Introduction to the Controversy
Former Minister of Education, Mal. Ibrahim Shekarau, has faulted accusations against the impending defection of Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), arguing that alignment and realignment are integral ingredients of politics.
The Accusations of Betrayal
Mal. Shekarau further kicked against those accusing Governor Yusuf of betraying his political godfather and founder of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, insisting that the same Kwankwaso could also be accused of betrayal, having defected serially to another party. Shekarau, who spoke in an interview with an online platform, DCL Hausa, on Tuesday, monitored in Kano, posited that Gov. Yusuf is at liberty to move from the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) with or without his Kwankwasiyya supporters.
Historical Context and Precedents
Shekarau, a two-term governor of Kano State, decried Kwankwaso’s comment, asking Governor Yusuf to relinquish the mandate of NNPP while defecting to APC and queried if Kwankwaso did the same when he left PDP for APC as a sitting governor. According to Shekarau, Kwankwaso might have forgotten that he set such a political precedent in 2013 when he defected to APC with the mandate of PDP, insisting on why Kwankwaso failed to relinquish the mandate of PDP.
Kwankwaso’s Past Actions
“I listened to some of my brother Kwankwaso’s remarks. To me, Kwankwaso has either forgotten what happened in the past or he thought people have forgotten. Has he forgotten that he moved from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during his tenure as governor without dropping the governorship seat? When he was in PDP, he also left with the governorship seat to APC. Why didn’t he drop it for PDP? The way he took PDP’s seat to APC is likely the same way Abba will take the NNPP seat to APC,” he said.
The Formation of NNPP and Internal Conflicts
Shekarau added that if such action is now being described as offensive, then the precedent was already established by Kwankwaso. The former governor also revisited events surrounding the formation of the NNPP in Kano, revealing that disagreements over power-sharing arrangements contributed to his eventual exit from the party. He said that after he and Kwankwaso left the APC for the NNPP, several meetings were held in Abuja and Kano to agree on how elective positions and appointments would be shared among stakeholders.
Power-Sharing Disagreements
Shekarau disclosed that a committee had been agreed upon to work out the sharing formula, with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf appointed as chairman because he was to take the governorship ticket. “Abba spent about three months without delivering the assignment. Suddenly, a list came out and there was no single person from our side except me,” he said. According to him, Kwankwaso openly queried the development in his presence, but the situation was not resolved, prompting Shekarau and his supporters to form a 30-man committee, which eventually recommended leaving the NNPP.
Political Decisions and Loyalty
Shekarau maintained that political decisions, including defection, should not automatically be framed as betrayal, especially when leaders consult their followers and act in what they believe to be their collective interest. “In life, one chooses for himself. If you have tangible reasons and the people you are with are okay with it, that is all,” he said. He stressed that Governor Yusuf should be allowed to make his choice without being demonised, noting that Kwankwaso himself had defected multiple times — from PDP to APC, back to PDP, and later to NNPP.
Conclusion
The debate surrounding Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf’s potential defection to the APC highlights the complexities of political alignments and the concept of loyalty in Nigerian politics. As leaders navigate their careers and make decisions that impact their constituents, it is essential to consider the historical context and the precedents set by their peers. Ultimately, the decision to defect or remain loyal to a party should be respected as a personal choice, influenced by a variety of factors including the well-being of their constituents and their own political futures.
FAQs
- Q: Why is Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf’s potential defection to the APC controversial?
A: The controversy stems from accusations of betrayal against his political godfather, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and the founder of the Kwankwasiyya movement. - Q: What precedent did Kwankwaso set in 2013?
A: Kwankwaso defected from the PDP to the APC with the PDP’s mandate without relinquishing the governorship seat. - Q: What led to Shekarau’s exit from the NNPP?
A: Disagreements over power-sharing arrangements and the lack of representation for his supporters in the party’s list of candidates. - Q: Can political decisions, including defection, be considered betrayal?
A: According to Shekarau, not necessarily, especially if leaders consult their followers and act in their collective interest.
