The All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised a former governor of Kano state, Rabiu Kwankwaso, for his comments accusing the APC-led federal government of attempting to create a new breed of Boko Haram terrorists and insurgents in Northern Nigeria.
The party in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Felix Morka on Tuesday accused the former governor of making such comment “Without any shred of evidence”
Kwankwaso, a two-term former governor of Kano and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), had in his speech further alleged that certain individuals in APC fold were goading the federal government with the goal of reclaiming Kano State through a declaration of a state of emergency. In reaction, the APC said Kwankwaso’s wild and unhinged comments were made with reference to the lingering Emirate tussle in Kano.
APC said it considers the former Kano governor as disappointing, highly incendiary and unconscionable for an individual of his standing.
It said as a former Governor and Minister of Defence, “we expect Kwankwaso to demonstrate high grade discretion, and a better grip of the severe social, political and security implications of unguarded utterances capable of fueling tension and strife in the good state of Kano.
Read full statement below
The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to comments reportedly made by Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, former Governor of Kano State and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), accusing the APC-led federal government of attempting to create a new breed of Boko Haram terrorists and insurgents in Northern Nigeria. Without any shred of evidence, he further alleged that certain individuals in APC fold were goading the federal government with the goal of reclaiming Kano State through a declaration of a state of emergency. Kwankwaso’s wild and unhinged comments were made with reference to the lingering Emirate tussle in Kano.
We consider Kwankwaso’s comments to be disappointing, highly incendiary and unconscionable for an individual of his standing. As a former Governor and Minister of Defence, we expect Kwankwaso to demonstrate high grade discretion, and a better grip of the severe social, political and security implications of unguarded utterances capable of fueling tension and strife in the good state of Kano.
It is disturbing that Kwankwaso would so casually accuse the federal government of attempting to create a new breed of Boko Haram terrorists and insurgents, the same Boko Haram that has inflicted unspeakable and despicable acts of terror that have destroyed the lives of innocent citizens and our heroic men and women in uniform. It is grossly insensitive, unwarranted, and unacceptable for Kwankwaso to bandy such a serious allegation in such a cavalier manner.
In his unhinged bid to lash out, Senator Kwankwaso ignored the federal government’s glaring neutrality on the emirate crisis in Kano from the very outset. As a government that thrives on respect for the the rule of law and constitutional liberties, the federal government has confidence in our courts to fairly adjudicate the matter that is already before them, and has no need or reason to side with any of parties in the emir-ship dispute.
Unguarded accusations like these coming from the highest level of leadership of the NNPP such as that made by the Deputy Governor of the Kano state, Comrade Abdulsalam Gwarzo, against the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, which he has since retracted and apologized for, are utterly unhelpful in the delicate context of Kano, and must be avoided.
The leader of our Party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a pan-Nigeria bridge builder for peace, security and unity in our land, and will not, cannot, must not be directly or remotely tainted with flimsy and unjustifiable allegation of promoting violent crisis in any part of our dear country of which he is the President and Commander-in Chief-of the Armed Forces.
As a statesman, Kwankwaso should busy himself with exploring and exhausting all avenues for political and peaceful solutions to the royal impasse rather than amplifying the drums of strife and upheaval.
The situation in Kano State calls for calm as the the nation awaits judicial or political resolution of all outstanding matters. The good people of Kano deserve to live in peace, unity and security.
Felix Morka, National Publicity Secretary
All Progressives Congress (APC)
