The Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Mohammed Kwankwaso, has called on Nigerian leaders to urgently address the country’s critical challenges or face rejection at the polls come 2027......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
The former governor, who cited his loss in 2003 and Goodluck Jonathan’s defeat in the presidential election in 2015 as examples, admonished leaders to remember that it’s the Nigerian people that will determine if they deserve re-election or not.
Kwankwaso, who was in Abia State to mourn the passing of the state’s first civilian governor, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, made the remarks during a visit to the home of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area (LGA) on Saturday.
Kwankwaso, who noted insecurity, economic instability, and infrastructure deficits—particularly in electricity—as major concerns, remarked, “Everyone recognises that we have significant problems — issues of insecurity, economic challenges, and infrastructure deficits, especially in electricity. Anytime we have an opportunity, we urge those in power to do the right thing. There is nothing to lose in doing what’s right, but almost everything is at stake when the wrong path is taken.
“Many politicians aspire to be ministers, commissioners, governors, or even the president, but it’s unfortunate how some squander these opportunities. Nigerians aren’t asking for too much; I know this from experience. They are good people — north, south, east, or west — with remarkable resilience, which some leaders unfortunately take for granted—a grave mistake in my view.”
Kwankwaso stressed that responsible governance should take precedence over ambitions for a second term, noting that doing the right thing is what “brings you back for a second term. But if you continue down the wrong path, expecting re-election while people suffer, it simply doesn’t work that way.”
He also warned that leadership should not be about planning for the next election, stating, “The people will decide if you’ve done well enough to deserve another term. Many don’t realise that a sitting president or governor can lose an election. If they want to know, they can ask me. I lost in 2003, and Jonathan lost in 2015.”
On insecurity, Kwankwaso expressed concern, saying, “In my region, the situation is dire. People are being picked off and slaughtered like chickens; even traditional rulers, businesspeople, politicians, and ordinary citizens are under siege. People now pay taxes to criminals and bandits who operate freely.”
As a former Minister of Defence, Kwankwaso expressed confidence in Nigeria’s military strength, saying, “Our military is powerful and should not tolerate nonsense. We’ve demonstrated our capabilities, whether in Nigeria or abroad, in places like Sierra Leone and Sudan. We need leaders who truly fear God and take their responsibilities seriously.”
Kwankwaso also commended Governor Otti for his developmental efforts, stating, “I thank him for his good work since taking office in Abia State, and I urge him to continue. Leaders like him are bridge-builders. The good people of Abia and God Himself will continue to support him.”