The governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, has secretly met with his godfather, Rabiu Kwankwaso, at his (Kwankwaso’s) Miller Road Residence, Kano on Tuesday.
Following the Kano meeting, the governor jetted to France on Friday to meet with President Bola Tinubu.
DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that the governor sought to see his godfather to make a final push to convince him to join the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, as allegedly directed by the president.
Sources said the governor came to Mr Kwankwaso’s house around midnight alongside a go-between called Sarkin Gobir (not Emir of Gobir) in a private vehicle.
Although sources said the meeting lasted for more than an hour, it is apparent the governor had not succeeded in convincing Mr Kwankwaso to join him.
Addressing a gathering of supporters at his residence a day after the meeting, Mr Kwankwaso declared that he had no price tag.
“First, we know that betrayal is not good. Everybody knows how that party is losing the sympathy of the people, especially with regards to insecurity and the economy.
“People used to say in Nigeria that everyone has a price tag. If you are looking for who has no price tag, come to Rabiu Kwankwaso,” Mr Kwankwaso said.
Sources said the governor’s unprovoked political rebellion faced a major hitch when APC powerbrokers saw the backlash that greeted his decision in Kano.
Although NNPP lawmakers in both the State and National Assemblies as well as local government chairmen are largely defecting to APC alongside the governor, but majority of the grassroots supporters of the party have aligned with Mr Kwankwaso.
“APC leaders are keenly observing what is happening in Kano. The Kwankwasiyya supporters have made a bold and clear statement that they are with Kwankwaso.
“Kwankwaso is gaining sympathy from across the state. If Abba joins APC, Kwankwaso’s candidate may likely get a sympathy vote,” said a source.
Insiders familiar with the governor’s defection plans told this newspaper that the president is still vehement on having Mr Kwankwaso in APC.
“The people’s reaction is the reason why they are making last-minute push to convince Kwankwaso to join him,” said a source.
Sources further told DAILY NIGERIAN that the governor would brief the president about his meeting with his estranged godfather, and then chart a course for the party’s progress after his defection.
Already the top leaders of Kano APC — former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, Deputy President of the Senate Barau Jibrin and the state chairman of APC Abdullahi Abbas, Nasiru Gawuna and Murtala Garo — are back in Nigeria after their end of the year holidays and umrah pilgrimage.
The governor is expected to announce his defection after consultation with the APC leaders