 Former governor of kind of state and presidential candidate of the new Nigeria people's party NNPP Rabiu Kwankoso has stated that no one of the other presidential aspirants can match him in the upcoming elections He added that the average Nigerian is looking for something new and that is what the NNPP is bringing He stated these and more earlier today when I had a sit-down with him. Let's take a listen It's good to have you joined us Senator. Thank you very much So, I mean, I'm sure people have asked you so many questions about why you have chosen to leave the PDP and become the NNPP's Candidate to run for presidency, but that's on the side. We've seen many people, you know break into groups and call themselves third forces and the NNPP has also been identified as one So I think my curiosity is what does the NNPP have that would make it so formidable to be a third force against the two major political parties Thank you very much On the first question of why I Decided to leave the PDP is very simple You see, I was part of the foundation of PDP right from the beginning in 1998 99 I was governor of kind of state And I have been there until 2014 when it was very clear to me and many Nigeria's that PDP actually drained from the PDP We formed in 1998 even though at that particular time the main issue was to kick out the military but we started very well and to go about so and For the eight years he was president. I was governor for four years and minister of defense for the remaining period and When we noticed the issue we thought there was need for change and one the idea of progressing People across the country to come together and form a formidable group to bring change And therefore bring progress to the country. I joined them And at the end of the day we are able to succeed by way of bringing This government in 2015 Unfortunately along the line Realized that the party the APC itself Became even worse than the PDP And therefore we had no choice other than to come to a better place at that particular time Just before 2019 Now when I was there in the PDP I realized again that the Operators did not change at all. In fact if anything they became worse than I left them and That was why we started talking to Friends across the country People of like minds People who are angry with what is happening today in this country in terms of leadership And of course we are angry with the PDP itself Even that they would change and they didn't change and that was why we needed the idea of Getting a platform that will actually Reflect our own ideology Reflect our own dream about this country Our dream is simple. We want to see a very united Nigeria We want to see good governance. We want to see people of good credibility In government at all levels and we want the progress of this country And therefore we came together and we intended to register our own party Unfortunately, the INEC was not ready to register any party before the 2023 election That was why we looked around and got a party the new Nigeria people's party which was registered 21 years ago and from the name and what we saw in terms of The the constitution and all other things of the party We believe that that was the sort of party that we would have even registered ourselves So we came together and formed a group the National movement Which was launched sometimes this year in Abuja and then from there when we go to the party We moved into it And I'm so happy that today The NNPP had its congresses in all the words of this country in the local governments The states the zone and of course we had our Convention on 30th March of this year now we are in the process of selling forms for those who want to contest elections state assembly house of raves Senate Governorship and even presentation and We have gone very far In most states that was being completed and In other states very few other states were working on the issue of the congresses that will complete the entire process of Selling the forms and choosing or selecting or electing our own Candidates for the party. So we are so happy that today we have people of like minds Who are together and I have no doubt in my mind There are there are millions and millions of Nigerians today who think in our own Direction meaning that the two parties have failed us and therefore we have to get a better platform that will reflect this Situation that we find ourselves especially as it relates to the issue of security Economy and of course the education Infrastructure and so on and so forth. So we are so happy that we are together With the young men and women across the country and all people of goodwill How sure are you that Nigerians have come of age to be able to embrace any other party outside of the PDP and the APC? I asked this because The NNPP before you came I'm glad that you know, you have the Grand Croissier movements, which has been You know formidable for a long time But how easy is it going to be for you to change the mindset of the average Nigerian voter to embrace the NNPP? For you to be that third force indeed, of course Nigerians are in need of something new But how do you get them to embrace it? Well, I'm happy to say that Nigerians have already done that We're in a very short period of time in fact within three months We are able to register millions and millions of Nigerians across the country In just three months who are able to do our Congresses and convention In just three months we are able to feel almost all the vacancies all the positions that are supposed to be contested in 2023 election and now you can see anywhere we go We have people Calling we have people talking we have people supporting Our party and don't forget we have now about nine months from now to election This is early June. I think it's the third of June today and I were taken off 25th of February next year for the election. We have never had this sort of Luxury of time after convention Before now we are having our conventions Toward the end of the year and early in the year we have within two three months maximum We have our general elections, but now I can tell you Nigerians will Come to know come to understand more about the movement and I'm happy you mentioned the issue of focus here and even the national movement who are working together and are all members of NNPP and many other people of goodwill those who believe that we need to have a united Nigeria We need to have capable hands to leave this country because everybody believes that we have all these issues all these challenges on the ground because of lack of good and capable leadership Talking about the conquest here movement. I'm always curious because Some movements can be for personal interest and the I mean and the average Nigerian is Supposed to be your objective here as someone who's running to be the president of the country Nigerians have for a long time looked for a president that had them at heart. I'm guessing that that's why you're running So I'm asking it for the conquest here movement. What's the youth participation like because again? 