Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has expressed dissatisfaction with the influence of certain northern elders in the selection of presidential candidates.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, Kwankwaso stated that a few individuals had assumed the role of northern representatives, making decisions that do not reflect the will of the people.
According to him, their actions have led to the emergence of unqualified leaders, causing discord within the region.
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“This oppressive thing they are doing is causing discord in the community. Whatever you do, do it based on the truth. It should not be said that the elders, some of them are our parents and some of them are brothers, especially in this area, here in the north and west, they shouldn’t show favouritism in bringing out candidates,” he said.
Kwankwaso criticized the false narratives spread by these individuals, claiming they often mislead people by asserting that the North has collectively agreed on certain candidates. He emphasized that such claims are made by only a handful of people.
“Many of them come to spread lies, gather people, and tell them that the North has agreed on its candidates, and all these people are not more than two or three, but you see a man going and saying lies, instead of going to Port Harcourt or going to Abuja to go and promote us, who are their children, but then they go and show favouritism,” Kwankwaso added.
Reflecting on the 2019 presidential election, Kwankwaso lamented how candidates from the Northwest were sidelined despite their qualifications and contributions.
Addressing rumors of a supposed agreement between him, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) for a rotational presidency, Kwankwaso dismissed such claims as false.
“This issue really hurts me. It is said that the elders are lying; they are saying things that have not been done. I was told that about forty-five Mallams were gathered, and they are telling the people. But there is no such thing. I am not at all happy about this thing,” he said.
He firmly denied agreeing to any deal where Atiku would serve for four years, followed by himself for another four years, and Peter Obi for eight years. “This pact does not exist; it has not been made,” Kwankwaso clarified.
Kwankwaso urged northern elders to refrain from interfering in candidate selection and instead allow Nigerians to freely elect their leaders.
