Kwankwaso's team hits back at Kano state authorities amid allegations of ties to Tinubu

The Kwankwasiyya Movement has vehemently denied allegations that former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is secretly backing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections, labeling such claims as baseless and politically motivated.

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These allegations surfaced after Sanusi Bature, the director general of media and publicity at the Kano State Government House, suggested during a Wednesday interview on Arise TV that Kwankwaso's actions could ultimately benefit President Tinubu.

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Bature stated, "There are those who are working for Tinubu openly in the public space, and there are also those who can work for Tinubu behind the scene," and further noted, "I believe whatever Kwankwaso is doing will favour Tinubu at the end of it because Kwankwaso has worked for Tinubu in 2023."

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In response to these claims, Habeeb Saleh Mohammed, the spokesperson for the Kwankwasiyya Movement, dismissed the allegations in an exclusive interview with Vanguard on Wednesday, asserting that they were a deliberate attempt to undermine Kwankwaso's influence in politics.

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According to Habeeb, the accusations were nothing more than a desperate ploy to create false narratives, saying, "What Sanusi Bature and the state government are trying to do is nothing short of desperation to discredit us and to create narratives they know are not true."

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Habeeb emphasized that Kwankwaso has consistently been transparent and forthright in his political dealings, insisting that there are no covert arrangements with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

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He highlighted Kwankwaso's openness, stating, "My principal has always been a very frank person, very clear about where he is going and what he is doing, he is not somebody that plays under-deal politics."

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Habeeb also categorically denied any suggestions of an alliance or clandestine engagement with the APC ahead of the 2027 elections, saying, "At any point in time, we have never reached out to APC, if they have any evidence, they should bring it forward."

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He noted that Kwankwaso's only known interaction with President Tinubu was a public encounter that took place about three years ago, saying, "My principal has never had any encounter aside from the one he had with the president about three years ago."

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Habeeb accused the government spokesperson of attempting to manipulate public perception, arguing that such claims were designed to diminish Kwankwaso's growing popularity in the Nigerian Democratic Congress.

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He described these statements as a ploy to weaken Kwankwaso's influence, saying, "These statements are only meant to diminish his popularity and throw doubt into people’s minds, but we are used to this kind of political game."

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Habeeb urged Nigerians to critically evaluate such claims, stating, "Many things are being said and attributed, and if you (Bature) could play it better, you would have also hired somebody not Bature, who represents a government that is doing everything possible to justify their betrayal, justify their defection, and justify their relationship with the present administration."

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Habeeb emphasized the need for Nigerians to scrutinize these allegations, saying, "I think, beyond everything else, Nigerians have a reason to interrogate these claims if they so wish and to establish the facts as to whether they are true or false."

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Ultimately, Habeeb expressed the movement's decision not to engage with these claims further, stating, "So, naturally, we do not want to join issues on this matter, we have already moved on, we have already taken a clear political direction not only against the ruling party and the present administration but also a journey we are very optimistic will help Nigeria get to the right place."