By Christiana Ekpa
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Air Force, Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, has called out Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso for what he described as “hypocritical and entitled” comments on the defection of prominent New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) members to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement issued during the weekend, Rurum, who represents the Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya Federal Constituency, criticized the former Kano governor for accusing defectors of committing a “political sin,” noting that Kwankwaso himself has a long history of switching political parties.
“This is someone who defected from the PDP to the APC in 2015, returned to the PDP in 2018, and then moved to the NNPP in 2022,” Rurum stated.
“If switching parties is a sin, then Kwankwaso himself has a lot to confess.”
The lawmaker was responding to comments made by Kwankwaso during a political meeting at his Miller Road residence in Kano, where he condemned the recent wave of defections from the NNPP to the APC.
Rurum said the decision by himself and other high-profile politicians including Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, Hon. Sha’aban Ibrahim Sharada, Hon. Nura Dankadai, Hon. Badamasi Ayuba Dambatta, and several others to join the APC was informed by “prevailing political realities and the need to serve our people better.”
“We are not political ornaments who exist for social media hype or cult followership,” he said.
“We are grassroots politicians who earned our mandates through years of service, sacrifice, and community engagement.”
He further accused Kwankwaso of distorting facts and weaponizing political commentary for personal gain.
“In a democracy, disagreements are normal. But distortion of facts and personal attacks under the guise of political commentary must not go unchallenged,” he added.
Rurum also claimed that while Kwankwaso criticizes others for aligning with the APC, he had himself sought political favours in France last year.
“He was seen lobbying for relevance not in the interest of Kano people, but for his own political survival,” he said.
On the impact of their defection, Rurum said it has already yielded results.
“Since we joined the APC, we have attracted projects to our constituencies in education, agriculture, and infrastructure. These are tangible benefits, not just empty political slogans,” he noted.
Rurum concluded by warning that the political landscape in Kano is changing, and no single individual can dictate its direction anymore.
“That’s not leadership; that’s entitlement. The era of one man controlling Kano politics is over,” he declared.
He urged supporters to remain focused on service delivery rather than political drama.
“Politics should not be reduced to battles of ego or blind loyalty to personalities. It must remain a tool for development, justice, and a better life for all,” Rurum said.
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