While so much has been done by the All Progressives Congress, the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party in the final hours of political campaigns, a spoiler is lurking around the corner as the 2023 presidential elections beckons, writes David Kabiyesi.
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Seated in his palatial government house office located at Abdu Bako Secretariat in the state capital, Kano Municipal on that fateful morning of April 14, 2014, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso had the decision to make as the throne of late Ado Bayero remained vacant. The picture of the late king’s son, Aminu Ado Bayero, and that of Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido flashed through his mind. But after the governor mumbled a few words to himself, he concluded who would eventually succeed the late Ado Bayero as Kano’s next king. He ignored the old order and settled for Sanusi Lamido as the next king. To Kwankwaso, leadership is not by right; it must be earned, but then, he warned that it could be lost also. Today, the rest is history.
The decision of that fateful morning redefined the Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) as one of the most unpredicted politicians in Nigeria today who sticks to his gun when it comes to big issues. It is no surprise that he belongs to the red cap (ha hula) trademark which he has, in turn, passed to his Kwankwassiya (supporters). Kwankwaso has his roots linked to the late Aminu Kano who was noted and recognized for his red cap. But Kwankwaso’s political brilliance as kingmaker will surely come under serious test by the upcoming presidential elections of the Federal Republic of Nigeria later this month.
While so much noise has not been heard about his campaign program compared to that of All Progressive, Congress (APC) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party, Kwankwaso still holds the key to how northern votes will pan out. That explains why PDP chieftains are pressing on the northern elder’s forum to pressure the former Kano State Governor to jettison his presidential ambition and merge with Atiku Abubakar to ward off threats from APC flagbearer Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi of the Labour Party at the polls. But that doesn’t look like a possible scenario after the former Kano State Governor declared in clear terms why he was not ready to give up his ambition for a bowl of morsels. He is bent on laying claim as the next Aminu Kano, and there is no other place to achieve that than February 25 presidential elections.
The Kwankwaso Conundrum
One of the biggest factors going for Kwankwaso is his education legacies during his reign as governor of Kano State. Of all four presidential candidates, no one can boast of effective and lasting strides in education more than the NNPP presidential candidate. Recall that during his presentation of the 2014 appropriation bill to the Kano House of Assembly, Kwankwaso declared free education at all levels and ensured that state indigenes were sponsored for their tertiary programs at home and abroad. He catered to teachers as well after he constructed 400 Kwankwassiya Lodge for teachers in the state.
It is on that basis that he is assuring Nigerian youth that the same program can be implemented nationally if voted into office. But critics feel he is not making enough noise to get his message across to voters in the western, southern, and eastern parts of the country.
Secondly, Kwankwaso’s insatiable hunger for democratic socialism, which was the hallmark of his late mentor, Aminu Kano is working to his advantage and the people of Kano love him for his choice. That is why the people of Kano follow when Kwankwaso moves. It will be difficult for another party to win in Kano as long as Kwankwassiya remains a united force.
But, one of the biggest factors that has continued to work against him is his insistence on blocking a series of financial leakage like security votes, which according to him remains one of the major ways of siphoning federal accounts. This has not gone down well with state governors who fumed at his political manifestoes.
Because of his love for the poor and widow, he is regarded as the late Obafemi Awolowo and Aminu Kano all rolled into one. His political colossus has continued to be a huge threat to both APC and PDP as both parties once admitted how Kwankwaso could play the spoiler come February 25.
Finally,
To his critics; a threat but to those who see him as the man who will fight the cause of the downtrodden, impossible is nothing! It must be noted that Kwankwaso has what it takes to punch above his weight at the forthcoming presidential elections if PDP moves to sell their political idea which would see him returned to the party he once dumped.
The clock is ticking, the world awaits as the country sits on a keg of gunpowder whose explosion may be triggered by the outcome of elections, one thing is sure, whoever wins in Kano holds the ace. Kwankwaso may not win the 2023 presidential election but the Kwankwassiya ideology which encourages transparency and frowns at riotous spending on political elites could pull the strings come February 25.
