By Uche Amunike
Ex-Minister of Defense and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said that the party is a substitute for what he described as the ‘failed Peoples Democratic Party and failing All Progressives Congress’.
Speaking, during the National Convention of the NNPP, Senator Kwankwaso stated that Nigeria possesses enough resources and manpower to address the problem of insecurity, while giving the guarantee that the NNPP will introduce a change that will revitalize the citizens and the country as a whole.
At the event, which was held at A-Class Event Center in Maitama, Abuja, Saturday, the former governor of Kano State compared the ruling APC and the PDP to birds of same father, stating that they have both inflicted untold suffering on Nigerians with their inhumane and bad policies.
During the convention, which was attended by NEC members, state chairpersons, as well as federal and state lawmakers, the appointment of Ajuji Ahmed as the Acting National Chairman of the NNPP was confirmed, just as the party’s constitution, logo and slogan were also approved.
Kwankwaso stated that while the PDP has already failed Nigerians, with the APC currently losing momentum, the NNPP, is on their part, growing rapidly as a party in Nigeria, showing its understanding of the significance of education in ensuring the security of lives and property of the citizenry while alleviating poverty.
His words: ‘We are all aware that the 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 that is the APC and we believe that this country requires an alternative to the APC and of course, the PDP and the only party, in my opinion, and based on facts, because the NNPP today is the fastest growing party in this country.’
‘I also believe 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 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 up people 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, responsible government to ensure the peace of its people.’
‘I 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, I believe that we have adequate resources, we have enough manpower, we have all that it takes to protect Nigerians to peace in this country today. So it’s an opportunity for me to ensure that we bring on board a united, stronger, more peaceful, more prosperous Nigeria for all of us.’
He assured that the NNPP will be a symbol of unity, while its members will always have an internal democracy that will ensure that they attain their different positions.
The Kano State governor, Abba Yusuf, on his part, described the NNPP as the third largest party in the country. He also expressed his appreciation to everyone that supported the party during their campaigns and through their legal battles.
