A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Yekini Nabena, has faulted recent remarks by ex-Kano State Governor and New Nigeria Peoples Party chieftain, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, concerning national development and project allocation.
In a statement on Tuesday, Nabena dismissed Kwankwaso’s claims, insisting that no ethnic, religious, or regional sentiment can undermine the legitimacy of a Southern presidency.
He stressed that the South’s completing eight years in power is non-negotiable.
Kwankwaso, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the New Nigeria People’s Party, had accused the federal government of disproportionately favouring the South in project distribution, citing poor road infrastructure in the North and a concentration of development in the South.
However, the Presidency refuted his claims by releasing a list of projects, which showed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has allocated more funds to northern projects than those in the South.
Also responding to Kwankwaso’s Nabena alleged that “the former governor’s real intention was to incite the Northerners against the current administration and the re-election of a Southerner in 2027 to complete 8 years of a Southern presidency in the seat of power.”
The APC chieftain said such incitement for “a political business or negotiation, like some politicians did in 2019 and 2023 can no longer work because the people now know the real intention.
“The Kano voters now know who is using them for political business and even the political gladiators now understand the tactics of political machants.”
The Bayelsa-born politician, however, dared Kwankwaso to journey through the South-South states by road and compare the condition of road networks in the oil-rich region, where the current President hails from with those in the North.
He said “Is the North inferior or superior to the South after eight years of the North in the helm of affairs of Nigeria?
“Why is Senator Kwankwaso still complaining of under-development in the North when the region just completed its 8 years?
“One will also wonder which of the northern money or resources was used to develop the South? Is it the Gold, Rice or Groundnut pyramid?
“As a politician, we all understand what the former Governor is up to. He is working hard to incite the North against the Southern presidency but that has failed woefully because the South must complete the 8 years in the presidency for fairness and equity.”
The former APC spokesperson firmly stated that Kwankwaso lacks both the ability and influence to intimidate the South ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“You cannot intimidate the South or anybody with Kano votes any longer because as a politician, we all know the game and what you are up to.
“The era of playing religious or ethnic cards is far becoming unfashionable,” Nabena warned.