The internal crisis rocking the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) escalated on Monday after the Senator representing Kano Central, Rufai Sani Hanga, described the reported plan by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a deep betrayal.
Speaking in Hausa, Hanga who is the only NNPP Senator from Kano, warned that Kano people have never supported leaders who turn against those who helped them rise.
He said those encouraging the governor to move to the APC do not have his best interests at heart.
“In truth, all those gathering to call on Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to join the APC are not his friends,” Hanga said.
“Anyone who truly loves him would not ask Abba to betray the people of Kano, the North, and Nigeria especially at this time of fuel subsidy removal and new tax reforms.”
The Senator also reminded the governor of his long political relationship with NNPP leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, stressing that Abba Yusuf’s political rise was built under his mentorship.
“Anyone who loves Abba would not ask him to be ungrateful to Kwankwaso” Hanga stated.
“He mentored him from when he ‘had no teeth’ until he became what he is today… Is he so desperate for a position that he would allow everyone to perish?”
Hanga warned that defecting to the APC would not sit well with Kano voters, whom he said value loyalty.
He dismissed claims that Kwankwaso might secretly support the move, describing such reports as “theatre”.
“In Kano, we don’t cheer for betrayal; we pity the betrayed. You cannot betray someone and impress the people of Kano. If I see Abba, I will advise him to punish everyone seeking for him to betray Kwankwaso,” he said.
Reaffirming his own loyalty, the senator added: “I am with Kwankwaso 1,000%, until death. No elected official would be as foolish right now as those planning to join the APC.”
The fresh warning comes hours after the NNPP chairman in Kano, Hashim Dungurawa, publicly appealed to Governor Yusuf to remain in the party, admitting that holding the party together had become difficult.
