‘Kwankwaso’s defection not a threat to Kano PDP’
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- Category: Inside politics
- Written by Ismail Mudashir, Kano
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Aminu
Wali is Nigeria’s Ambassador to China. In this interview, he says the
defection of the Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and other prominent
members of the PDP to the opposition APC is not a stumbling block to PDP’s
victory in the 2015 general elections in the state. He also speaks on other
issues in the polity. Excerpts:
We heard that you were recently seen at
the presidential villa together with former Kano State governor Mallam Ibrahim
Shekarau who is said to be planning to join your party. How far have you people
gone in getting him to your party?
There is no truth in that. I have not seen Shekarau since the last time I was in his house when we paid a courtesy call on him. I don’t know where the story came from, therefore whoever is saying that is just saying it out of his imagination.
But why the rumours in the state?
I think it is because of our visits to him. You know we the stakeholders and our caretaker committee in Kano went to him. We do not have any arrangement; Shekarau belongs to the APC as far as I know and there is a very cordial relationship and good understanding between us. We believe in democracy both ourselves and him, there is no special arrangement between us as a party or me as a person. We have only engaged in alignment and realignment, we have gone out on recruitment drive and obviously a lot of ANPP members in APC who are uncomfortable with the current situation in their present party have indicated their willingness to join us in the PDP.
People are saying that the defection of governor Kwankwaso has to a large extent punctured the popularity of PDP in Kano State and that it will negatively affect the party come 2015…
I can assure you that we are waxing stronger and stronger. In fact, PDP is stronger now than before when Kwankwaso was with us. Go round and ask the common party members or people on the street who are neither PDP nor ANPP, they will tell you that they are more comfortable than before and a lot of people are leaving the APC for PDP. Thank God that the mismanagement is going to be over. In fact, it is over. We are going to take the party back to the people and as a founding member of the PDP I know exactly what the people of the state want. What we are trying to do in Kano is to take the party that belongs to the people back to the people and this is exactly what we are trying to do now.
Are you happy now that Kwankwaso has left the PDP?
It is not a matter of being happy or unhappy because politics is a matter of choice, for whatever reason when somebody decides to leave, that is his own choice and I cannot quarrel with that person asking him why did you leave? Therefore, if he wishes to leave then I wish him good luck and I have no any grudges against him for leaving.
You played a critical role in constituting caretaker committee for Kano PDP, but it’s like the Kafayo’s led committee is not doing well because people are complaining that they are not feeling its impact. What is happening?
You see there is a difference between a caretaker committee and a properly constituted leadership; a caretaker is a transitional thing that is trying to build the structure of the party upon which further activities will be laid. So far, we have been on that, trying to raise a formidable structure for the party in the state.
If Kwankwaso decides to return to the PDP, will he be accepted?
Why not? As long as he is willing to abide by the party’s constitution which clearly spells out that the party belongs to all of us and also spells out the need for internal democracy, he is very much welcome, after all, he had been our member. But a situation where one is denied his own right and few selected people dictate for the party, we will not accept that.
It is said that the 2015 general election are going to be held in January but still the Kano PDP caretaker committee seems to be dragging its feet. Don’t you think this will affect your party’s performance in the state?
It will not affect us per say, because we have the membership already in place even though Kwankwaso has gone he has not gone with the members of the PDP but with members of Kwankwasiyya. I can assure you within a month and a half we will have every structure in place. I am absolutely sure that the caretaker committee will be able to hold all elections; we will be able to meet up the time frame. We have been in this business for quite a long time and to organize an election for the various wards and local government areas up to the state level would not require more than a month and seven days.
Your party is in crisis at the national level due to President Jonathan’s reelection bid in 2015. Don’t you think you will find it difficult selling him to the North?
We are very strong on ground in this part of the country and I have no doubt that the PDP will win in 2015 all over the country. As a party man, founding member of the party and member of every decision making body that exists in the party whoever my party presents as a candidate that person will be the person that I will sell.
Therefore as far as I am concerned, the PDP will win, agreed we have had our headache but by the time the elections approach all these problems would have been over, we will go into the elections united and solid.
Is it possible to overcome your party’s challenges when you are still losing members to the APC at the state and national levels including legislators?
Those house members that defected, if they had gone back to their people to consult them on their decision to leave, they would have told them otherwise. As I speak with you, I know of some members who are already in trouble with their constituents over their defection. I am waiting because I believe 2015 will come with a lot of surprises because those that have defected will likely not return to their seats as honourable members.
You have been Nigerian ambassador to China for quite some time now. What are your achievements?
