SENATOR RABIU MUSA KWANKWASO: Two term governor of Kano State and the current Senator representing Kano Central Senatorial District, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (RMK) is a household name in Kano in spite of intimidation and victimization instigated by his predecessor, Abdullahi Ganduje whom he supported to become governor after him.
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This gentleman was not known until 2014 when he defeated Abubakar Atiku to clinch second place in the first APC presidential primary in which President Muhammadu Buhari became its flag bearer.
But for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Kwankwaso would have clinched the APC ticket and would have eventually become the President of Nigeria today.
This gentleman who imbibed the ideology of Malam Aminu Kano of blessed memory abide and placed the party, APC above personal interest did not decamp to another party as anyone would have expected.
He, instead, supported President Muhammadu Buhari with everything in his arsenal to make sure that the president had the highest votes of over 1.9 million any incumbent governor could ever give in the entire states of the federation.
He decided to go for the senatorial position willingly. That was where it ended, and that was where his travails started. The man, Abdullahi Ganduje who was his deputy while in power and now his successor cut the link and made his benefactor a fugitive in the state he controlled for two terms and still a serving senator.
While the war of attrition, intimidation and victimization against Senator Kwankwaso lasted, the then National Chairman of the party, Chief Odiegie Oyegun became a spectator on the sideline. He, Chief Oyegun pretended as if nothing was wrong, even President Muhammdu Buhari who is the leader of the party also pretended as if nothing was wrong in Kano.
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On several occasions when Senator Kwankwaso wanted to visit his home state he was prevented. The excuse was that, they could not guarantee his safety, using security of his life as a game plan.
It is unheard of that a serving Senator would not be given a chance to visit his own constituency. Even he is not a senator, could that have warranted him being banished from visiting his home state? That was what happened to Senator Kwankwaso.
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At a time, the Vice-President intervened to broker peace between the duo but the issue could not be resolved. One would have expected the President and the National Chairman of the party to intervene. But they did not.
Senator Kwankwaso did not ride at the back of President Buhari to become a senator because Kano State alone contributed the highest votes any state could give to the emergence of the president.
I salute the courage and tolerance of Senator Kwankwaso to have waited this long before leaving the party.
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The blame for the crisis in APC should be majorly put at the doorsteps of the former National Chairman of party, Chief Odiegie Oyegun who never cared about the stability of the party he headed.
This gentleman waited endlessly for President Buhari to wade into this crisis, he never did until the emergence of the new National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who tried frantically in vain to dissuade the distinguished senator from defecting to another party.
I met Senator Kwankwaso once at a function where he attended a church service for the burial of a friend’s mother recently; one could see in him sense of humility, calmness and decorum.
Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is an achiever per excellence, his unparalleled achievements in Kano State speaks volume. He is committed to the cause of Nigeria. He is highly disciplined and capable to steer the ship of Nigeria for good governance, if only he is allowed after President Muhammadu Buhari. He is intelligent with integrity and honesty.
I did findings on Kwankwaso, I spoke to his critics and admirers, and no one told me he was corrupt, greedy or selfish. He is a silent achiever. His red cap revolution symbolizes peace which his movement, Kwankwasiyya Movement in all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria are using as their selling points.
His immediate intervention in Ile-Ife and Ketu crisis between the Yorubas and Hausas was legendary. He saved Nigeria from what would have led to ethnic war disaster even as a serving senator.
I was glad to see him and Comrade Oshiomhole visiting President Buhari to broker peace between him, the party and his successor a day to the announcement of his defection to another party.
Comrade Oshiomhole comments about their fruitful discussion with the president gladdens my heart, I said within me, if Chief Oyegun had taken the steps Oshiomhole is taking now APC would not have experienced this crisis.
Yesterday, Tuesday, when the Senate President, Bukola Saraki announced Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso among other senators defecting to another party, my sadness was without measure.
I said, “…they finally frustrated this man out of APC.†I am not pained about others but disturbed because Kwankwaso could not have left this party if not for the non-challant attitude of Chief Oyegun.
Chief Oyegun made sure he scattered the party and made the enemies to have a field day casting aspersion on President Buhari.
I told a friend when I listened to Adams Oshiomhole talking about Senator Kwankwaso on NTA, “…can you see leadership as I see it? Age is not wisdom, Chief Oyegun is an octogenarian but helped to divide APC than the time he took over from Baba Bisi Akande .
“Comrade Oshiomhole has achieved in just one month what ‘Baba No Regret’, Chief Oyegun could not achieve in four years. This new development, whether Kwankwaso remains in APC or not is a shame on Governor Ganduje, APC never had a Chairman before this time, there is now hope in the horizon.â€
“I regretted he (Oshiomhole) was not on the driver’s seat all these years. I applaud him based on his comment about RMK. He is already dealing with the erring ministers. We need actions not rhetoric.â€
I can authoritatively say that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso that I know did not dump APC in order to retain his position as a Senator rather he left because he was frustrated, intimidated and victimized out of the party by his successor, Governor Ganduje with the collaboration of Chief Oyegun and tacit support of Mr. President.
Circumstances made Senator Kwankwaso to mingle with the hawks in PDP who brought about the intervention of APC because of their maladministration, impunity and corruption.
Is PDP an option? The answer is no!
I sincerely sympathise with Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso with his association with the likes of the people who put Nigeria to its knees today.
I pray they would not ruin his political career, nevertheless, he is still a role model; I doff my hat for him.
Adesoji Omosebi
www.sojworld.com © July 25, 2018
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