Northern pastors and the Kwankwaso phenomenon
Known for his adroit and intelligent calculations as a politician worth his salt, the immediate past governor of Kano State and serving senator, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who is the grand commander of the Kwankwasiyya movement in Nigeria, can be said to belong to the elitist ruling class in Nigeria’s political history.
Undoubtedly, he rose to stardom, courtesy of his ability to weather every political storm. He is known to have withstood the bad taste of graveyard humour anytime his political foes put him on the defensive, a rare courageous trait that made his loyalists, admirers and friends to see him as a spitting image of a potential presidential material. He possesses the ability to call the shots as a good leader.
He is widely known as a leader who commands grassroots loyalty and admiration. He is a true champion of the masses whose innate desire is to use taxpayers’ money to serve humanity. This is at a time when politicians like him are only interested in amassing wealth through public fund.
What made him to stand tall among his peers is his effrontery to call the bluff of those who believed they could drag his reputation in the mud. They forgot the fact that he is strong-willed and a man of the people to the core. Many of his contemporaries know that even his enemies cannot successfully work against him because he knows how to play his card very well.
Clearly, he is one of the few politicians in Nigeria who would want to make a positive difference. And he is not one of those who will run from pillar to post for political relevance as he has already built a solid political foundation for himself across the country. In the quest to reposition the country, Senator Kwankwaso is becoming a phenomenon. He identifies with people of diverse religious and ethnic affiliations.
The recent visit to him by the Northern States Pastors Forum is a clear indication that he is not a religious fanatic. As pointed out by the spokesman
Clearly, he is one of the few politicians in Nigeria who would want to make a positive difference. And he is not one of those who will run from pillar to post for political relevance as he has already built a solid political foundation for himself across the country
of the group, Archbishop David, the pastors decided to extend a hand of fellowship to the senator because he has demonstrated an unbiased commitment towards addressing the knotty issues of religion, ethnicity and all forms of discrimination.
According to David, Nigeria’s problems, such as poverty, illiteracy etc, require the swift intervention of people like him. He has variously demonstrated the ability to successfully tackle the numerous challenges bedeviling this country, to the envy of his ardent critics.
He said the courtesy visit was borne out of their belief that Kwankwaso can successfully intervene and solve the myriad of challenges militating against the unity of the North and the country in general.
The historic visit, no doubt, opened a new vista of hope and optimism that northern Nigeria, and indeed, the entire country would soon be a peaceful place. There has been a persistent clamour for paradigm shift and the former governor of Kano State knows the right path to take.
Congratulating Nigerians at the safe return of President Muhammadu Buhari to the country after a successful medical trip to London, Senator Kwankwaso urged them to believe in the success of the Nigerian project. He also thanked Nigerians for their prayers and moral support while the president was away. He thanked Allah for bringing the president back hale and hearty.
Describing Nigerians as “wonderful people who have a very high degree of patriotism,’’ he called for continuous prayers for the nation and its leaders, saying that a society is only as good as its leaders.