By Victor Emeruwa
When the chase for New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential flag bearer, former Kano state governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso began, I knew it was a pointless venture. Kwankwaso at the moment is a man surrounded by facade popularity, he is made to be seen as one holding the ace for the North; without Kwankwaso you cannot win the North; so they say.
It is yet to be seen how Kwankwaso can galvanise the entire North West; a region with other so-called political heavy weights. It will be a battle ground for All Progressive Congress ( APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the NNPP, that is the basic calculation but the ‘OBIdient’ movement is also seizing the attention of the northern youth, young people, tired to be used and dumped by politicians.
The North is indeed rising; the voting pattern for the 2023 election will be a major alteration from the old order. Peter Obi does not need Rabiu Kwankwaso to win required 25 percent from the region; he needs a younger person with clean slate, a grassroots mobliser preferably from the northwest. This is better than picking from the already established politicians who are seen as same of the same. Kwankwanso movement I dare say is far too over rated, though he has a crowd of red cap followers, there are a huge reserve of voters who do not believe in his political ideology.
Forging a People’s Alliance
Nigeria is currently bedeviled with two monster challenges; a weak economy and severe insecurity. Peter Obi, if elected will have to deal with the issues with same tenacity; both issues will have to serve equal priority. While Obi is strong on the economy, he has to find a fix for the already compromised security system in the country. One of the challenges of the current security system in Nigeria is the infiltration of politics, religion and ethnicity. The security system need purging and such cleansing only a man who understands the rot can undertake.
In finding the right pick to deal with security system while Obi battles to stabilize the economy, Obi must seriously look the way of Hamza Al Mustapha, a retired Army Major and profoundly experienced and results driven intelligence official. If I am in a position to counsel Peter Obi, I will ask him to immediately hold talks with Action Alliance candidate, Hamza Mustapha, the partnership will be the right match that will fix the economy and security puzzle.
