Kwankwaso: LP is built on ethnic sentiment

• Published date: 19 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso yesterday gave reasons why his initial move to form an alliance with the Labour Party(LP) collapsed.

He said he found out midway that the LP was built on hype and ethnic and religious sentiments.

Kwankwaso also said he felt there was no need for him to go ahead with talks on the alliance since he had a better pedigree in politics and education than the LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

He described the LP as Andrew's liver salt, which has started to fizzle ahead of the general election after its initial 'media hype.'

The NNPP candidate also said that President Muhammadu Buhari and the Presidency hold the key to free, fair and credible elections.

Kwankwaso spoke on 'Nigeria's 2023 elections: service delivery and policy alternatives' at the Chatham House, London. The general election commences on February 25.

Asked if he would consider stepping aside and working with Obi since their programmes look like, he took on the questioner, saying he was sure he was from 'a particular part of Nigeria.'

His words: 'The issue of Labour. You see, that is the problem we have. The gentleman that asked the question, I am sure is from a particular part of Nigeria and belongs to a particular group.

'You have a party that is based on ethnicity and religion…. Of course, that is the difference between the Labour Party and our party, which is a national party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party.

'While we are accusing leaders of being one thing or the other negative, the followers must learn how to be Nigerians and not come from one part of the country.

'Let me say that I was one of those that initially wanted to work with the Labour Party. Unfortunately at that time, the Labour Party was under serious media hype and therefore, they could not see reason and are still not seeing reasons.

'Why say that I should withdraw? I wish you did not have to go to that extent. You would have said I should consider working with Labour Party or PDP or APC. People here don't even know what is happening. I want to say that our party, the NNPP is the only growing party in Nigeria today.

'We have seen the maximum any party, especially the Labour Party, can go. To us, it's like Andrew's liver salt. It came with a lot of hype and now, it is coming down. Just take note of it.

'Our party, the NNPP, is the only party that is now getting the support. Forget about the big people who are actually the problem of our country.

'We have succeeded in...