80% of Nigerians if not 75 are young people. We have a very useful population What are you intending to do to also? engage that huge population Yes, I'm happy to say that all the opportunities that I had in the past We have demonstrated very clearly to all the young men and women that are our ideology Projects and programs were always geared towards the good of the young men and women and of course the needy We have done that especially When I was governor of Kano in 1999 to 2003 and when I was governor again 2011 and 2015 In between high positions of senator Health position at NDDC of course I represented Northwest political zone in the NDDC Before that period also. I was in the house of reps as deputy speaker house of reps in 1992 And so on and so forth so over the years who are able to convince the young men and women and that was why you find that Conquistilla is being embarrassed by Everybody especially the young men and women because they know us very well They know and they believe that if we have opportunity We will even do better. So we have no problem of the issue of young men and women. They are already they have already taken Positions Conquistilla, but now we are even talking of the NNPP Which is a political party Which are many other people who are not necessarily Conquistilla or Conquistilla members who are put to red cap. In fact, even before we joined NNPP The vast majority of people in this country Believe in what we are preaching over the years many people and most of them are not even put to red cap But they have the purpose here at heart. They believe that this country require requires a very positive change Not the change that we had in 2015 I Asked that question because you and I obviously know what's happening In the Northeast in the Northwest now and most of the perpetrators of these acts of violence and terrorism are young people I remember the last time I spoke with Sheikh Gumi and he spoke about the fact that these young people are not being engaged And that's why they're being You know taken by these Terrorists, so when you become president if you become president What would you do that has not been done? What do you see that can be done to deal with the insecurity the level of insecurity that we're facing in 2022 because it seems To be a different case in 2021 and of course this year. It's a lot worse the the freshest which is the The train bombing we still have those people in captivity and of course the method is prelate Who was also captured who has regained his freedom and he said succinctly that security agencies and the governments did not help? Yes, you see the present administration which started in 2015 Actually missed many steps. They made some obvious mistakes One is a government one has to get the politics right Once you miss that many other things are likely going to work I'm sure I remember that this administration Missed an opportunity to form government for almost six months and that was a big mistake And even when they formed them in the government people were shocked because people believe that They would get better Members of the cabinet, but in any case it was formed after six months and If you are in government or state level even at national level you have to carry all members And of course not only members of your party. You need to carry everybody along in that constituency either a country or in a state so One has to get the politics right so that you can have maximum support of the people from top to bottom If you miss that then it affects other places for example if you alienate members of the Society the end product is always that The security themselves wants the cooperation of the people and if the people are not taken on board They will find it any and very difficult really to give the required Information which is terrible in that case So you're saying the people don't trust the government and security agencies as well That's that's what is happening now to the extent that Everybody in fact most people in those affected places know the bandits They know where they are today and of course Mistrust has been created between the people and even security agencies To the extent people fear that if they bring any information Like it that may likely affect them Negatively because people claim that there are similar cases in the past where people give information And the bandits themselves came after those people so Government has to create Good relationship Create confidence between the government itself and the people and that will reflect in other agencies like security agencies themselves and so on and so forth and lack of getting the political politics right also affect the The economy in many ways and that's why you find that So many things went wrong in the area of economy Many people are not interested in the economy. So also people coming from abroad to invest in Nigeria also find it difficult to come in and Government is not coming with conducive environment for even the businesses themselves to the extent that If you go out you hardly see Good economic activities, especially in the area of construction Industry so there are many issues and all these issues put together Coursing all these negative things the issue of Security itself the issue of economy and of course other vices that we see or that you mentioned In northeast in Northwest and even across the country where people the young men are taking arms against Nigeria's and that is why people believe that now we need a very formidable leadership very capable Leadership that can come and unite the country Not as we see today Things are falling apart now in a situation where Yeah, people saying oh this was This tribe those ones are that right you quickly played into my next question because I was going to ask I was and interviewing the Secretary of the non eldest forum and The doctor specifically said I remember that we need to phase out the old set of politicians saying that I want to quote him directly that these politicians are responsible for the divisions that we have whether they be ethnic Religious or even political. What do you have to say about that? No, facing out the politicians is not the best The old politicians as you mentioned you see this time around people have to look at the track record of all the politicians that are sparing Go into positions, especially the executive of government because that is Probably the most important Arm of government out of the three because if you get to that one right other two are certainly going to be Good also, so I think that's what you require We don't this not the time really for us to go and start any experiment With some of the young men and women that we have seen taking power Especially at state level. Some of them were huge disappointment people. There are some who have been who have also done well I mean, I think that Nigerians took a chance on your set of