The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has said the people of the South East were at the bottom line in politics, even though very talented and good in business.
Kwankwaso stated this on Saturday in Gombe State while inaugurating the State office of NNPP.
The former governor also said the people of the South East needed to learn politics, adding that, “in politics, they are at the bottom line”.
Kwankwaso said that his party had been in talks with the Labour Party for a possible merger but that the decision on who would emerge as the presidential candidate between him and Obi had hindered the progress of the talks.
He said:
“From the discussion with Labour Party, the main issue was who becomes the president if the parties merge.
“At the end of the day, some of our representatives thought that there should be criteria in terms of age, qualification, offices held, performance and so on.
“Of course, the other side wouldn’t want that. Most of the people from there believe that presidency has to go there (South-East).
“If now I decide to be vice presidential candidate to anybody in this country; NNPP will collapse because the party is based on what we have built in the last 30 years.
“I served for 17 years as a civil servant; we are talking of 47 years of very serious hard work that is what is rarely holding NNPP now”.
Kwankwaso said the South-East had lost out on the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but had a chance with the NNPP, PM News reports.
According to him, some people are saying “even if my friend (Peter Obi) wants to accept vice presidential candidate, some people in the South East will not accept”. He described that as “not strategic.”
According to Kwankwaso, the best option left for the South-East is to partner with NNPP, describing it as “a golden opportunity”.
“If they lose it, it will be a disaster,” he added.
On the chances of the NNPP in the 2023 elections, Kwankwaso said his party had the structure, organisation and population across the country to contest and win elections.
