Former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has vehemently denied recent rumors suggesting he entered into a power-sharing arrangement with opposition presidential candidates Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).
According to the rumors, the three candidates were allegedly planning to alternate terms in office if any of them won the presidency.
In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Kwankwaso, who was the presidential candidate for the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), dismissed the claims as entirely false. He revealed that he had been made aware of discussions where Atiku’s camp reportedly met with regional leaders and clerics to spread the fabricated narrative.
“This issue deeply angers me,” Kwankwaso stated. “To hear that respected elders are peddling lies about something that never occurred is unacceptable. I was informed that around 45 clerics were involved in spreading this baseless story, and I want to make it clear that such an agreement never existed.”
The rumors suggested that under the alleged deal, Atiku would serve as president for four years, Kwankwaso would take over for another four years, and Peter Obi would be given eight years. However, Kwankwaso firmly denied these claims, asserting that they were entirely untrue.
The former governor further explained that his decision to leave the PDP and join the NNPP was driven by a desire to break free from what he described as the “humiliation” he and his supporters endured in the PDP. He also emphasized that neither he, Obi, nor other prominent political figures like Governor Nyesom Wike left their former party to return and support those who had belittled them.
“Such lies and deceit are exactly why we left the PDP in the first place. Myself, Peter Obi, Wike, and others all left because of the way we were treated. Now, they are asking us to help those who humiliated us achieve their objectives. This is not something I can support,” Kwankwaso remarked.
Kwankwaso’s statements come as political tensions continue to rise in the lead-up to the 2023 elections, with accusations of power struggles and alliances being formed behind the scenes. However, the former governor was clear in his stance, stressing that no such arrangement had been made with Atiku or Obi.
