The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Umar Ganduje has countered his supporters in Kano who are against the defection of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso to the Party.
According to Ganduje, Kwankwaso should be rehabilitated based on the problems that led to his homelessness.
Ganduje spoke following a meeting with APC Leaders from Kano during which the Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Ata openly rejected alleged defection moves by Kwankwaso into the APC.
Ganduje who was once a follower of Kwankwaso and served as his Deputy Governor and Special Assistant when the later served as Minister of Defence, was, however, more welcoming.
He said:
“When a fish is running out of water, that is exactly what is happening. If the water is drying, the fish has to find its way to water. So, that is what is happening. I will not say we are not ready to welcome him.
“When you see your son running to where he would get shelter and you are a big brother in a big home, I think it is morally right to accommodate him. So we cannot say we cannot accommodate him because a friend in need is a friend indeed. Somebody who has been abandoned we should not allow him to wallow in darkness”, Ganduje said.
Earlier, the Minister had revealed that Kwankwaso was no longer a viable political force in Kano.
“Anybody who visits Kano State even today will see that there are a lot of changes. It is hard for you to find red caps in Kano. Before now, if you visit the mosque you will see many red caps but today you can visit a mosque and if 5000 people come for prayers, you cannot see 20 red caps in Kano.
“So we are assuring the President that we are not asking for anything else. We are strongly behind our National Chairman. We have been discussing with him. This is the opinion of all the Kano State APC, even at the grassroots.
“Kwankwaso is no longer relevant in Kano. He is only coming to APC, not that we invited him, because he is going to die politically. I am assuring you, and even Mr. President has all his security records from the grassroots in Kano.