Former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has come out to bare his mind on the comments made by Ali Modu Sheriff in a recent interview, where he said, 2027 Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, “cannot command sizeable support in Northern Nigeria”.
Kwankwaso, Obi’s running mate for the 2027 Nigeria Presidential Election, said, he was watching with “disappointment” as the former Governor of Borno State made the statement.
Taking to X, the former Governor of Kano, said, he expected Sheriff to have “sharpened” his “judgment” after being away from public eye for a while, but, with “regret” said, “that does not appear to be the case”.
Kwankwaso, Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, reminded Sheriff, Obi, who vied for the Office of the President of Nigeria in 2023 under the Labour Party amassed “approximately 2.8 million votes” in Northern Nigeria, describing it as a “remarkable achievement”.
Kwankwaso reacted: “I watched with disappointment the recent interview granted by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to Channels Television on Monday.
“After a prolonged absence from public discourse, one would have expected that time away might have sharpened Senator Sheriff’s judgment. Regrettably, that does not appear to be the case.
“In the interview, the former governor claimed that Peter Obi cannot command sizeable support in Northern Nigeria. It is curious that he has appointed himself spokesperson for the Northern masses.
“For the record, in his first outing on the presidential ballot, Mr. Obi secured approximately 2.8 million votes in the region — a remarkable achievement that cannot be dismissed lightly.”
Kwankwaso said, with the current “hardships” across the country, the OK [Obi-Kwankwaso] ticket is still a “formidable force” in politics in Northern Nigeria.
And, reacting to Sheriff’s comment that, Obi, former member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), would not be able to amass votes in Kano State, Kwankwaso clarified, the “good” people of the Northern State are “neither bigoted nor xenophobic”.
Kwankwaso reacted: “Given the current national hardships, the widespread consensus on the failure of the APC administration, and the addition of a strong Northern figure to the ticket who previously garnered 1.45 million votes in the region, the OK ticket remains a formidable force in Northern politics.
“Even more surprising was Senator Sheriff’s assertion that the people of Kano would not vote for Mr. Obi. Let me state clearly: the good people of Kano are neither bigoted nor xenophobic.
“They have consistently demonstrated strong trust in the Kwankwasiyya movement and will support any credible ticket presented under its banner.”
With respect, Kwankwaso advised Sheriff to speak against the “insecurity and humanitarian challenges” plaguing Nigeria in his national television appearances in the future.
The former Minister of Defence described the OK ticket as the “best opportunity” for Nigeria, saying, it will help “reset” the country and position it on the “path of unity and progress”.
Kwankwaso further reacted: “I respectfully advise Senator Sheriff that, in future national television appearances, he would do better to speak to the serious insecurity and humanitarian challenges facing his home state, rather than making divisive and poorly considered remarks.
“The OK ticket currently represents the best opportunity for Nigerians to reset the country and place it on a path of competence, unity, and progress.”
Photo: Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso | Ali Modu Sheriff
