By Danladi Ahmed
The Democratic Front (TDF) has lashed out at former Kano governor Rabiu Kwankwaso over his dubious and vicious insinuation in his comments that Lagos was trying to colonise the North.
“It is nothing short of engendering divisive politics and stoking the embers of political hatred in an already volatile environment where mutual distrusts had been the order of the day. Leaders ought not make statements that are capable of being misinterpreted.
In a statement signed by its Chairman Mallam Danjuma Muhammad and Secretary, Chief Wale Adedayo, TDF described Kwankwaso’s claim that Lagos was trying to colonize the North as mischievous, devious, and insulting to both locales he made reference to.
It said: “We are indeed worried that such a carelessly frivolous and unfounded allegation would be made by someone regarded as a political personality of Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s standing. He is expected to have a better grasp of the circumstances surrounding the Federal Government’s proposal on tax reform.
“We wonder why Kwankwaso, who presented himself as a candidate in the 2023 presidential election, could descend to the level of stirring a divisive regional storm using the tax reform bill that is now before the National Assembly.
“More curious and distasteful is the fact that Kwankwaso made the North look like the target of victimization of a harmless tax reform that is clearly without bias or prejudice to any region.
“We are also equally not happy over the inciting manner the leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) portrayed the local chieftaincy tussle in the Kano Emirate as something of interest to another part of the country.
“We consider it unfair and unpatriotic for Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso to attempt to blame a section of Nigeria for a local crisis that was apparently instigated by himself and the decision of the Governor of Kano State Abba Yusuf to dethrone Emir of Kano Aminu Ado Bayero in order to reinstate his predecessor, Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.
” In our view, the ongoing legal debacle over the Emirate is a test for Nigeria’s democracy and the Rule of Law. The onus is on the governor to prove the constitutionality of his powers and actions to remove a sitting Emir from office like he did.
“To this end, we consider Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s decision to point accusing fingers at the imaginary “Lagos Axis” as the force behind the crisis as misleading and unfortunate.”
TDF is of the view that Kwankwaso would be placed to commend President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing strides in Northern Nigeria rather than seeking to demonize him.
“Instead of dissipating energy in promoting ethnic/regional tension and ultimately, anarchy in the country, we advise Kwankwaso to appreciate and commend the spirited efforts President Bola Tinubu has made since assuming office to advance the socio-economic development of Northern Nigeria.
“For us, President Tinubu must be appreciated for the timely composition of the National Almajiri Commission, creation of the Pulaku Initiative, establishment of the N20 billion tomato processing plant in Kebbi State-the largest in Africa, the creation of Federal Ministry of Livestock Development as well as the completion and commissioning of the 700 MW Zungeru power plant which his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari began.
“There is also the ongoing construction of the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway and the several military initiatives to eradicate insecurity in the North.
“In addition, record has shown that majority of those who have benefited from the Students loans scheme are indigent students from the North.
“We find it important to also emphasize that no government in recent history has been so intentional to practically tackle the myriad socio-economic and infrastructural under-development of Northern Nigeria, like President Tinubu has shown to do in the last 16 months of his administration.
“It is against this backdrop that we appeal to Dr Kwankwaso and his ilks in the North, to stop making frivolous statements that are capable of creating unnecessary tension in the polity, because it is inimical to the collective good of Nigerians,” it added.
TDD also appealed to Nigerians living in the North to ignore the likes of Dr. Kwankwaso and embrace the policies of the President Tinubu administration.
