A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Musa Iliyasu Kwankwaso, has declared that no amount of blackmail, propaganda, or political scheming will derail President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s chances of securing a second term in office.
Kwankwaso, who currently serves as the Director of Finance at the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, made the remarks while reacting to recent cases of political violence, including the attack on former Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and the disruption of a meeting of African Democratic Congress (ADC) leaders in Kaduna.
On Monday, Malami’s convoy was attacked by thugs in Sokoto, leaving at least 10 vehicles vandalised.
A day earlier, suspected thugs reportedly invaded the venue of an ADC meeting at the NUT Endwell Hotel in Kaduna metropolis, smashing window glasses and pelting participants with chairs.
Kwankwaso dismissed the incidents as deliberate attempts to tarnish President Tinubu’s image and reduce his re-election prospects ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“These accusations of thug attacks on opposition leaders being thrown at the APC are orchestrated plans to blackmail the president ahead of the next election,” he said.
Kwankwaso argued that Tinubu’s leadership had improved security in many troubled regions compared to his predecessor.
“There were many presidents from northern Nigeria before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Recently, Buhari did eight years; but all of a sudden people are talking about bastardizing the north,” he stated.
“We all know what happened under Buhari. The security under Tinubu is fast improving.
The Kaduna-Abuja expressway is safe. Bandits in northwestern states are on the run.
Boko Haram activities have been reduced in the northeast. Thanks to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who is unrelenting.”
Kwankwaso insisted that Tinubu’s development record, particularly in the northern region, would be enough to secure another mandate.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s scorecard will always speak for him. There are many infrastructural projects going on in various parts of the northern region,” he said.
He also noted that northerners had been appointed into key national security positions, including the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.
Kwankwaso maintained that rather than focusing on what he described as “manufactured controversies,” Nigerians should judge Tinubu’s administration by its achievements in security, infrastructure, and national unity.