Former presidential candidate and national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwakwanso, has described his party as the alternative party to bring a breath of fresh air to the citizens, especially to Nigeria as a country.
The former Kano State governor made the remarks at the party’s national convention, which was held at the A-Class Event Centre, Maitama, Abuja, on Saturday.
The convention, attended by members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), chairmen of the 36 states and FCT, and federal and state lawmakers, affirmed the appointment of the party’s national executives led by Ajuji Ahmed as the acting national chairman, ratified the constitution of the party, the party’s slogan, and the logo.
Kwakwanso described the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as birds of the same feather who, through their unpopular and inhumane policies, have brought untold hardship to Nigerians. He said that while the PDP is a failed party, the APC is already a failing party.
He affirmed that the NNPP remains the fastest-growing party in Nigeria that understands the importance of education to tackle poverty as well as securing the lives and property of Nigerians, with the aim of ensuring a united, stronger, more peaceful, and more prosperous Nigeria for all.
“We are all aware that PDP has completely failed. Many of us decided in 2014 and 2015 to bring in some positive changes. Unfortunately, we have seen what happened from 2015 to date. This is the same APC government. Therefore, as far as we are concerned, we have a failing party, which is the APC. We believe that this country requires an alternative to the APC and, of course, the PDP, which is the only party, in my opinion, and based on facts, because the NNPP today is the fastest-growing party in this country.
“And I also believe that even beyond this country, that is the only hope as we stand today. In many parts of this country, especially in northern Nigeria, particularly in my own part of the north, so many people have been chased out of their homes, and so many have been killed. Some are in the bushes now, in the forest, under the care of bandits and other criminals. And it looks like many people don’t care. It is even becoming a normal thing to go and pick people up in their homes, on the roads, in the markets, and so on. I believe it is only in this country that this sort of nonsense is happening. And it is the responsibility of every government—a responsible government—to ensure the peace of its people.
“I personally believe, as a former minister of defence in this country, as a former chief security officer of Kano State for eight years, and so on and so forth, that we have adequate resources, we have enough manpower, and we have all that it takes to protect Nigerians from peace in this country today. So it’s an opportunity for me to ensure that we bring on board a united, stronger, more peaceful, and more prosperous Nigeria for all of us. Let me say that this party will continue to unite. Its members will continue to be fair and just to all of us. All our members will continue to have an internal democracy within the party so that everybody is given an opportunity to attain his or her position.
“Let me also, at this point, thank all of you for selecting me to be the national leader of our party. I’m so proud. I’m so happy. And I want to assure you that I will do whatever it takes to ensure that this party grows from strength to strength,” Kwakwanso said.
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, while thanking those who stood by the party during the campaign periods and litigation, said the NNPP is the third largest party in Nigeria, with about 21 federal legislators, almost 30 state legislators, one executive governor, and one deputy governor.
“We want to thank those who supported us in different ways during our campaigns and throughout the litigation period. We thank God Almighty that in the end, justice prevailed and the will, wishes, and aspirations of the people as expressed in the ballot eventually carried the day. I want to thank and congratulate all the party faithful and volunteers for their commitment and the success of our party.
“Today, let me say that our party is the third largest party in Nigeria, with about 21 federal legislators, almost 30 state legislators, one executive governor, and one deputy governor. This, I must say, was made possible because of all of you. Because of your support and understanding, the members who have given their all to ensure that our party, which was unknown to the majority of Nigerians, has become the darling and the party to watch because of the quality of people that congregate in its vault. Our party is the fastest-growing political party in this country.
“Let me, at this juncture, pay special tribute, of course, to our national leader, His Excellency Distinguished Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwakwanso, who provided the compass to guide our navigation and our eventual successes. We therefore thank him purposefully for his quality leadership and selfless guidance. We pray fervently to Allah to increase his health, wisdom, and longevity. Distinguished delegates, in spite of over eight months of litigation that was deliberately inflicted on us to undermine the smooth running of government in Kano State, we are able to make some appreciable achievements in fulfilling our campaign promises.”
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