Our attention has been drawn to an interview granted by Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State, in which he made these strange, unfortunate and unstatesmanlike remarks: “The vultures I was referring to are the three governors who were present at the President’s Kano visit and Godswill Akpabio is one of them. He wants to be anointed presidential candidate if Jonathan fails to get the ticket, while between the remaining two, one would be made the vice president and other, secretary to the federation.”

We are pained to note that Governor Kwankwaso, now an APC Governor, could descend so low as to describe his colleagues in the PDP, as vultures. The language is pitiable coming from a supposed “Excellency” and a supposed custodian of the public trust.

The signs of a troubled soul first emerged when “Excellency” Kwankwaso displayed disdain and contempt for the person and office of the President, His Excellency Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, at various fora, and this culminated in his leading cleaners from Kano Government House to the venue of the last PDP rally at Kano to “sweep away the footsteps of President Jonathan and the PDP leadership.” He forgot that the PDP provided the platform upon which he contested and was elected Governor of Kano State in 2011.

His grouse appears to be that His Excellency, Governor Akpabio, was in Kano State for the PDP rally. For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Godswill Akpabio was in Kano State not only as a loyal party man but in his capacity as the Chairman of the PDP Governor’s Forum, a member of the Board of Trustees of the PDP and a member of the National Caucus PDP. He was there to join in welcoming the eminent former Governor of Kano State, His Excellency, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, and other top notchers in Kano State to the PDP fold.

Governor Akpabio has consistently expressed his love for the unity and progress of Nigeria, and his belief that the success of President Goodluck Jonathan is the success of Nigeria. Governor Akpabio has also maintained that if President Goodluck Jonathan were to fail (God forbid), it would be a failure of Nigeria as a country. In the same vein, he has always urged politicians to distinguish between politics and the future, survival and unity of Nigeria.

Curiously one notes that Governor Kwankwaso has inadvertently let the cat out of the bag concerning the mischievous rumour and lie that Governor Akpabio is interested in the Presidency. Governor Kwankwaso confirmed in the interview that it was APC’s orchestrated propaganda carefully planted and nurtured by the APC to blackmail Governor Akpabio and create bad blood and disaffection within the PDP.

Governor Akpabio does not definitely need Kwankwaso to declare his (Akpabio’s) political ambition for him. Governor Akpabio has expressed his interest in the Senate in 2015 and support for President Jonathan in 2015. Governor Kwankwanso should rather desist from fulminating against his colleagues, and hold a seminar to explain to Nigerians why insecurity and Boko Haram, which are threats to Nigeria’s survival, are prevalent in APC states. He should tell Nigerians why all the three states, which a state of emergency has been declared because of terrorism, are APC states.

PDP Governors have vowed to support the unity and progress of Nigeria. They hold Governor Kwankwaso and the good people of Kano State in high esteem and wish Kwankwaso success in all his endeavours, particularly his politics of hate for other Nigerians.

Let Kwankwaswo, however, note that PDP Governors would not descend into the abyss of blackmail politics which Governor Kwankwaso is wallowing in. Such politics of blackmail is what destroyed the First Republic, and noble men who love this country have risen to save this country from such evil and undemocratic tendencies.

•Pastor Anietie Ukpe is Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. Photo shows Governor Kwankwaso.

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