The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso says it is wrong for any person who is considered a statesman to go about endorsing candidates ahead of the February 25 presidential election in Nigeria.
Speaking on Wednesday in Benin City, the Edo State capital, the former Kano State governor said in Benin City said; ‘I want to advise our leaders: they should stop disgracing themselves. We have so much respect for them. If you say you don’t like me, no problem’.
Kwankwaso was hosted by Governor Godwin Obaseki at the Government House ahead of his presidential campaign flag-off in the state.
Africa Today News, New York reports that the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi in the last three days have been endorsed by elder statesmen like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Edwin Clark, sparking reactions from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
However, the NNPP presidential candidate insisted that these endorsements were based on religious and ethnic sentiments and have no effect on the electorate, who, according to him, are a lot wiser now.
Read Also: How Kwankwaso’s Vehicle Gift Saved My Life In 2014 – Buhari
Kwankwaso said, “Some of the people supporting and endorsing Mr. A or Mr. B, I think it is a big mistake. These are leaders I respect. There is a time in your life when you become real statesman, not a politician.
‘I can tell you also that any candidate or party that comes out with the face of ethnicity or the issue of religion, that party, that candidate, I can assure you, has failed that election before it starts.’
Recall that Kwankwaso had recently distanced himself from rumours that he is working for another party coming 2023 general election.
Mr. Kwankwasko made this known while responding to questions from some of his supporters while featuring on a live radio program in Dutse, Jigawa State which was monitored by Africa Today News, New York.
He said since he and his supporters joined the NNPP, some people have been concocting different kinds of lies just for their political reasons.
According to him, ‘I heard that some people are saying Northern elders met me and asked me to step down for a Northern candidate and some are saying I am romancing with APC.’
‘Who can tell us about Arewa? Who knows Arewa better than us? These are candidates that have issues with their qualifications and health.’
He explained that the news was baseless and was concocted by miscreants for political reasons to distract Nigerians.