Nazifi Dawud

Rabiu Sulaiman Bichi, the immediate past chairman of the Peoples Democratic  Party (PDP) in Kano state, has formalized his divorce with the opposition party by launching a stinging attack on his former boss–Rabiu Musa Kwankwakso and his Kwankwasiyya movement.

Mr Bichi, had left the PDP and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday– just two days after the Supreme Court dismissed a petition filed by the state governorship candidate Abba Yusuf, challenging the victory of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje in the 2019 election.

A former commissioner and secretary to the state government, Mr Bichi was one of the staunch loyalists of Mr Kwankwaso for more than a decade.

KANO FOCUS reports that the former PDP chairman defected from the party alongside Binta Rabiu Spikin, Mr Kwankwaso’s spokesperson and Tijjani Dambazau, leader of the youth wing of Kwankwasiyya movement in the state.

In a ceremony held at the Kano Government House to receive the defectors, Mr Bichi offered his head for Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to remove his red cap–a gesture that symbolizes his exit from both the PDP and Kwankwasiyya movement.

“We are today answering the call of President Muhammadu Buhari and governor Abdullahi Ganduje for an inclusive government,” Mr Bichi declared in his speech, according to a statement by Abba Anwar, the governor’s chief press secretary.

“We believe in governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s genuine commitment in developing our dear state, that was why when he invited all other opposition elements to come and join hands with him in moving the state forward we have resolved to come forward and contribute in developing the state,” he added.

‘Kwankwaso has derailed’

Explaining his reason for defecting, the former opposition leader said he answered Mr Ganduje’s call on opposition members to join his government, adding that “something is fundamentally wrong with the Kwankwasiyya movement.”

“Myself and His Excellency governor Ganduje were the brains behind the formation and nurturing of Kwankwasiyya group within the larger PDP family then.

“We grew it up and we used our intellect to make it what it is today. So when we abandoned that, it is a clear indication that there is something fundamentally wrong with it. Other followers, who are yet to grasp the reality should take serious note. Former governor Kwankwaso has derailed completely,” Mr Bichi said.

In his response, Mr Ganduje assured the PDP defectors of his resolve to carry them along in the development of the state.

The governor, also accused Mr Kwankwaso of selfishness in their relationship, boasting that  “I am the Encyclopedia and Dictionary of knowing Kwankwaso.”

“For this, I cannot compare him with anybody in terms of self-centredness. He knows nobody but himself, in whatever he is doing,” Mr Ganduje added.

He also alleged that the former governor’s “great ordeal” is to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

“This was what informed all his decisions in cross carpeting to different political parties at different intervals. We are aware of his plan to now come back to APC, our great party.

“Because he thinks he has a chance when President Muhammadu Buhari completes his second tenure come 2023. So we are all watching him and we are waiting for him,” the governor said.