2023: NNPP Speaks On Kwankwaso Being An Ethnic Bigot

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has refuted claims that its 2023 presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, is an ethnic bigot.

Naija News reports that Kwankwaso was labelled an ethnic bigot following his statement in Gombe State last weekend while inaugurating the Gombe State Executive of the party in which he was quoted to have said the Igbos were good business people but poor politicians.

The NNPP in his defence stated that Kwankwanso’s comment on Ndigbo and people of the South-East was misrepresented and taken out of context.

This was disclosed in a Sallah message on Saturday issued by the National publicity secretary, Agbo Major, at the party secretariat in Abuja.

Agbo emphasised that Kwankwaso has deep-seated respect for the people of the South-East and all Nigerians, adding that the party’s presidential candidate will never speak less of any ethnic group or religion.

He added that the NNPP was founded by an illustrious son of Ndigbo, Dr Boniface Aniebunam, who was also the pioneer National Chairman and currently the Chairman of its Board of Trustees.

“Kwankwaso’s recent comments on the good people of South-East were misunderstood and taken out of context. He is a man of honour who loves all Nigerians passionately and desires to serve them as president if voted into office.

“The state of the nation is bad and calls for patriotism by all Nigerians to confront multifarious challenges bedevilling the country. NNPP urges eligible voters to take advantage of the extension of the INEC voter registration to register and obtain their permanent voter cards and ensure they vote for New Nigeria People’s Party candidates in all elections.

“The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) congratulates the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebrations. The party enjoins Muslims to imbibe the virtues of love, sacrifice and tolerance which the occasion signifies,” he said.

According to the statement, the NNPP said that Kwankwaso will end the numerous regional and sectarian agitations facing the country if he wins the 2023 presidency.

Until their arrests, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu and Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday “Igboho’ Adeyemo had been leading the agitations for secession.

Kanu is presently in the custody of the Department of State Services after he was rearrested and repatriated from Kenya while Igboho, who had been released on bail is still undergoing legal proceedings in Benin Republic.

Agbo said, “The party is optimistic that various agitations in all zones in Nigeria will be a thing of the past if a progressive and transformative leader like Kwankwaso is elected president of Nigeria.

“This is our chance to correct the mistakes made in previous elections. A new Nigeria beckons. Together, we will restore the nation’s glory and prosperity as the great arsenal of democracy in Africa.”