Re: Ongoing Defections from NNPP to APC and Comments by Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso

In a democracy, disagreement is normal — but distortion of facts and personal attacks under the guise of political commentary must not go unchallenged. I feel compelled to respond to recent remarks made by Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso at his residence on Miller Road, not out of malice, but out of duty — to correct misleading narratives and reaffirm where we stand, and more importantly, whom we stand with.

Let it be made clear: the decision by myself and other respected leaders — Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, Hon. Abdullahi Sani Rogo, Hon. Aliyu Sani Madakin Gini, Hon. Idrees Dankawu, Rt Hon. Zubairu Hamza Masu, Hon. Sha’aban Ibrahim Sharada, Hon. Badamasi Ayuba Dambatta, Hon. Nura Muhammad Dankadai, Rt Hon. Alassan Abubakar Kibiya — to leave the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and align with the All Progressives Congress (APC) was neither hasty nor selfish. It was a deliberate choice rooted in the realities on the ground and in our commitment to the people we represent.

We are not political ornaments who thrive on social media hype or cult followership. We are grassroots politicians who earned our seats through years of community service, direct engagement, and trust. The support we received in Rano, Kibiya, Bunkure, and across Kano South during the 2023 elections was not gifted to us by any individual. It was a vote of confidence in our personal track records — not a blind allegiance to a political logo or a one-man brand.

Senator Kwankwaso’s attempt to describe our defection as “a political sin” is not only laughable, it is laced with irony. This is someone who has crossed from PDP to APC in 2015, back to PDP in 2018, and later found his way to NNPP in 2022. If political movement were a sin, then Kwankwaso himself would have a lot of questions to answer. Going by his political history and antecedents — holding several party memberships, left, right, and centre — he has portrayed himself as the biggest nomadic politician anyone can imagine in Nigeria. Like the real pastoral Nomads, he has been in search of selfish greener pastures. (Unfortunately).

What is truly disappointing, however, is the tone of his message — laced with veiled threats, dismissive language, and a refusal to accept that the political tide in Kano is changing. That’s not leadership; that’s political entitlement. The era of one man dictating the future of many is over.

And let’s not forget: this same Senator Kwankwaso, while criticizing others for aligning with the APC, was seen just last year seeking political favors in France — not on behalf of the people of Kano, but for his own political survival. Actions speak louder than words, and the people are watching.

Since our decision to join the APC, we have brought projects to our constituencies, cutting across critical sectors like education, agriculture, and infrastructure. These are tangible results — not slogans. We measure progress by what the people can feel, not by how loudly anyone shouts on a podium.

We call on our supporters to remain calm and focused. Politics should not be reduced to a battle of egos or blind loyalty to personalities. It must remain a vehicle for development, justice, and a better life for all.

We stand firmly with the people of Kano state. We stand for their future.

Signed,
Rt. Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Air Force
Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya Federal Constituency, Kano State
10th May 2025