Mustapha Kwankwaso Was Gwarzo’s Preferred Candidate, Says Kwankwasiyya Spokesman

The Kwankwasiyya Movement has denied allegations of nepotism in the emergence of Mustapha Kwankwaso as the deputy governorship candidate in Kano, stressing that his emergence was through due process and solely the decision of the party’s governorship candidate, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo.
This was disclosed by the spokesman of the movement Habeeb Saleh Mohammed in an exclusive interview on Wednesday.

He said the criticisms trailing the nomination especially from the All Progressives Congress (APC) were based on misconception and personal opinion.

“First, I wouldn’t have wanted to react on the reaction of APC or anybody from APC on issues concerning the choice of the deputy governor here in Kano”.

“Because whoever we choose, they will have one or two things to say. That’s politics,” he said.

It will be recalled that the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) announced on Monday that Mustapha Kwankwaso, the first son of its vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, would be the running mate to Gwarzo.

Mustapha was a Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development in Kano State under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf before his nomination.

The development has since elicited varied reactions in political circles and social media with supporters hailing it a move towards youth inclusion, while critics including the APC claim it is a Kwankwaso plot to rule by proxy.

Giving background to the development, Mohammed disclosed that the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) was the first political party that approached Kwankwaso before political alignments were finalised.

The party leadership met Kwankwaso while trying to establish its presence in Kano and sought his support, he said.

When they were trying to bring the party to Kano, they went to our national leader and asked him to join. But by then he had already decided to join the ADC.”

He said that when the move to recruit Kwankwaso failed, the party had proposed an alternative with his son.

“They thought, okay, if you are not going to join, why not let your son join us? They even said they were ready to make him governor, said Mohammed.

But Kwankwaso, however, rejected the thought.

He told them straight, “I’m not the kind of person who will be in one party and send his own child to another party for whatever reason.

He thanked them for the offer and told them to go ahead with their plans, while he moved to ADC.

Mohammed told me that later political developments, including internal problems within the ADC, had paved the way for renewed negotiations which eventually led to the cooperation with the NDC and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

He said, Mustapha’s eventual emergence as deputy governorship candidate followed a structured and grassroots-driven process.

Mohammed dismissed claims that Mustapha’s rise was due to family ties.

Those who think Gwarzo picked him because of loyalty are entitled to their opinions. Whatever you say they will not agree. But the best thing is to spell out the manner of his coming.”

He said the selection process began with consultations and nominations at the grassroots level where aspirants were asked to go back to their local governments for screening and endorsement by stakeholders.

Our national leader has very clearly said that tickets are not given at the centre. All hopefuls were asked to go back to their local governments, meet with stakeholders and be screened. Those stakeholders put up candidates.”

He cited examples of aspirants who went through the process and got nominations.

Some of them took the advice and went back to their people. For instance, a candidate from Ajingi returned, engaged stakeholders and eventually got the nomination. Same thing happened in Dawakin Kudu and other places,” he said.

He said those who did not go through the grassroots process and lobbied at the party headquarters were not successful.

“Some refused to go through that process and kept trying to push themselves at the headquarters. At the end of the day, they didn’t get the nod,” he added.

Mohammed also revealed that after Gwarzo was elected as the governorship candidate, he had the constitutional right to pick his running mate.

“It is the right of the candidate to choose whomever he wants to work with. But even then, the choice has to be put to the stakeholders.”

He said Mustapha was first introduced to the party leadership by stakeholders but Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was not immediately in support.

“When Mustapha was first brought before us, our national leader refused vehemently. “It was the candidate who took the responsibility of convincing him, explaining that it was his personal choice.”

He further said that after consultations, Gwarzo insisted on Mustapha and eventually presented him to stakeholders.

“It was Gwarzo who did the convincing and made it clear that this is the person he wants to work with. “At that point there was nothing anyone could do but accept,” he said.

Mustapha’s track record and youth engagement also influenced the decision, Mohammed said.

“The need to carry the youth along was one of the reasons cited, Gwarzo said. Mustapha has been a commissioner of youth, has his own business and has programmes that empower young people.

“He (Gwarzo) believes that while he has the experience and wisdom, working with someone younger will bring fresh ideas and strengthen inclusivity.

He said the entire process was internal democracy and not favouritism.

“This is the reality of how Mustapha emerged. “He was selected by the candidate through the party process, not foisted on anyone.”