Defection to APC:
Kwankwaso politically stranded, like fish out of water -Ganduje
By Ndukaku Ihe
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has likened his predecessor and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) 2023 presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to a fish out of water that needs help.
Speaking to newsmen when the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja on Tuesday, Ganduje described Kwankwaso as a stranded politician and son running helter-skelter looking for an accommodation.
He said: “You know when a fish is out of water, it struggles as if it is still surviving. That is exactly what he is doing, but when the water is dried, the fish will find it’s way into a moisture and into safety. That is what is happening to him.
“We are not saying that we are not going to welcome him, we will welcome him because we even heard that he has no party. When you see your son running helter skelter without shelter, as our brother, it is only right that we accommodate him. We cannot say that we will not accommodate him because a friend in need is a friend indeed.
“Somebody who has been a political stakeholder in the country, we should not allow the person to be exposed to that extent,” he said.
Earlier, the Minister argued that Kwankwaso’s possible defection will cause more crisis in the Kano State chapter of the party.
Insisting that Ganduje will decide his faith, the Minister claimed that the influence of Kwankwaso in Kano is no longer felt in the state because many people have come to realize that the former governor has lost relevance in the state.
Asked if he wants Kwankwaso to defect to the APC, he replied: “No, personally, I won’t be happy. Unless it is a decision from our father to accommodate him. I was in the House of Assembly in 1999 when Kwankwaso was the governor. So, I know Kwankwaso very well.
“He is no more attractive in Kano. We have no deal, unless the National Chairman said as a banza, and as a leader, we should accommodate him. No problem. The influence of Kwankwasia in Kano is weaning, today you can hardly see anybody wearing red cap in the state unlike before when people used to take them seriously.
“As I said, Kwankwaso is no longer active in Kano. He is only coming to APC, not that we invited him. Because he is going to die politically. I am assuring you and even Mr. President has all his records from the grassroots in Kano. He is no more attractive.
“So, he is struggling to be accommodated in the APC and his defection may bring a lot of crisis in the APC in Kano state. This is our position,” he said.
