Crisis in Kwankwasiyya movement, as Kwankwaso plans defection ahead of 2023

The Kwankwasiyya movement in Kano is facing a serious internal crisis among its members in the last few weeks.

This is coming after one of its stakeholders and leaders in Kano distributed food items worth millions of naira as part of Ramadan Palliatives to its members.

A close aide of Kwankwaso Sanusi Surajo was seen in a video that went viral accusing another strong member of the movement of trying to disunite the movement because of his ambition against Abba Kabir Yusuf, a governorship anointed candidate of PDP in the 2019 poll.

Sanusi Surajo reiterated that they will no longer accept any candidate other than Abba Kabir Yusuf calling on the memeber to forget about his ambition or walk out of the movement.

“Even Kwankwaso cannot change Abba for us, if you’re not going to support Abba is better you walk out of the movement or defect from the party.

Abba has gotten the support of the people, he was accepted by the people, we can’t change him but we know that he’s doing all these to sabotage Kwankwaso but God is seeing them and they will not succeed.

Kwankwaso has supported them, he made them who they are, these are people that cannot win election in their polling units”. Sanusi said.

Read Also:PDP denies suspension of Kwankwaso, Babangida Aliyu

Though he refused to mention the name, many strong members believed that he’s directing it at Dr Yunusa Dangwani, a former Chief of Staff to Kwankwaso and Commissioner of water resources when he was governor for second term.

Dangwani has been on the news since his distribution of Ramadan Palliatives to party members.

He has since been enjoying the support of many Kwankwasiyya stakeholders and members who are openly calling on him to contest for governorship.

It can be seen after the emergence of Sanusi Surajo video where some members of the Kwankwasiyya movement condemn it and call on the party to suspend him as Organising Secretary in the state.

“There is nothing wrong in expressing interest to contest or for your supporters to call on you to contest, that’s the beauty of democracy. This time around, we want democracy to take place, let Kwankwaso change Abba for the good of the party and the movement.

Since his emergence as a candidate for the 2019 governorship under PDP, Abba has been feeling himself, he has no respect for anyone and has been using some members to attack some stakeholders in an effort to frustrate them.

This is why we don’t like Abba, even if he wins, he will keep our leaders aside, he’s not willing to work with them because of his convoluted ego”. A member of the movement who preferred anonymity said.

According to insiders, Yunusa Adamu Dangwani, a Russian trained medical doctor is not the only stakeholder in Kwankwasiyya against Abba Kabir Yusuf, most of the leaders of the movement are supporting his move of giving them freedom against the autocratic leadership style of Kwankwaso for refusing to give the stakeholders upper hand in terms of decision making.

According to POLITICS DIGEST, some stakeholders have protested the decision of Kwankwaso to bring Mohammed Yusuf Jamo as North-West zonal vice chairman of PDP and Mustapha Alkassim Dan Hajiya as Ex-officio.

According to a close aide of Kwankwaso who preferred anonymity, Kwankwaso singlehandedly brought the duo without proper consultation of his team members.

“This is what Tinubu will not do to his people, while others are building bridges at a national level, he’s busy with Kano politics and unfortunately he is not carrying his people along”.

The source said that Kwankwaso is ready to dump the PDP if he fails to secure the seat of the Zonal Vice Chairman of the party for his man.

“He has even bragged of that, he can be seen dining with Tinubu any moment if his interest is not going to be accepted in the party”. The source said.

When contacted one of the close associates of the former governor about whether they are ready to join him in dumping the party, he said No and many of his people will not follow him if he makes that decision.

Among members of the Kwankwasiyya that are against the candidature of Abba Kabir Yusuf include Aliyu Sani Madaki, Yusuf Bello Dambatta, Barr. Maliki Kuliya, Prof. Umar Farouk Jibril, Danburan Abubakar Nuhu,  Zainab Audu Bako, Lawan Sale Gaya, Garba Ibrahim Diso among many others.

Ahead of the 2019 election, close associates of the former Senator that dumped him like Aminu Dabo, Bala Gwagwarwa, Muaz Magaji and Idris Dambazau did that because of his choice of Abba Kabir Yusuf.

The crisis if not addressed will bring serious damage to the movement and is a wake-up call for the supreme leader Rabiu Kwankwaso to change strategy and adopt the option of carrying all members along.