After a critical analysis of the governance question and structures in the country, which have allegedly culminated in Nigeria being described as the poverty capital of the world, the presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Political Party (NNPP), Dr Rabiu Kwakwanso, has declared that the problem with the country was with the failure of leadership as opposed
to laws, policies and the implementation of subsisting guidelines.
He said those consistently campaigning for the discard of the 1999 Constitution were too far from proffering solutions to recurring problems in the nation.
Kwakwanso, a two-time governor of Kano State said the much-taunted issue of restructuring may not hold the answer in resolving the myriad of problems bedeviling the country, adding that “restructuring is absolutely nothing without good leadership”.
It was consequent upon these that he urged Nigerians to vote for him in the forthcoming general election, promising to partner with all stakeholders in the Nigerian project more successful even as he said no region of the country would be made to appear as an outsider.
The NNPP presidential hopeful spoke yesterday at a town hall meeting organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors as part of a build-up to exposing candidates to the electorate.
He was accompanied to the event held at Protea Hotel in Ikeja by the Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), High Chief Boniface Aniebonam
Presenting facts and figures including his score card as governor, Senator, Minister and federal civil servant as empirical evidence while he should be elected as Nigeria’s president in the 2023 general election, Kwakwanso explained that those clamouring for restructuring without emphasizing more on the character, calibre and capacity of those aspiring to lead were being deceptive.
“We will be open to discussing restructuring where Nigerians will say what exactly they want but we must learn to trust and to choose who do the right thing. We must do the right thing; doing the wrong thing is responsible for all the problems in the country. I am happy that people are no longer talking about party, they are now talking about candidates. Some candidates are already running away from debates because they have nothing to say or offer. The problem with the country is not with the Constitution but with the people operating the Constitution”, he said.
Presidential candidate of NNPP said he would not step down for any presidential candidate against the backdrop of the fact that poses all the attributes required of a leader under the new dispensation, adding that he is sure to be the next president of the country.
“Those who are saying that are not being fair to any of us (presidential candidates) that we should step down for one another. Now that we have submitted our names and those of our candidates, we can’t talk about stepping down”, Kwankwanso stated.
The former Defence Minister also stated that he was open to restructuring of the country, adding that when elected into power, he will be ready to receive grievances of Nigerians against the state and others.
“We are open to discussions, negotiations and we will make adjustments”, he added.
He was sure of the victory in 2023, saying: “NNPP is out to win in 2023 elections. While other parties’ popularity is coming down, it’s only NNPP that is still gaining momentum.
“Nobody in the North is talking about any other party other than NNPP. They are not talking about the party but the candidate. We are ready to debate with other candidates unlike those shying away from debates”, he said.
On the issue of insecurity, Kwakwanso said that his administration would be willing to recruit about one million additional police officers and another one million men into the army with the view to fortifying the nation’s security architecture.
Answering questions on how he would source for funds to executive his programmes and projects on education, infrastructure including the power sector, he pointed to the need to blocking what he described as leakages in revenue, saying that there is the urgent need for the country to maximize the utilization of her abundant resources.
He accused northern elites for failing to do what is right which is now responsible for the region incubating the highest of the poor in the country.
