Kano State Governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, has accused the federal government of deliberately blocking him from using public places to declare his presidential aspiration in Abuja, describing the act as irritating and undemocratic.
Making this disclosure on Wednesday, he declared that he would not yield to pressure from any quarter to step down for any presidential aspirants of the party during the forthcoming presidential primary.
He claimed that on two occasions, his campaign committee sought different venues in Abuja for the declaration ceremony but they were denied by the powers that be, noting that as a politician, he knows that with or without a ceremonial declaration, any presidential candidate can win intra- and inter-party elections.
According to him, “The Eagle Square, the proposed venue, seems to be impossible. Even the International Conference Centre, as we are now struggling for an alternative venue for the declaration, (may not be possible too.) So, if I fail to secure a venue, I will invite you all to the streets of Abuja; that is where we are now, and we can hold it there.”
Kwankwaso, who stated that political conspiracy would not deter him from pursuing his legitimate goals, recalled that in the past, he participated in at least 12 elections, both primary and secondary, at various levels and scaled through numerous political intrigues.
The governor who stated this yesterday when he met with the All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders in Kano, revealed that the declaration date was originally scheduled for October 21 to coincide with his birthday, alleging that forces in the presidency disrupted the plan.
He added that the programme was shifted to October 21 but was also allegedly aborted, assuring that despite these hiccups, the declaration would take place on the October 28 in Abuja.
Kwankwaso use the forum to appeal to the people of the state to come out en masse to collect their permanent voters’ cards between November 7 and 9 in the state, stressing that no one would be allowed to vote without the card.
Therefore, he urged the people to sacrifice these days for the exercise due to its importance in the nation’s democratic process.
The governor informed the gathering that the date for the APC primaries in Kano is yet to be fixed, assuring them that as soon as the national headquarters of the party finishes arrangements for the primaries, relevant stakeholders would be duly informed.
He maintained that although consensus would be a better option for Kano APC, the party has not stopped anyone from purchasing form for the various elective positions and has no intention of denying anybody from pursuing his or her legitimate aspiration.
