Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso Solicits Support of Abia PDP Delegates To Become President

By Sir Don Ubani


Politicians in Nigeria have different ways from where or which they could be described.

There are those who are ostensibly noisy but when properly scaled, weigh almost nothing.

On the other hand, there are politicians who do not believe in flamboyance and noise-making. They set their targets and vigorously pursue them accurately.

The immediate-past Governor of Kano State, Senator representing Kano Central in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and an indisputable contender to the presidential ticket of Peoples Democratic Party for 2019 presidential election; Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is of the second description.

Many Nigerians could have been reading or hearing of Kwankwasiya Movement from afar, without necessarily having a deep understanding of the Movement and how widely spread it has grown even in their midst.

This was the reality that played out yesterday, Monday 3rd September, 2018, when Senator Kwankwaso visited Abia State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Hours before his arrival, indigenous Abia State followers and supporters of the two-time Governor of Kano State; RMK, had taken over every available space on Finbars Road, between Abia Hotel and Azikiwe Road.

The supporters, who were in an obvious mood of jubilation, were remarkably distinct by their conspicuous Red/White/Red scout cap. They were in their thousands.

Almost every body that noticed the large turnout of members of the Kwankwasiya Movement could not hesitate to wonder when and how Kwankwasiya could have grown into such a formidable followership without attracting even the least publicity. RMK must, indeed, be a strategic silent achiever!

On his quest to be Nigeria's next President , RMK, who was the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1992 on the platform of defunct Social Democratic Party and a Minister of Defence under President Olusegun Obasanjo on the banner of PDP, said he has the capacity to navigate Nigeria out of its present economic, political, social and security woes. He clearly stated that Nigeria needs a leader who can re-unite the various ethnic groups of the country to make the country great, once more.

Senator Kwankwaso, however, appealed to PDP delegates to vote wisely during the Party's forthcoming National Convention to pick the Party's Presidential flag-bearer.

He advised the delegates to take into critical consideration the political weight and significance of North-West zone of the country, especially his home state of Kano and do what will be in the overall interest of the Party.

The Presidential hopeful had, in the course of his speech, expressed delight with the visible achievements of the Governor of the State, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Ph.D.

The former Minister of Defence used the occasion to solicit for integration of members of Kwankwasiya Political Organization into the mainstream of PDP in Abia State.

In his response, the State Chairman of the Party; Sir Johnson Onuigbo, applauded Senator Kwankwaso for his vision and interest to contest for Presidency. Sir Onuigbo, however, urged him to put whatever he wants to do before God, who determines who becomes what I'm any contest.

The Presidential Aspirant was accompanied by many notable politicians. Amongst them were, Abia State-born Chief Sam Nkire, Chief Emeka Onuoha, Engr Diggol, Engr Magaji, Chief Uche Akwukwaegbu, and a former Minister of State for Defence under President Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr Roland Oritsejafor.

On the side of the Party, giving solidarity to the State Chairman, were; the State Secretary, Chief Ibe Nwadioha, the Woman Leader, Mrs Stella Igbokwe, the Legal Adviser, Barr Ikechukwu Omenihu, the Treasurer, Dr Chinonyerem Uwadinjo, the Auditor, Prince Ezekwesiri Ananaba, the three District Chairmen for Abia-North, Abia-Central and Abia-South, Engr Mathew Ibe, Chiefs Obinna Nwachukwu and David Chigbu, respectively.

Other State officers of the Party that witnessed the Kwankwasiya Congregation included the Youth Leader, Barr David Iro, the State Organizing Secretary, Barr St Moses Ogbonna, the Acting Publicity Secretary, Mrs Love Ezema, MNI, the Acting Financial Secretary of the Party, Chief Dan Nkaru, the Assistant Legal Adviser, Barr Paul Nwabuisi, and the seventeen Local Government Area Chairmen of the Party in the State.

- Sir Don Ubani, Okwubunka of Asa, is a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy and the immediate-past Publicity Secretary of PDP in Abia State, who recently resigned to contest the Party's forthcoming primary election for Ukwa-West State Constituency in Abia State House of Assembly.