The Southwest leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) Alhaji Adebisi Olopoeyan has faulted the plan to change the logo of the party by the presidential candidate of the party, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC), saying that it was designed to suit the political movement of Kwankwasiya and the people of Kano state.
Olopoeyan on Wednesday in Ibadan said that the leader of the party, Engr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, National Executive NEC and NWC did not consult and consider the leaders and stakeholders of the party across the states before choosing the new logo for the party.
According to Olopoeyan, the national leader of the party, has turned himself into an authoritarian, looking for all avenues to hijack the party from the general members of the party. “We rejected the logo here in Oyo state and South west in general. They consulted nobody, and those that decided on the new logo chose what was best for Kwankwasiya moment and the people of Kano.
“Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso doesn’t understand that, he cannot be the sole decision maker of the party because he has a governor in his state. That doesn’t mean he owns the party. It is now clear that he wants to be the Alpha and Omega of the party, and that was why he coerced the NWC of the party to expel the BOT Chairman, Boniface Aniebonam.
“It is sad that Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso who is also a former governor, will be so self-centered to the detriment of his political party that needs inclusiveness of party leaders, stakeholders, and members for survival. It is agreed that our party logo needed amendment because, after the election, we all noticed that, part of what gave NNPP a setback during the election across the country was the party logo, except in Kano state, and among thr Kwankwasiya members. It was hard for voters to easily recognize and match the name of our party with the logo; more so, we didn’t do enough sensitization about the logo.
They should not have done the amendment in a rush. Everybody should have been carried along, including members of the party at the local government, and ward levels.
“To us in Oyo state, the NEC, NWC of the party adopted the logo to further promote the Kwankwasiya Movement. I am saying this because, as it is, red colour was chosen for Kwankwasiya and we all know that Kwankwaso colour is red.
“They never considered that the logo change would affect the party immensely in some states where governorship and local government elections would be held, with no consultation, and no sensitization. They just made a unilateral decision. Even, the former logo is far better compared to the newly adopted logo.
“Here in Oyo state, we are going for local government election in the next three weeks. Our party candidates are in high spirits, having done their assignment at the grassroots, but, it is unfortunate that Senator Kwankwaso and his party allies will jeopardize their chances with the new logo because it is too short to start sensitization for members and voters.
“Moreover, the decision to hold a national convention when there were pending court cases, made all their actions unacceptable and invalid. Kwankwaso who was leading the party now never considered the party’s future and its members. All he wants is to be an emperor”, Olopoeyan said.
