A former governor of Kano State and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has cautioned Nigerians against voting along ethnic and religious lines in the forthcoming general elections.
Kwankwaso spoke yesterday when he visited Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, to seek the support of the electorate in the state ahead of the February 25 poll.
He said, “Nigerians should not play politics of ethnicity and religion, vote only credible and competent leaders.
“Some people don’t even understand the realities on the ground today. Every Nigerian is looking for a way out. Nobody is waiting for a neighbour or any leader to say this is the way.
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“Any party or candidate that comes out in the face of ethnicity or with the issue of religion, that party or candidate at the national level has failed in the election even before it starts.
“What Nigerians are saying is who can save this country in terms of insecurity, economy and dilapidated infrastructure that we see. Nigerians are not waiting for any person but will take decisions on their own.
Senator Kwankwaso also stormed Asaba, the Delta State capital, yesterday for his campaign where he met with the Asagba of Asaba, HRM Obi (Prof.) Chike Edozie, at his palace and solicited the blessings and support of the revered monarch.
HRM Obi (Prof.) Edozie, who welcomed Kwankwaso to his palace, also prayed for him and members of his entourage.
He, however, advised him to go on with his campaign like other parties in a peaceful manner.
He also commissioned the campaign office of Hon. Onochie Anthony Ochie in Ogwashi-Uku, where he urged the people to reject the PDP and APC and vote for NNPP candidates across board.
Meanwhile, a gale of defections has hit the Gombe State chapter of PDP as some of its chieftains leave the party for the NNPP.
The auditor of the PDP in Gombe Local Government of the state, Mahmud Mohammed Wafa, has defected to the NNPP.
Wafa defected alongside a former chairman of the party in Funakaye LGA, Abubakar Kari Bajoga, and the financial secretary of Dukku LGA, Bakari Umaru Bawa.
The trio announced their defection after meeting with the governorship candidate of the NNPP in the state, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki, at his residence.
Similarly, three political allies of former PDP stalwart in the state, Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna, have announced their defection to the NNPP.
The trio of Ibrahim Adamu, Sani Garba Anaruwa and Auwal Chiburos, who were former political aides to both Gwamna and former Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, have ditched the PDP after meeting the NNPP’s governorship candidate, Mailantarki.
From Usman A. Bello (Benin), Meluwa Kelvin (Asaba) & Haruna Gimba Yaya (Gombe)
