A chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Asiwaju Moshood Shittu, has urged Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to exercise caution before making any political alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning against a repeat of the mistakes made in 2014 and 2015.
Shittu emphasized that the hurried coalition formed in 2014 was primarily aimed at removing former President Goodluck Jonathan, without thoroughly evaluating the leadership qualities of his successor, Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, that decision turned out to be a regrettable one, as it failed to deliver the expected improvements in governance.
“The error of 2014 and 2015 should not be repeated. Back then, the only objective was to ensure Jonathan stepped down, without properly assessing who would take over. Kwankwaso must not fall into the same trap in 2027. Before forming any alliance, he must carefully study the quality of the candidate and the team that intends to govern,” he said.
Shittu, a former National Chairman of the defunct Alliance National Party (ANP) and Director-General (North) of Kwankwaso’s 2023 presidential campaign, cautioned against making hasty political moves.
He went on to praise Kwankwaso’s political experience, highlighting his tenure as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1992 and his in-depth understanding of governance.
“Governance is not just about criticizing or blackmailing the government; it requires patience and a clear strategy. Kwankwaso understands the legislative process, and I appreciate how he has taken his time rather than outrightly condemning the current government without due process.”
He further criticized how decisions are sometimes rushed in Nigeria’s political space, citing instances in the Senate where proper voting procedures were not followed, yet conclusions were drawn based on popular sentiment.
“At least, a government should be allowed to prove itself within two years. If by then they have done nothing meaningful to improve the standard of living, then it becomes clear they are not competent,” he added.
Reflecting on Buhari’s presidency, Shittu pointed out that many Nigerians later realized that Buhari was “even worse than Jonathan” because due diligence was not carried out before forming alliances that brought him to power.
He stressed that Kwankwaso should avoid making a similar mistake by ensuring any political partnership is based on a solid evaluation of potential leaders, rather than just the desire to remove the current administration.
“Kwankwaso must be very careful about whom he aligns with for 2027. He should take his time, study all options critically, and not rush into any decision that could lead to regrets,” he concluded.
Shittu’s statement comes amid ongoing political realignments within the opposition as they strategize to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next election.
