Rabiu Kwankwaso at Chatham House
Dr. Babayo Liman, the former North-East Zonal Secretary of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), stated on Sunday that the NNPP and its presidential candidate, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, lack the structure and capacity to govern Nigeria. Liman made this announcement during a press conference in Jalingo, Taraba State, where he addressed his supporters and revealed his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in order to support Atiku Abubakar in the upcoming presidential election on February 25.
Liman expressed his belief that the NNPP does not possess the necessary framework to win elections, emphasizing that he views the PDP as a viable vehicle to address the numerous challenges facing the nation. He highlighted that the PDP, along with Atiku, has an established structure capable of securing electoral victories. He pointed out that Atiku was part of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, which achieved significant milestones. For example, during the PDP’s tenure, insecurity was confined to only three states, whereas it has now spread across the country. Liman noted that poverty levels were also lower at that time, which is why he is supporting Atiku.
Furthermore, Liman criticized Kwankwaso’s ability to meet the needs and aspirations of Nigerians. He questioned how Kwankwaso could manage a country of over 200 million people when he struggled to resolve internal conflicts within the NNPP, which has only 30 executives. He remarked that among the party executives, only four were actively engaged, while the others were virtually absent, raising doubts about the party’s capability to win elections.
As part of his tradition, Liman felt it was essential to inform his supporters about his defection and future plans. When asked when he realized that the NNPP and Kwankwaso were not the solutions for Nigeria, Liman explained that Kwankwaso had initially attracted them to the party due to their popularity and support base in the region. However, Kwankwaso’s failure to address internal party issues was a clear sign that he was unprepared to lead the nation.
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