Former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, has said Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf should not be branded a betrayer if he defects from the New Nigeria Peoples Party, insisting that such a move would merely mirror a precedent earlier set by the party’s national leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Shekarau made the assertion amid rising tension within the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya political movement over reports that Yusuf may be considering a switch to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Speaking in an interview with DCL Hausa, the former governor took a swipe at Kwankwaso’s recent comment that Yusuf must surrender his mandate before defecting, describing the demand as contradictory and selective.
“I listened to my brother, Kwankwaso’s remarks. To me, Kwankwaso has either forgotten what happened in the past or he thinks people have forgotten,” Shekarau said.
He recalled that Kwankwaso defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC while serving as Kano State governor without vacating his office, arguing that the same political logic should apply to Yusuf.
“When he was in PDP, he 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 added.
According to Shekarau, condemning such a move as offensive now amounts to rewriting political history, since the template had already been established by Kwankwaso himself.
The former governor also revisited the internal crisis that trailed the formation of the NNPP in Kano, saying unresolved disputes over power-sharing arrangements ultimately forced him and his supporters out of the party.
He explained that after he and Kwankwaso defected from the APC to the NNPP, several meetings were held in Abuja and Kano to agree on how elective positions and appointments would be shared.
A committee, he said, was constituted to draft a sharing formula, with Yusuf appointed as chairman on the assumption that he would clinch 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,” Shekarau alleged.
He added that although Kwankwaso reportedly raised concerns about the list, the matter was never resolved, prompting him and his allies to set up a 30-man committee which eventually recommended exiting the NNPP.
“I rejected the arrangement because I could not take a senatorial ticket alone while my people got nothing,” he said.
Shekarau maintained that political realignments, including defection, should not automatically be framed as acts of betrayal.
“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, stressing that Governor Yusuf should be allowed to make his decision without being demonised.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
