“We Respect Atiku But We Love Nigeria More” — Kwankwaso Rejects Any Coalition With Atiku, Says Nigeria Needs President Who Can Work 24 Hours

Former Governor of Kano State and leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said he will not support any coalition that automatically makes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar its presidential candidate.

Speaking in an interview with RFI Hausa monitored by Northern Nigeria Hub, Kwankwaso said while he respects the Waziri of Adamawa, Nigeria’s interest is bigger than any individual.

“The person to form alliance with, especially the Waziri of Adamawa, he and his people think once you form alliance, automatically he is the candidate. We believe there is need for correction. We love the Waziri, but we love Nigeria more than any person,” Kwankwaso said.

“What we want for Nigeria is a strong, competent and proven leader who has the vitality to actively perform the duties.”

Kwankwaso said the Buhari administration came with good intentions but ended in chaos that laid foundation for current crises, and Nigerians are now saying Buhari was even better than the present government.

“We do not want a situation in future where people will say Bola Tinubu was even better due to age and physical constraints. This is not opposition or disrespect, it is the truth that any sensible person should know,” he added.

The former Defence Minister said security and economy are not child’s play and agriculture has been destroyed by massive food importation that crashed prices and forced farmers to abandon farming, requiring a leader who will work 24 hours.

On 2027, he said he has no enemy in Kano, in the North or in Nigeria and he takes politics with ease. He said any alliance must produce the most meritorious ticket suitable for the times, adding that whether God gives him President or Vice President or none, he remains grateful.

He challenged presidential aspirants to come out for debates to tell Nigerians what they have done and what they intend to do, saying President Tinubu did not debate in 2023 and made no binding commitments, leaving Nigerians with no basis to hold him accountable.

Speaking on Kano politics, Kwankwaso said he has never had as much peace of mind as he does now since he started politics, adding that his grassroots support is expanding daily.

“From Dan Hassan to Dan Ja, all these political eras came and passed. This one too will come and pass. The people of Kano, the North and Nigeria remain standing,” he said.

He restated his position on fuel subsidy, saying in 2023 all four major candidates were asked, three agreed to remove subsidy but his position remains that corruption should have been removed, not subsidy.

“My stance then and now remains that fuel subsidy shouldn’t have been removed, systemic corruption should have been eliminated. We do not support any policy that inflicts hardship on the masses,” Kwankwaso said.