Former Kano State Governor and leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has expressed willingness to return to the All Progressives Congress (APC), but only with clear guarantees that his political base will be protected.
At a meeting with NNPP stakeholders in Kano on Wednesday, Kwankwaso reflected on his role in the APC’s formation, noting that he and his associates made huge sacrifices to build the party but were sidelined during its eight years in power under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He reminded his audience that he was central to the creation of the APC but felt betrayed as he and his allies were ignored once the party took power.
According to him, no one understands the level of hardship and sacrifice that went into forming the APC better than those who pioneered it.
“We were in the leadership then, because we had more experience understanding how the federal government operates unlike those from the ACN and CPC who had no idea what was taking place in government then.”
“We stood firm for the course and faced the federal government then facing all sots of problems. There were even Assembly members that were arrested from here (Kano) and locked up in Abuja,” Kwankwaso lamented.
“I personally faced all sorts of attacks using the EFCC, ICPC, Police, DSS and others, all because of APC. We are the founders of APC, we led everything, we stated from the Eagle Square and went round seven states then. But when the APC came to power, they gave us nothing not even a thank you because our faction of the PDP didn’t start with them.”
He said despite all the battles, it is others who are now enjoying the rewards of their struggles.
“All the struggles have passed and today some people are benefiting from all the struggle we did when men were men.”
Kwankwaso added that while he is ready to return to the APC if invited, there must be clarity on what the NNPP stands to gain.
“We will accept to join the APC if invited, but we must know what the NNPP will benefit from when we join. What will be the position of our Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf?
“We also have Senators and Reps as well as others holding positions in the state government, when we join the APC why will be their fate? Provide us with the answers.
“If you say I should go back to the APC, I’m willing to re-join, and I didn’t say I won’t join even now, but on what terms?” Kwankwaso asked.
He recalled that both the APC and PDP failed to respect his integrity, accusing them of using him and his allies only to discard them afterward.
“When I was with the APC and PDP, they didn’t respect my integrity; we only worked for ungrateful people who never appreciated what we did. We worked for them, they won elections, and dumped us aside we’re all witnesses to this.”
Kwankwaso emphasized that while the NNPP is not desperate to merge with another party, it is open to collaboration if based on fairness and sincerity.
“Now that we’re settled and not in a hurry to leave the NNPP, however, if there are those who want to work with us in total honesty and transparency, such that we won’t be treated the way we were in the past, we’re ready for it.” he stated.
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