Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano and vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), says Hyacinth Alia, governor of Benue, needs to learn more about governance.
Kwankwaso spoke in an interview on Untold Stories with
Adesuwa, published on YouTube on Tuesday.
He was reacting to the incident in which a mob blocked the
convoy of Peter Obi, NDC presidential candidate, while he was attempting to
access Benue state.
Obi had said he was in the state to sympathise with victims
of insecurity, particularly those affected by the 2025 Yelwata massacre.
The Benue government denied prior knowledge of Obi’s visit
and rejected allegations that it sponsored the mob.
Speaking about the incident, Kwankwaso described what
happened as “unfortunate and unnecessary”, adding that some members of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) had expressed anger over the development.
“What happened in Benue was unfortunate and was unnecessary,
and I can tell you I had the opportunity to talk to one or two people on the
side of APC; they were very angry because he, the governor, shouldn’t have done
that,” he said.
Kwankwaso said the incident reflected what he described as a
tendency among governors to stop listening to advice after assuming office.
“You see, the problem of these governors generally is once
you go into government house, you think we have defeated everybody and they are
not looking for any advice,” he said.
‘AKUME BROUGHT HIM FROM THE CHURCH’
He also spoke about Alia’s emergence as governor, recalling
his relationship with George Akume, secretary to the government of the
federation (SGF) and former governor of Benue state.
“My colleague, my brother, who was also a 1999 governor, and
we were in the senate together, now, the SGF. Akume, George Akume, brought him
from the church,” Kwankwaso said.
“I don’t think he was a politician. I never heard his name.”
The former governor of Kano said political experience and
continous learning are important for anyone aspiring to govern a state.
“You see, this tutorship: you can’t just become governor day
one even if you are in politics, even if you are senator, or house of reps,
there are certain things that you will lie low and learn, and then you build
your knowledge, then you become a successful governor, and then you become a
tutor yourself,” he said.
Kwankwaso said governors should learn from the mistakes of
their predecessors and acquire the knowledge required to avoid repeating them.
“While you are doing it, you should avoid the mistakes of
the former governor or governors,” he said.
He added that successful governance requires political
experience and knowledge of the workings of government.
“For you to be a successful governor, you need to be a
successful politician and someone who has learnt something,” Kwankwaso said.
The former governor also said some politicians become
disconnected from reality after assuming office, particularly when they gain
access to large public resources.
“For somebody who came from nowhere and straight to the
government house, he goes there with sirens; billions or trillions now are
coming into the treasury. You think you have finished with everybody,” he said.
The NDC vice-presidential candidate also sympathised with
President Bola Tinubu, saying the political environment governors operate in
today differs from that of 1999.
“And that is why I don’t envy Bola Tinubu, who thought the
governors that we have now are like governors in 1999, where people were in
charge; now they are not in charge; they are just making mistakes, like the one
you just mentioned in Benue,” he said.
When asked if he was referring to Alia, Kwankwaso replied,
“Oh yes, big mistake.”
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