President Goodluck Jonathan and Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso seem to be emerging as political arch rivals of sorts as the political cold war between them continues to accelerate.
The President found it no difficult task to take shots at Kwankwaso, accusing him of several wrongdoings, including mismanaging N225 billion in local government funds, embezzling his (Jonathan’s) 2011 campaign funds and name called the Kano Governor, describing him as unintelligent.
Jonathan speaking at the rally, said: “Some of you will ask that why is it that today, your President is not wearing the PDP attire; I decided to appear this way because there is somebody here in Kano who has been campaigning that the person wearing this bowler hat is a devil.
“I am here to tell you briefly what the Federal Government has done for Kano people and I want you to ask yourself whether such a person who has been able to do all these things for you is a devil.
“The Federal Government has taken Kano as a major focus of its agricultural transformation agenda. Kano farmers are benefiting from the Federal Government Growth Enhancement Scheme.
“In the last two years, 760,000 farmers have benefited from the Federal Government’s subsidised fertiliser programme and free improved seeds for maize and rice.”
Jonathan said, “First, we read in some of the newspapers that the governor of Kano State, Kwankwaso said he regretted voting for me.
“Let me tell my good people of Kano that Kwankwaso did not vote for me and the Vice President whether in the primary or the main election.
“We accommodate a lot, we know so much but we talk less. Those of you from Kano in PDP, you knew what happened that when we entered that Eagles Square, by the time the counting got half way and when it was clear that I was to emerge as the candidate, Kwankwaso left the venue.
“If Kwakwanso had voted for me, he would have stayed to celebrate with me with the other governors.
“Even the little money that my campaign office provided for refreshment of the Kano delegates and for their transport, Kwakwanso refused to give to the delegates.
“He did that so that the Kano delegates will be angry and they will not vote for me.
“Even for the main election, the little money the campaign office sent to Kano State to facilitate the movement of people, Kwakwanso refused to give the money to anybody. How can Kwankwaso tell people that he voted for me?”
On the N225 billion local government funds, Jonathan said, “Kano people should call all the 44 local government chairmen in the state and ask them what they have done in Kano State from June 2011 when we came into office till today that they have received N255.342bn.
“This money is over one quarter trillion naira. This amount of money is the one local government chairmen and councillors are supposed to use, somebody take this money and is spending it.”
The President had nothing short of praise for Shekarau.
“You all know Shekarau very well. He is the man of the people. When he was a governor, he was a member of the ANPP, I visited him two or three times as a Vice President of the PDP; but because Shekarau is a Nigerian, a well-learned man, an intelligent man, he received me on all the occasions I came here.
“This is the kind of person that Kano needs to project and follow. We thank Shekarau for joining the PDP today. He is fully welcomed and integrated into the party.”