The leading Kano politician, one time governor of Kano state, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso has declared that it is shocking the way insecurity is making a mockery of the Nigerian military despite its strength and capacity.
He also stated that he is not in a hurry to declare his interest for the presidential contest of 2023 adding that politics to him is determined by circumstances which when it leads to reconciliation he will reconcile.
Kwakwaso stated this while speaking in an interview with the DW Hausa service on Wednesday monitored in Kano.
“I will like to start by thanking the Almighty God for the goodies and otherwise abiut Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso that are always seen to be news worthy.
“On the issue of the recent condolence visit to me by the Kano state Governor, it is something I am very grateful about in the same way I appreciate all the other people that came to condole me.
“Like I have earlier stated, people have read a lot of meanings to this visit. Especially the way they see our relationship with him. People have spread hearsay that there was an issue of reconciliation coming up and others are making a lot of analysis about the visit. More so, I am already aware that this will certainly happen. All these are as a result of the integrity we enjoy in the eyes of the people.
“It should be understood that whether there is going to be reconciliation or not, he has paid us a condolence visit. It is something that everyone should wait and see what will follow afterwards.
“Before he came, when he came and now, it is a known facts in politics that anything is possible. You cannot close the doors of those possibilities. Whether there is going to be reconciliation or not is determined by the circumstances in place.
“My own opinion is that a leader is always a leader. Whatever he decides is regarded as important unless there is other interest. It is the leader that decides, if there is going to be reconciliation, it will come from the leader and if there is not going to be reconciliation it will also come from the leader. I am a leader and whatever I decide will be accepted by the supporters. It is also possible that some people might rebel but such people are very few in number when compared to the number of those that will support the leader.
“In politics we do things we consider to be the right thing at the right time. Before Abba (former gubernatorial candidate of PDP in Kano under Kwankwasiyya) lost the bid to become governor in the last election, I lost election in 2003 when I was the state governor. I was ejected from the government house.
“If one continues to be worried about the occurrences of the past, he might end up getting high blood pressure. Hence, what we always believe in is doing what is necessary at the right time without considering the past. If we succeed, good and if we fail, we thank God and move ahead.
“This issue of dumping my party and moving to the ruling party was not started today in 2022. So much have been said about it even before 2021. People are just saying their opinions about it. I thank God for this because it is a sign of integrity and a sign of victory as well.
“There are a lot people that resort to spending money to be publicised in the media but we thank God we are not into that.
“Therefore the issue of changing political party is not on ground at the moment. I am not into any discussions with any persons or groups about changing of political party at the moment. They are only rumors being mongered. They continue to say Kwankwaso is dumping his party next week or next month, when the time elapses, they change to another issue.
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“We are not usually in a rush about the issue of declaring to contest for presidency. We have to make contacts with the right persons, those who have the capacity to be reached out to on the matter. Whatever it is that is decided on will then be implemented accordingly. When the time comes, you shall be informed of the stance of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on the issue of contesting for president in 2023.
“We have our Kwankwasiya movement everywhere across the world. Because some people have the wrong notion that Kwankwasiyya only exist in Kano, or in the North West. Some even presume that it exists only in the North. But those who are familiar know very well that it is not only an issue of Nigeria, Kwankwasiyya is everywhere in the world. It is in Asia, Europe in the US, in fact we have functional offices of Kwankwasiyya in some of the places.
“On the issue of insecurity, I will say, we have have had the opportunity of occupying positions of power and leadership, and those that were led are all aware that the current situation in the North West is sad. To us in particular it is very surprising. What is more surprising is that in my position as someone who knows about the strength of the Nigerian military, as a one time Minister of Defense of the country, if I am told that this will happen in this country with such speed, that some people who are not from America or Israel or the like, where they might have had professional training, will overpower the Nigerian military, it is really unbelievable. It definitely surprises me and my likes. We continue to ask ourselves what is wrong. The Nigerian military leaders should sit down with their political leaders and find a way out. I personally don’t believe these criminals are in any way stronger than the Nigerian military. There is only one thing to be done. The leaders must believe in their minds that this is the right step to take and then implement the decision, I assure you that the Nigerian military have a way our that can resolve the problem in no time” he stated.
