The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly criticized former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for describing the party as “dead.”
Kwankwaso made the comment on Saturday during the inauguration of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) office in Katsina State.
He stated that he and his supporters left the PDP because of its purported demise.
The PDP has taken exception to Kwankwaso’s remark, reacting with dismay to his characterization of the party.
He added: “I wish to remind you that PDP is dead because we left the party. Since they have gone out of the line, we decided to check out.”
In a WhatsApp message yesterday in Abuja in response to reporters’ questions, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba said: “Our reaction to the statement credited to Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso is that he is very inconsequential in the Nigerian national politics today, judging from the fact that he is struggling to lead a party called NNPP which is also struggling to control only one state.
“It is unfathomable to imagine that a failed and inconsequential politician with only one state would claim that a party that has 13 governors, many senators, many members of the House of Representatives, control of several states’ House of Assembly and a strong presence in all the local government areas and wards across the country is dead.
“More disturbing is that Senator Kwankwaso has exhibited extreme selfishness and self-centeredness, which shows that he is not a leader.
“It is unfortunate that he is up to this at this time when the PDP and patriotic Nigerians are speaking out against the excruciating hardship in the country.
“At this time, Nigerians, including in Senator Kwankwaso’s home state, Kano, are dying of hunger and starvation.
“At a time when over 150 million Nigerians have sunk deeper into poverty; when millions of Nigerians are daily losing their means of livelihood; at a time when the naira has fallen to over N1,600 to a dollar with over 34 per cent inflation rate; in the wake of brutal increase in the price of petrol to over N1,200 in various parts of the country, the only thing that occupies Senator Kwankwaso’s mind is his self-centered pipe dream of becoming President.
“It is very unfortunate. So, the PDP does not intend to join issues with him on such display of self-centeredness and insensitivity.”
“In any event, whatever political relevance Senator Kwankwaso believes he has achieved, he did so only when he was in the PDP.”
