Right of Reply: Kwankwaso Should Look in the Mirror Before Accusing Others of Betrayal.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin kudu.
Northern Bureau Chief
May 9, 2025
It is both ironic and unfortunate that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the self-proclaimed leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and founder of the Kwankwasiyya movement, has taken to the media to label others as “betrayers” for defecting from NNPP to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Coming from a politician whose career has been defined by serial defections, his comments are not only hypocritical but laughable.
Senator Kwankwaso has perfected the art of political cross-carpeting. He left the PDP for the APC when it suited his ambition, only to return to the PDP later, and then abandoned it again to form the NNPP when his presidential dreams hit a dead end. At every turn, his moves were driven not by ideology or principle, but by political expediency.
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For a man who has jumped from party to party whenever the wind of political advantage blows in his favor, it is the height of double standards to accuse others of betrayal simply because they have chosen a different political path. Leadership is not about control or blind loyalty—it is about building consensus, respecting others’ decisions, and providing direction without dictating choices.
Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila and other distinguished politicians who have recently joined the APC did so out of conviction, not compulsion. They have listened to their constituents, assessed the political climate, and made choices they believe are in the best interest of their people and the state.
If anything, the recent defections reflect more on the internal issues within the NNPP than on the individuals leaving. Instead of throwing stones at those who have chosen to move forward, Kwankwaso should take.
We have read with utter surprise the recent comments made by Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), in which he accused Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila and others of betrayal for exercising their democratic right to change political affiliation.
It is rather ironic and deeply hypocritical that Engr. Kwankwaso, a man whose political career has been characterized by frequent and opportunistic defections, would now attempt to moralize about party loyalty. Kwankwaso has moved from PDP to APC, then back to PDP, and eventually to NNPP—all in pursuit of personal political ambition. He has not only normalized cross-carpeting but has also been its chief architect in Kano politics.
Senator Kawu Sumaila and others who recently joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) did so after deep reflection and in response to the yearnings of their constituents. Their decision was not driven by selfish ambition, but by the need to align with a platform that offers a more coherent vision for progress and unity in Kano State and beyond.
It is worth reminding Engr. Kwankwaso that political affiliation is not a life sentence. Leaders must be free to make decisions in the best interest of their people—especially when they see a party deviating from its founding principles or becoming a tool for personal vendettas.
Moreover, Kwankwaso’s assertion that the people would not have voted for those who defected is both arrogant and dismissive of the intelligence of the Kano electorate. These leaders were elected based on their individual credibility, not as mere foot soldiers of any movement or personality cult.
In conclusion, Engr. Kwankwaso would do well to look inward and ask why so many of his close allies continue to leave his side. The pattern speaks volumes. Loyalty must be earned, not imposed.
