The National Publicity Secretary, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Tukur Mohammed-Baba, has berated the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, for comparing himself to the late Sarduana of Sokoto, Ahmad Bello, and Aminu Kano.
Mohammed-Baba argued that it is delusional for Kwankwaso to compare himself to these men, as they operated in their time.
Naijaonpoint reports that he shared his reservations during an interview with Arise Television.
He insisted that Kwankwaso is saying the wrong things by claiming to be the new Messiah of the North, adding that the region will consider him irrelevant.
“He has been saying the wrong things, talking about Sarduana, Aminu Kano, saying he is the new Messiah and I think that in the North that is very irreverent because you can’t compare yourself to those people, they operated in the context of their time.
“It will be highly delusional of him to go that far and say he present an alternative,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Kwankwasiyya Movement has dismissed reports that Kwankwaso, threatened to leave the party over the replacement of some candidates.
Naijaonpoint reports that the movement described the reports as “mere rumours.”
Its spokesman, Habibu Sale Mohammed, said neither Kwankwaso nor the Kwankwasiyya Movement had complained about the development.
Mohammed, who spoke with Vanguard, said, “The Kwankwasiyya Movement, and neither its leader, is complaining.”
Some media reports had claimed that the Kwankwasiyya bloc would leave the NDC if loyalists earlier nominated by the group were replaced.
The claims followed the substitution of some candidates allegedly submitted by the movement. There were also allegations that the replacement breached an earlier power-sharing arrangement within the party.
The spokesman explained that the party primaries were conducted on May 29 in line with the Electoral Act and guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He said the winners of the primaries were affirmed the same day.
According to him, NDC stakeholders and members had earlier agreed on a consensus model, where necessary adopted candidates, and submitted the list without internal disputes.
Mohammed added that Kwankwaso had not communicated any grievance with the party to the movement.
He insisted that reports suggesting that the former Kano State governor was planning to dump the NDC were unfounded.
