A senior member of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Saddam Sani Umar, has warned that disloyalty to the movement’s leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, often carries grave political consequences.
Umar, the Kano State welfare secretary of the movement, cited the political misfortune of former Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, as an illustration of what he described as the cost of turning against Kwankwaso.
His comments come amid growing speculation that Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, may be contemplating a defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party to the All Progressives Congress.
Kwankwaso, who is widely seen as Yusuf’s political benefactor, has publicly denied endorsing any plan for the governor to leave the NNPP for the APC.
Speaking in an interview with Daily Trust, Umar said Kwankwaso’s political relevance transcends Kano State, portraying him as a figure with nationwide influence.
He argued that claims suggesting Kwankwaso could be sidelined politically fail to align with historical and political realities.
Umar maintained that past events have consistently shown that those who abandon Kwankwaso ultimately suffer political setbacks.
He recalled that Ganduje’s administration lost the 2019 governorship election, remaining in office only after what he described as a controversial declaration of the poll as inconclusive.
Umar further stated that in 2023, Kwankwaso reaffirmed his political strength by facilitating the emergence of Abba Yusuf as governor, despite the movement lacking councillors within the government structure at the time.
He added that Yusuf had never contested an elective position before then and had spent over 30 years serving as Kwankwaso’s personal aide.
According to Umar, Kwankwaso initially appointed Yusuf as a commissioner and later supported his governorship ambition, insisting it would be unrealistic to assume that Kwankwaso would now be politically eclipsed in Kano State.
He said:
“Kwankwaso is the leader of this movement across Nigeria, not just in Kano. To suggest he will be the loser is to ignore reality.
“Betraying Kwankwaso does not end well; history proves it. Look at the previous administration. Ganduje betrayed Kwankwaso and eventually lost.
“In 2019, they lost the election, save for that controversial ‘inconclusive’ result. By 2023, even without a single councillor in government, Kwankwaso single-handedly brought in Abba Gida Gida.”
