The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has dismissed allegations that he and the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, are secretly working to aid President Bola Tinubu’s re-election by dividing the opposition, insisting that their alliance is driven solely by a shared vision for national development.
Speaking in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, Kwankwaso described the claims as baseless.
Responding to accusations that their candidacy was designed to weaken the opposition and benefit the ruling party, Kwankwaso invoked a popular Hausa proverb, saying “If the person talking is a fool, then the person listening should be wise.”
He maintained that the NDC, despite being a relatively new political platform, has witnessed rapid growth in membership within a short period.
“We are a new party, but our membership is advancing rapidly. In less than three months, we have attracted many members. Peter Obi and I share similar ideologies and plans for development in education, agriculture, and human capital development,” he said.
Kwankwaso explained that both leaders agreed to work together to bring positive change to Nigeria.
According to him, the partnership was formed to provide an alternative that focuses on welfare and development.
He also sought to downplay reported tensions between supporters of the NDC and those of other opposition figures, particularly former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.
“I have never directed my followers to attack Atiku, neither have I attacked him directly. I am sure he also will not direct his people to attack us. Any issues between the two camps are being incited by a few mischievous people,” he stated.
Addressing criticism over his previous remarks that the office of the vice president is merely a “spare part,” Kwankwaso said Obi had assured him that his administration would assign meaningful responsibilities to the vice president.
“Obi himself publicly declared that he will not just relegate us to the side. There are several responsibilities we will take on for the betterment of the nation, and that is how it should be,” he said.
Kwankwaso further explained that he accepted the vice-presidential slot because of what he described as the need to respect the country’s power-sharing arrangement between the North and the South.
“I agreed to be vice president because it is currently the turn of the South. So, to avoid confusion, we agreed that he should run, and once they are done, the seat will move back to the North,” he said.
When asked whether he believed Obi would honour an alleged agreement to serve only one term before power returns to the North, Kwankwaso expressed confidence in his running mate.
“I believe Peter Obi, as a distinguished gentleman, will keep his word of running for a single term to fulfil the turn of the South, and the presidency will move back to the North,” he added.
