Details of Buhari, Kwankwaso meeting before senator dumped APC

Rabiu Kwankwaso

The details of the meeting between former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso and President Muhammadu Buhari on the eve of his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have emerged.

Others at the meeting were the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Adams Oshiomhole, Governors Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, Kashim Shettima of Borno State and Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State.

According to Daily Nigerian, Oshiomhole opened the discussion with a background of what transpired in his earlier meeting with Kwankwaso and the efforts he was making towards keeping him in the party.

After Oshiomhole’s introduction, the President was said to have assured the lawmaker of his readiness to intervene in his conflict with the governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje.

Buhari also appealed to Kwankwaso to remain in the APC and return to the Senate in 2019.

“We will intervene to ensure that your problem with Ganduje is resolved. There is no need for you leave despite your contributions to the party,” the nation’s leader was quoted as saying.

Responding, Kwankwaso was said to have expressed surprise that the President was downplaying the crisis in the party and his feud with Ganduje.

“First of all, as I earlier told the Chairman, Adams Oshiomole, I have no interest in going back to Senate.

“Mr President, remember that I had audience with you three times on this matter and you failed to take action,” he was quoted as saying.

After his comments, others at the meeting also pleaded with the one-time Minister of Defence not to leave the party. Kwankwaso left without any assurance and defected to the PDP the next day.

On Thursday, a governor on the platform of the APC revealed that he was sad about the exit of Kwankwaso.

It would be recalled that Kwankwaso stayed away from the June APC National Convention but visited former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a PDP stalwart, same day.