Rabiu Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has asserted that political leaders are making a mistake by publicly endorsing candidates in advance of the elections that will take place next year.
Goldennewsng reports that Kwankwaso paid Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo State, a visit on Wednesday at the Government House in Benin, he made this statement.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Ijaw national leader Edwin Clark have publicly endorsed Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) candidate for president.
Now, Kwankwaso claims that religious and ethnic sentiments motivated the endorsements.
“Some of the people… we have seen on the news that they are supporting Mr. A or Mr. B, and I believe that this is a huge mistake. I admire these leaders. You reach a point in your life when you stop being a politician and become a true statesman.
“I can also assure you that any candidate or party that presents a face of ethnicity or religion at the national level has failed that election before it even begins,” I can tell you.
Additionally, I wish to offer the following direction to our leaders: They need to stop making themselves look bad. We regard them with the utmost respect,” Kwankwaso stated.