The national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has criticized the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government for handing over the distribution of rice palliatives in Kano State to an All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart.
In a statement posted on his official X handle on Monday, Kwankwaso expressed his disappointment at the development, describing it as a “gross insult to our constitutional democracy and driving partisanship too far”.
Kwankwaso noted that unlike other states, the Federal Government sidelined the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, in the distribution of palliatives. He stated, “The distribution of the palliatives to 35 states all through their Governors, except Kano State in the whole federation… Kano’s share was handed over to APC stalwarts to handle.” This, he argued, was a deliberate attempt to undermine the authority of the state governor and the democratic process.
The NNPP leader called on President Tinubu to “immediately halt this naked derailment of democracy”. He emphasized that the distribution of palliatives should be done through the appropriate channels, which in this case, is the state governor. By bypassing the governor, the federal government has created an unnecessary controversy and undermined the principles of democracy.
Kwankwaso’s statement has sparked a debate on the role of politics in the distribution of palliatives and the need for transparency and accountability in governance. The development has also raised questions about the relationship between the federal government and state governors, particularly those from opposition parties. As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the federal government will respond to Kwankwaso’s criticism and the concerns of the Kano State Governor.
