Northern leaders on Sunday said they were optimistic that Senator Rabiu Kwankwanso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), will eventually step down for Atiku Abubakar, the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Though Kwankwaso, who has a large followership known as ‘Kwankasiyya movement’ in the Northern part of the country, has acknowledged pressure from certain quarters to step down, he has vowed not to withdraw from the race but slug it out with other contestants in the February 25 presidential election.
Late last year, in Lagos, when asked if he will step down in the days ahead, he said, “We are not merging with any political party, and anybody thinking I am stepping down must be mischievous. We have our names already approved by INEC to contest. NNPP is all out to win the 2023 general elections. No serious person should now think of anyone of us stepping down at this stage. I am ready for all candidates for debates.”
Also speaking at Chatham House few days ago, the former Kano State governor said he replied those asking him to step down that he may consider the option if he sees any candidate better than him in terms of experience.
“What I told them is what I will tell you. If anybody wants Kwankwaso to withdraw, just bring criteria and select the best. Anytime I have a better candidate, I am ready to talk to him,” he said.
However, a leading member of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), who spoke with Daily Independent on Sunday, said the leaders are optimistic that a partnership will be brokered between Kwankwaso and Atiku.
According to him, the Northern leaders have agreed that there is a need for the region to forge a common front ahead of the election, especially given the hostility and gang-up against Atiku by the PDP G-5, led by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.
The NEF chieftain, who asked not to be named as he is not authorised to speak on the issue, said eminent retired generals, religious leaders and traditional rulers are all talking with Kwankwaso on the need to collapse his structures for Atiku.
He added that if the North can present a consensus candidate and the Southern votes are shared between Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), Atiku will easily coast home to victory.
“Yes, I can confirm that talks are ongoing. Kwankwaso keeps insisting that he will not step down but we are optimistic that he will listen to the voice of reason especially from our elder statesmen and royal fathers from the North.
“From what we have seen so far, the best we can do in the North is to present consensus candidate. With the popularity of Kwanwaso and Atiku in the North, we believe the presidential election will be a done deal because Atiku already commands appreciable followership in the South. Kwankwaso’s supporters are also in the South too.
“If we can unite in the North by fielding a sole presidential candidate, then the election is as good as won because the Southern presidential candidates will divide the Southern votes. Atiku will also get votes in the South”.
Speaking with Daily Independent, the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Council said Atiku has promised to run a government of national unity and will partner patriotic Nigerians in the mission to rebuild the country from the ruins caused by the APC.
Kola Ologbondiyan, a spokesperson of the campaign council, said “Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has told Nigerians that he will run a government of national unity and that he will operate an open policy. He said if elected, every Nigerian will be carried along.
“So, we have no doubt that many Nigerians are going to work with Atiku in rescuing our nation from the bad governance of APC. He is ready to partner with any of the presidential candidates, including Senator Kwankwaso, in the task of rebuilding Nigeria”.
“So our door is open to anyone who wants to join us in this task of restoring Nigeria’s unity through equity, social justice, mutual collaboration, and consensus among our diverse peoples”.