Rabiu Kwankwaso, the leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has openly criticized the administration of President Bola Tinubu for excluding Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, from the distribution of rice palliatives meant for the state. Instead of following the same approach as in other states where governors were responsible for distributing the relief items, the federal government handed over the task in Kano to members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Kwankwaso expressed his concerns in a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, saying the exclusion of the Kano governor from the process was unjust and a breach of democratic norms. According to him, palliatives in 35 states were distributed through their respective governors, but Kano was singled out, and its share was entrusted to APC stalwarts, raising questions about fairness and partisanship.

He emphasized that this decision not only undermines the governor’s authority but also represents a serious disregard for democracy. Kwankwaso described it as an insult to Kano State and a disturbing trend of partisanship that could hurt the political landscape.

Kwankwaso called on President Tinubu to immediately address the situation and ensure that the democratic process is respected, urging him to stop what he sees as a deliberate act of sidelining opposition leaders and pushing party interests too far.

This issue highlights growing concerns about the potential politicization of palliative measures in Nigeria, with leaders like Kwankwaso insisting that such relief efforts should be free from political bias and focused on serving all citizens, regardless of party affiliation.

Kwankwaso’s statement sheds light on the need for fairness and transparency in government relief programs, calling for an end to practices that could threaten democracy.