The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described statement credited to the former Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabi’u Kwankwaso, alleging plans by the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Kano State as a result of the Emirate tussle as irresponsible and inflammatory.
The ruling party added that accusation by the former governor of Kano State that the Federal Government was attempting to create a new breed of Boko Haram terrorists and insurgents in the North as “insensitive, unwarranted and unacceptable.”
The former Presidential Candidate was also quoted recently to have alleged that some unnamed individuals were goading the Federal Government to reclaim Kano State for the APC through a declaration of a state of emergency.
In a press statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Felix Morka, the governing party said Kwankwaso’s accusation was unbecoming of a person of his status.
“The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to comments reportedly made by Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, former Governor of Kano State and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), accusing the APC-led Federal Government of attempting to create a new breed of Boko Haram terrorists and insurgents in Northern Nigeria.
“Without any shred of evidence, he further alleged that certain individuals in APC fold were goading the federal government with the goal of reclaiming Kano State through a declaration of a state of emergency. Kwankwaso’s wild and unhinged comments were made with reference to the lingering Emirate tussle in Kano,” the APC stated.
The party added that as a former Minister of Defence, Kwankwaso ought to have demonstrated a high level of discretion before making unguarded utterances capable of fueling tension and strife in Kano State.
“We consider Kwankwaso’s comments to be disappointing, highly incendiary and unconscionable for an individual of his standing. As a former Governor and Minister of Defence, we expect Kwankwaso to demonstrate high grade discretion, and a better grip of the severe social, political and security implications of unguarded utterances capable of fueling tension and strife in the good state of Kano.
“It is disturbing that Kwankwaso would so casually accuse the Federal Government of attempting to create a new breed of Boko Haram terrorists and insurgents, the same Boko Haram that has inflicted unspeakable and despicable acts of terror that have destroyed the lives of innocent citizens and our heroic men and women in uniform. It is grossly insensitive, unwarranted, and unacceptable for Kwankwaso to bandy such a serious allegation in such a cavalier manner,” the APC submitted.
Defending the Federal Government’s position on the Kano Emirate crisis, the APC noted, “In his unhinged bid to lash out, Senator Kwankwaso ignored the Federal Government’s glaring neutrality on the Emirate crisis in Kano from the very outset. As a government that thrives on respect for the rule of law and constitutional liberties, the Federal Government has confidence in our courts to fairly adjudicate the matter that is already before them, and has no need or reason to side with any of parties in the Emir-ship dispute.
“Unguarded accusations like these coming from the highest level of leadership of the NNPP such as that made by the Deputy Governor of the Kano State, Comrade Abdulsalam Gwarzo, against the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, which he has since retracted and apologised for, are utterly unhelpful in the delicate context of Kano, and must be avoided.
“The leader of our Party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a pan-Nigeria bridge builder for peace, security and unity in our land, and will not, cannot, must not be directly or remotely tainted with flimsy and unjustifiable allegation of promoting violent crisis in any part of our dear country of which he is the President and Commander-in Chief-of the Armed Forces.
“As a statesman, Kwankwaso should busy himself with exploring and exhausting all avenues for political and peaceful solutions to the royal impasse rather than amplifying the drums of strife and upheaval. The situation in Kano State calls for calm as the nation awaits judicial or political resolution of all outstanding matters. The good people of Kano deserve to live in peace, unity and security.”
