Political faultlines have widened in Kano State as two members of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) publicly announced their departure from the Kwankwasiyya Movement, the powerful bloc led by a former governor of the State and the party’s national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
LEADERSHIP reports that Kwankwaso is the de facto leader of the ruling NNPP, given his influence in the state’s politics and the emergence of incumbent Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who happens to be his son-in-law.
A principal officer of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aliyu Sani Madakin Gini, who represents Kano Municipal federal constituency, and Hon. Alhassan Rurum, representing Rano/Kibiya/Bunkure federal constituency of the State, disclosed their disassociation from Kwankwasiyya Movement at separate occasions at the weekend, a development that has further exposed cracks within the NNPP in Kano State.
Rurum, a former Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, revealed his stance during an interaction with journalists. Although he did not provide detail for his reasons, political analysts, however, suggested that this may not be unconnected to the recent dissolution of the state’s five emirate councils, which affected his traditional title as ‘Turaki’ of the defunct Rano Emirate.
Rurum affirmed his loyalty to the state governor but expressed discontent with the direction of the ruling party. “I am still in the NNPP under its founder, Dr. Boniface,” he said, condemning Senator Kwankwaso for allegedly taking over the party for personal interests. “Dr. Boniface supported Kwankwaso and gave him a platform; it will be wrong to hijack the party from him and treat him badly,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hon. Madakin Gini, who’s the Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, declared his separation from Kwankwasiyya Movement of NNPP during a Sunday address to his constituents. “From today, I, Aliyu Sani Madaki, no longer associate with the Kwankwasiyya Movement,” he announced. He criticised the group for undermining members who, according to him, have been loyal and instrumental to the party’s success. “They have dismissed us, saying we lack support, but we are not afraid to stand alone,” Madakin Gini asserted, adding that he was prepared to confront any member of the Movement if necessary.
The lawmaker also took a swipe at the Red Cap, a signature symbol of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, calling it a mark of submission. “Anyone who considers me their leader in politics should remove the red cap. Women should remove the red veil. We are done!” the lawmaker told his supporters amid cheers.
Madakin Gini also had a message for the Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, “They are trying to weaken him. I urge him to stand firm; otherwise, he may be blindsided by those around him. I have insights into plans against him,” he said. His remarks come at a time when a faction within the NNPP was already goading the governor to break away from Kwankwaso’s grip and assert himself as the elected governor of Kano State.
