his leader.
Many of us in the know will argue that rather than vilify the governor and his supporters for defecting to the APC, we should, however, commend him for making the move, which is in the overall interest of the state. While conceding to the fact that Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso had made considerable impacts in the life of the governor and majority of the officials in the state government, but after careful appraisal of the political trajectory of the NNPP leader, who has continued to lose the bulk of his quality followership in the past.
For instance, a pertinent question remains with regards to why, since 1999 to date, many of those commissioners, advisers, and other officials who served under Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s administration, how many of them are with him to date?
The answer is not far-fetched for all to see, which I would not say, so as not to further exacerbate the already tense situation. How can people forget so soon that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and scores of other defectors, who are currently being vilified as betrayers, all at one time or the other served under the leadership of Kwankwaso without issues or blemishes?
The question now is, why now crucify him for defecting to the APC to further their political careers?
In acknowledging the leadership acumen and political sagacity of Sen. Kwankwaso over the years, one thing, however, is common with the Kwankwassiya Movement, and that is the poor reward system within the organisation, where members feel so inadequate and frustrated with getting little or no rewards for their roles in the movement.
This has, however, been one of the reasons, if not the major reason, why scores of many foot soldiers of the movement have continued to jump ship to opposition parties at will.
The list of such personalities is endless: Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the immediate past chairman of the APC, Senator Jubrin Barau, the incumbent deputy senate president, Sen. Sumaila Kawu, Professor Rufai Alkali, and others too numerous to mention.
Some of us in the know will readily tell you that the action of the governor and scores of his supporters is a pre-emptive one, owing to the fact that the rumour mills became rife that Governor Yusuf might not be given a return ticket by the NNPP to re-contest next year. This occurred at a time the APC was mounting pressure on him to join their ranks. The ruling party had been wooing him with the assurance that he would be given the right of first refusal should he decide to re-contest the seat on the platform of the APC.
According to Jennette McCurdy, “No matter who or what you support, I believe in supporting fairness first.” Engr. Abba, as the governor of Kano State, with a huge mandate on his head, must first of all do what will promote and serve the interest of the large majority and not to satisfy the interest of just one man. As at today, Sen. Kwankwaso is not in good relationships with all the former governors of the state, including those who served under his administration.
Do you also blame Governor Abba for this? It’s high time Sen. Kwankwaso came to terms with reality if he truly wants to get it right before he retires from politics. At least all of his contemporaries cannot be wrong at all times, according to Professor Wole Soyinka, “Even among thieves, there is honour.”
Comrade Ibrahim Mustafa from Kano.
