Why Kano Governor May Dump NNPP For APC — Aide

The Kano State Government has explained the rationale behind the speculations that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf may defect from the New Nigeria Peoples Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking on LaunchTime Politics on Channels Television on Tuesday, the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature, said the state’s long history in opposition politics had brought little tangible benefit to its development.

Bature said, “If we go to the history of Kano and Nigerian politics, Kano has been in a complete opposition or in an eternal opposition with the centre.

“If you look at the trajectory and history, what has Kano benefited from being in opposition? During Shagari, Kano was in opposition. At some point during Obasanjo, Kano was in opposition; during Jonathan, Kano was in eternal opposition. So what has Kano benefited from being in a different pathway from the centre?”

According to him, the question of what Kano stands to gain from remaining outside the ruling party is central to any political decision the governor may take.

“That’s a fundamental question we need to answer before any decision is taken,” he said.

Bature also played down reports linking recent engagements between the governor and the Presidency to partisan politics, insisting that development concerns were paramount.

“At the moment, the rumours might be clear about the visit to the President. The visit is not mainly political but for development discussion and also a briefing on the current realities in the state,” he added.