I was able to achieve the visit of President Jonathan to China which brought the two countries together and is strengthening the existing bilateral relationship between the two countries. During my tenure, the Zungeru hydropower plant came to fruition and I am also trying to see that Mambila happen during my tenure which has been in limbo for the past 30 years. There is also the Abuja Kaduna rail line and the Abuja light train among other things going on during my time
There is no truth in that. I have not seen Shekarau since the last time I was in his house when we paid a courtesy call on him. I don’t know where the story came from, therefore whoever is saying that is just saying it out of his imagination.
But why the rumours in the state?
I think it is because of our visits to him. You know we the stakeholders and our caretaker committee in Kano went to him. We do not have any arrangement; Shekarau belongs to the APC as far as I know and there is a very cordial relationship and good understanding between us. We believe in democracy both ourselves and him, there is no special arrangement between us as a party or me as a person. We have only engaged in alignment and realignment, we have gone out on recruitment drive and obviously a lot of ANPP members in APC who are uncomfortable with the current situation in their present party have indicated their willingness to join us in the PDP.
People are saying that the defection of governor Kwankwaso has to a large extent punctured the popularity of PDP in Kano State and that it will negatively affect the party come 2015…
I can assure you that we are waxing stronger and stronger. In fact, PDP is stronger now than before when Kwankwaso was with us. Go round and ask the common party members or people on the street who are neither PDP nor ANPP, they will tell you that they are more comfortable than before and a lot of people are leaving the APC for PDP. Thank God that the mismanagement is going to be over. In fact, it is over. We are going to take the party back to the people and as a founding member of the PDP I know exactly what the people of the state want. What we are trying to do in Kano is to take the party that belongs to the people back to the people and this is exactly what we are trying to do now.
Are you happy now that Kwankwaso has left the PDP?
It is not a matter of being happy or unhappy because politics is a matter of choice, for whatever reason when somebody decides to leave, that is his own choice and I cannot quarrel with that person asking him why did you leave? Therefore, if he wishes to leave then I wish him good luck and I have no any grudges against him for leaving.
You played a critical role in constituting caretaker committee for Kano PDP, but it’s like the Kafayo’s led committee is not doing well because people are complaining that they are not feeling its impact. What is happening?
You see there is a difference between a caretaker committee and a properly constituted leadership; a caretaker is a transitional thing that is trying to build the structure of the party upon which further activities will be laid. So far, we have been on that, trying to raise a formidable structure for the party in the state.
If Kwankwaso decides to return to the PDP, will he be accepted?
Why not? As long as he is willing to abide by the party’s constitution which clearly spells out that the party belongs to all of us and also spells out the need for internal democracy, he is very much welcome, after all, he had been our member. But a situation where one is denied his own right and few selected people dictate for the party, we will not accept that.
It is said that the 2015 general election are going to be held in January but still the Kano PDP caretaker committee seems to be dragging its feet. Don’t you think this will affect your party’s performance in the state?
It will not affect us per say, because we have the membership already in place even though Kwankwaso has gone he has not gone with the members of the PDP but with members of Kwankwasiyya. I can assure you within a month and a half we will have every structure in place. I am absolutely sure that the caretaker committee will be able to hold all elections; we will be able to meet up the time frame. We have been in this business for quite a long time and to organize an election for the various wards and local government areas up to the state level would not require more than a month and seven days.
Your party is in crisis at the national level due to President Jonathan’s reelection bid in 2015. Don’t you think you will find it difficult selling him to the North?
We are very strong on ground in this part of the country and I have no doubt that the PDP will win in 2015 all over the country. As a party man, founding member of the party and member of every decision making body that exists in the party whoever my party presents as a candidate that person will be the person that I will sell.
Therefore as far as I am concerned, the PDP will win, agreed we have had our headache but by the time the elections approach all these problems would have been over, we will go into the elections united and solid.
Is it possible to overcome your party’s challenges when you are still losing members to the APC at the state and national levels including legislators?
Those house members that defected, if they had gone back to their people to consult them on their decision to leave, they would have told them otherwise. As I speak with you, I know of some members who are already in trouble with their constituents over their defection. I am waiting because I believe 2015 will come with a lot of surprises because those that have defected will likely not return to their seats as honourable members.
You have been Nigerian ambassador to China for quite some time now. What are your achievements?
I was able to achieve the visit of President Jonathan to China which brought the two countries together and is strengthening the existing bilateral relationship between the two countries. During my tenure, the Zungeru hydropower plant came to fruition and I am also trying to see that Mambila happen during my tenure which has been in limbo for the past 30 years. There is also the Abuja Kaduna rail line and the Abuja light train among other things going on during my time
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