politicians So why can't they take a chance on the young sets of people and most of them have worked for the old sets of politicians? That's what I'm saying We have seen across the country, especially now that we have many young men that Governors across the country, but you hardly see Anyone that you can really call a very good example of youth taking power So I believe that people she look for somebody who is strong enough to do the job Healthy enough to do the job, but experienced enough somebody who has gone through Waterway water one can call a good governance over the years That's why I think it's a matter of choice and I'm so happy and glad to tell you that Most Nigeria's today have decided on what they are likely going to do in 2023 Okay, finally Let's go back to party politics We've heard about a lot of mergers. I spoke to your party national chairman who Alluded to the fact that there was not going to be a measure between you and the Labour Party You know we saw those measures, but is the MMPP still open to a measure of sorts to Empower and you know build the muscle of the third force. Yes, you see we are very comfortable with our position today Within three months we are able to be where we are today. We have a national party That is some leadership at all levels today. We have a national party That is not only in one region or once all it is strong enough to defeat the APC You see let me tell you you see most Nigerians if you ask them out of there, they will tell you that People are not too keen about party and For us in LNPP who had even wanted Nigeria's to be keen about the party why because everybody knows that the two parties have failed and Therefore if you take it from the party point of view If they have failed now people will go for the third force You mentioned which certainly by all standards going by the quality of the leadership Everywhere in this country by the third force even though on the other hand we believe even as of today You'll be surprised if there is election today If Nigerians are allowed to vote you'll be surprised that most people will vote for LNPP because they want change People are not comfortable with the status quo and it is only People who believe that what is happening is good enough for them to continue would go and vote for PDP or even the APC itself so We are comfortable as we stand today But I can tell you the graph of LNPP is rising in the last three months So we have another nine months and I can assure you that most Nigerians will be happy with the party And we'll be very happy also with the candidates that are we are going to field in 2023 Before I go let me just push you one more question looking at the candidates that are being fielded I mean the PDP has already done its primary So you know who the party's flag wearer is but then of course the ruling party has so many presidential candidates And we've seen the shifts in days, but this weekend will determine There's anybody on the list of people that I've mentioned pulls a threat to you politically Not to my knowledge. You see we are happy that PDP has done its own convention. We now have the everybody now knows the presidential candidate very soon, I'm sure the APC Will have to stop moving the world post and they have to bring somebody and I can tell you all those that are contesting Most of them if not all of them are people that I know very well And I can assure you that I don't see how any one of them came out to the candidate of the LNPP, but in any case I'm sure one of these days when we have the candidate also from there and all other parties for that matter I will have time to present ourselves to Nigerians and Nigerians will make a choice even though as I told you most people have already Made up their minds on what to do Well senator Rabi Musa-Klanquasso is the presidential aspirant on the Platform of the NNPP. It's been a pleasure having this conversation with you. Thank you very much. Thank you It's a pleasure. All right. Well, it's been plus politics. I am Mary-Anne Nothing will happen to Okoro-chan It's only about the administration of impunity Okoro-chan will play the script by the time he comes out of EFCC Confirmation probably withdraw his candidacy like a good boy, and he would of course Like every other woman's in the country, we've heard it from Adam Oshio Molle join us and you are immune He's one of the foundation members of APC so I can anyone expect that anything will happen to him All they are saying is that in the moment He is required to hurt in a manner that is inconsistent with his own choices And when we finally understand that he has to play according to the script, they will put him on the back He will go back to the chambers of the Senate That was the senator of the February public So I think are you insinuating that the Southern governors, are you saying that Southern governors didn't? Not for the second of a statewide election When the process has begun And why is it we here? Because we are the people And we are the system Confirm it The way the supporters of Okoro-chan have to be Especially to attack Okoro-chan Booking up Okoro-chan And To all the people To Okoro-chan So that's what came to that end Let me assert the position of the National Committee of the Party And the President They are very clear That for my President Okoro-chan That is the name that I am carrying now But by also stating that APC had said that he has been a member of the party It was a creation of social media They never said That's one too He did not Purchase the APC's presidential nomination form He did not submit same Has not presented himself for screening And so there is no way That those foundational things are not in place We expect them to emerge as candidate of APC That would be the greatest I don't want to call it Of the same situation I don't want to call it 419 or That would be the 7th or 9th wonder of the world In the world of politics But how do you plan to defeat these parties Who will tell you they have more structures They've been in power for so long And they know the politics of Lagos How do you tend to break this through? Why did you again choose the ADC thing? Ok, simple Give people what they want And they'll do what they need Which is, what do you think that Lagosians want? People say, look, I don't have Who am I going to vote for? That's a very, very simple question That we've not been able to answer That we have refused to answer Up to now Because the voter isn't done The voter has already shown That they do not like what is on offer You don't go to a restaurant And they shop something They only tell you that there's two items on the menu You walk out of it But if you go into the restaurant And they need to give you a very nice On tray Then you choose what fits you Lagosians have not had the opportunity To really Look at what they want So I'm presenting myself As that Nice, caring Guy next door Who really wants to see Lagosians get What they truly deserve And what they want