Kwankwaso

 Group claims Kwankwaso disrespects and misrepresents the North.

Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso

A group, the Arewa Youths Progressive Alliance, has distanced itself from a remark attributed to Rabiu Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, that electors from the North will only support politicians from the region.

Alhaji Sambo Galadima, the group's spokesman, pointed out that "the North is neither anti-progress nor xenophobic toward other Nigerians."

In a statement issued on Thursday in Kaduna, Galadima claimed that the former governor of Kano State's portrayal of the region was not only insulting to the area but also inaccurate of the genuine nature of the average northern voter.

The NNPP presidential candidate Kwankwaso claimed on Channels TV that the North was retrogressive, but the NNPP spokesman pointed out flaws in that claim.

Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso's statements paint the North as backwards and the typical northern voter as callous and uncaring about the suffering of Nigerians, the high rate of insecurity, and the economic woes plaguing the country, but rather concerned about having 'fellow northerners and fellow Muslims' perpetuate themselves in power.

"Nothing is more false than this. The average Nigerian in the north feels the same level of frustration with the country's governance as the average Nigerian in any part of the country, and they both wish for things to get better and for the most capable and prepared people to take over governance at various levels, including the presidency of the nation, for the benefit of Nigeria, he said.

He continued by saying that the North had never been exempt from the myriad issues plaguing the nation.

Has the North's infrastructure or standard of living improved just because it has a Northerner or Muslim as its leader?

"By presenting ourselves as some insensitive set of people incapable of thinking for ourselves, the former governor of Kano State insults the North. That is untrue. He gives the notion that some elites control our votes and that they will determine how we will vote in each and every election.

We are not slaves, so if that was the case in the past, it is about to change. We have the capacity to fantasize and cling tenaciously to our dreams. We are capable of actively supporting causes and engaging in political endeavors in an independent and  and with the intention of establishing the type of administration that will work in the general interest of Nigerians.

"Over 100,000 Northerners have been slaughtered by terrorists and bandits in the past seven years, and thousands of our daughters, wives, mothers, and sisters have either been raped, kidnapped, or forced into marriage.

"Our harvests haven't been any worse, but our farms are vacant. However, the President is from the North. We supported this Northerner because we thought he had the greatest of intentions and the potential to make things better for everyone in Nigeria, not because he is a Northerner. However, he said, "We are disappointed.

Galadima then gave Nigerians his word that the North would support him.

We wish to reassure our fellow Nigerians that Northern Nigeria is not a slave colony where some elites force us to cast our ballots based on our religious or sectional affiliations. Because, like any responsible citizen, we desire the best interest of our country and we want a brighter future for our children, we will vote for the candidates that hold the best promise to reenergize Nigeria and get her working again.