Politics
Northerners against restructuring are selfish – El-Rufai
Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has condemned fellow northerners opposed to restructuring, saying that they are doing so for selfish purpose.
He pointed out that there was a difference between the position of Northern Elders Forum against restructuring and northerners as a region.
The governor argued that there are over a 100 million northerners whose interests were at stake and stressed that whatever advantages an individual was getting for might not apply directly to the entire North.
“We have the highest number of out-of-school children. We have the highest poverty rate. We have the lowest JAMB cut-off rate. So, what are the advantages in the North in the current situation?
“As the governor of Kaduna State, I have had to look at these issues and try to see how I can get the people of my state up on the ladder. I think you need to differentiate the knowledge from a few and the voice of the silent majority,” he said.
El-Rufai, however, regretted that certain people present restructuring in a derogatory way in a manner that portrays all the northerners as backward people.
He said, “The way some people present restructuring is so insulting and derogatory. We should have an honest conversation on what is working and what is not. We don’t have anything to benefit making derogatory remarks against a particular group of people because of restructuring.
“If there are northern leaders today by virtual of the fact that I am a governor, I must be there. So, who are these northerners against restructuring? Who are they? Who are they speaking for?
“So, let us have a very honest, unemotional conversation without looking down on people or insulting them or framing them” he noted.
El-Rufai, who is also chairman of the APC Restructuring Committee, said the draft bill produced and submitted by his committee in January 2018 was stepped down for fear of politicisation ahead of 2019 general elections.
But he was quick to add that some interested members of the ruling party were making frantic efforts to get the draft bill presented to the National Assembly for consideration before the end of the tenure of the present administration.
The governor said the committee made some recommendations and a draft bill available for onward transmission to the National Assembly, which every lawmaker could take up and sponsor as a private bill.
He said, “We do not need executive bill to start action on the draft bill submitted by the committee.”
He insisted the position of the party and the President to see the draft bill passed into law, adding that consideration of the bill would soon take off.
On insecurity in the southern Kaduna, the governor said the violence in northern Kaduna was more devastating than the insecurity in southern Kaduna as perceived by the public.
He, however, did not give details concerning the real causes of the violence, promising that he would make himself available only if a separate session would be arranged to discuss the issue.
El-Rufai argued that population could only be controlled through the education of the girl-child.
He said, “There is a lot of debate on that because countries that have tried to curtail demographic growth like China have now reversed themselves. Singapore even pays you to have children.
“The current thinking in the developing economics is that population growth is not bad if you can ensure that population growth rate is faster and the population is educated and healthy.”
Politics
Kwankwaso Issues Fresh Directive to Supporters as Kano Governor, Lawmakers Defect to APC
Kwankwaso Issues Fresh Directive to Supporters as Kano Governor, Lawmakers Defect to APC
Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and founder of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has issued a fresh directive to his supporters following the defection of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and several lawmakers to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Kwankwaso urged his loyalists across Kano State to remain calm, disciplined, and committed to the ideals of the movement, describing the defections as a political development that should not weaken the party’s grassroots base. He advised supporters facing pressure to defect to exercise caution and strategic patience, stressing that long-term political goals must not be sacrificed for short-term advantages.
The directive comes amid reports that the governor, alongside members of the Kano State House of Assembly, federal lawmakers, and several local government officials, has resigned from the NNPP to join the ruling APC, a move that has triggered a major political realignment in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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Kwankwaso and NNPP leaders have alleged that some of the defections were carried out under political pressure, a claim that has further heightened tensions between the NNPP leadership and the Kano State Government. The party insists that the defections do not reflect the true strength of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, which it says remains deeply rooted among the electorate.
While the APC has welcomed the new entrants, political analysts note that defections do not automatically translate into voter support, particularly in Kano, where Kwankwaso continues to command significant grassroots influence.
The NNPP has also dismissed claims that Kwankwaso endorsed or approved the defections, reiterating that the moves are personal decisions and do not represent the position of the party or its national leader.
As political maneuvering intensifies, attention is now focused on how both parties will consolidate their positions in Kano as preparations for the next election cycle gather momentum.
Kwankwaso Issues Fresh Directive to Supporters as Kano Governor, Lawmakers Defect to APC
Politics
Mass Defection: Kano Governor, 8 Reps, 21 Assembly Members Leave NNPP
Mass Defection: Kano Governor, 8 Reps, 21 Assembly Members Leave NNPP
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has officially resigned from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), leading a sweeping political realignment that has seen eight members of the House of Representatives and 21 members of the Kano State House of Assembly also withdraw their membership from the party.
Governor Yusuf’s Resignation Letter Emerges
The governor’s resignation, communicated through a formal letter to NNPP leaders, follows weeks of speculation over growing internal crises, leadership disputes, and legal challenges within the party. Several local government chairmen and grassroots party structures across Kano State are reported to have defected alongside the governor.
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In his letter, Governor Yusuf thanked NNPP members for their support during the 2023 election cycle but said persistent factional conflicts had weakened the party’s cohesion and effectiveness, making it difficult to sustain governance and political stability in the state.
Political sources say the governor and the defecting lawmakers are expected to formally join the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the coming days, a move that would significantly alter the political balance in Kano State and the wider North-West region.
Observers describe the mass defection as one of the biggest setbacks for the NNPP since the 2023 general elections, raising fresh concerns about the party’s future relevance as political actors begin positioning ahead of Nigeria’s next electoral cycle.
The development adds to a growing wave of cross-party defections in Nigerian politics, underscoring intensifying competition and realignment as parties consolidate power ahead of future elections.
Mass Defection: Kano Governor, 8 Reps, 21 Assembly Members Leave NNPP
Politics
Fayose Reveals Alleged Details of Tinubu‑Makinde Meeting
Fayose Reveals Alleged Details of Tinubu‑Makinde Meeting
Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has released a controversial account of the recent meeting between President Bola Tinubu and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, igniting fresh debate in Nigerian politics.
Fayose claimed that Makinde did not meet the president alone but was accompanied by Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, which he described as a “lack of courage” to face Tinubu independently. According to Fayose, President Tinubu emphasized that the discussion would focus strictly on official governance matters affecting Oyo State, refusing to engage on political grievances or upcoming electoral support.
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The former governor also alleged that Tinubu made it clear he was not seeking Makinde’s political backing for the 2027 elections, reaffirming his support for allies within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and leaving Makinde’s political future firmly with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In response, Governor Makinde reiterated his commitment to the PDP, stressing the importance of bipartisan cooperation for national development while dismissing speculation about defecting to the APC.
Fayose’s account has sparked a national conversation on political dynamics, federal influence, and party loyalty, particularly within the context of the PDP’s internal disputes and preparations for the 2027 general elections. As of now, neither the Presidency nor Governor Makinde has officially commented on Fayose’s revelations.
Fayose Reveals Alleged Details of Tinubu‑Makinde Meeting
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