A former Governor of Kano State, Senator Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso has joined the 2023 presidential race .
His decision has been long expected.
A former Defence Minister, Kwankaso promised to address insecurity in the nation.
Formerly a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kwankwaso will be going for the ticket of the fledging New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), which he set up two months ago.
It started as a political movement against two major political parties – the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and PDP.
Shortly after obtaining his expression of interest and nomination forms valued at N30 million at the NNPP headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, Kwankwaso said he was “angry with the status quo” because the APC had failed to secure the nation, revamp the economy and unite Nigerians.
He said that he had served the nation in various capacities faithfully under the APC and the PDP, contributing immensely to its growth, but he later realised that both parties lacked clear-cut ideologies.
Kwankwaso affirmed that the NNPP would gain power with the support of Nigerians and stakeholders, regardless of the odds stacked up against it.
He said: “From 1998 to 2014, I was governor of Kano (State) twice, Minister of Defence, and member of the NDDC board representing North-West, but I came to realise that we were together in the PDP for the purposes that the party was formed, that was to get rid of military rule.
“It was later that I realised there were so many differences (within the PDP). The ideology was completely different, and it became so difficult for us to work together.
“In 2015, I became a senator under the APC and worked for the party, believing that they were real progressives. Unfortunately, we realised that the PDP was even better.
“I am angry with the status quo, but for those who are satisfied with the status quo, ranging from insecurity to the issue of economy that is so much in shambles across this country, it is unfortunate that they will continue to be in the ruling party.
“I am happy to say that I have already paid the N30 million to the party for the expression of interest and presidential nomination forms. Let me call on all Nigerians, especially my brothers and sisters who are in this game of politics, to do what I have done, and that is to join the NNPP.
“While we are calling on everyone to join the NNPP, I want to remind Nigerians that this is a progressive party that wants to change the political landscape of the country. I want to tell them that those who really want to serve this country should join hands with us.
“But for those of us who believe in the unity of this country, Nigeria is divided like never before, we are the people who have decided to come together to make sure we have one Nigeria no matter which religion you practice. We have to come together to fight them and make sure Nigeria is returned to peace and modern world economy”.
