Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Air Force, Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, has responded sharply to comments made by Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, condemning the recent wave of defections from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC)
Rurum, who represents the Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya Federal Constituency, described Kwankwaso’s remarks as “hypocritical,” pointing to the senator’s own history of switching political parties.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Rurum said, “This is someone who defected from the PDP to the APC in 2015, returned to the PDP in 2018, and later joined the NNPP in 2022. If switching parties is a sin, then Kwankwaso himself has a lot to confess.”
Kwankwaso had earlier criticized defectors during a political meeting at his residence in Kano, labeling their actions as a betrayal of political ideals.
But Rurum insists that such decisions are often guided by “prevailing political realities” and a genuine desire to better serve constituents.
“Many of us who moved to the APC, including Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, Hon. Sha’aban Ibrahim Sharada, and others, are grassroots politicians. We are not in politics for hype or personality worship—we are here to deliver results,” Rurum said.
He also accused Kwankwaso of twisting facts and turning political discussions into personal attacks.
“In a democracy, people are free to disagree. But it becomes dangerous when facts are distorted for selfish interests,” he added.
Rurum went further to allege that Kwankwaso had, in the past, sought political support abroad, claiming he was “lobbying for relevance” in France last year.
Speaking on the aftermath of the defections, Rurum claimed that the decision to join the APC has already begun to benefit constituents.
“Since we moved, we’ve facilitated projects in education, agriculture, and infrastructure—real impacts, not just slogans,” he said.
The lawmaker concluded by stressing that Kano’s political environment is evolving and no single figure can dictate its future.
“The time of one-man dominance in Kano politics is over. Let’s focus on development, not personality cults. Politics should remain a tool for public good,” Rurum stated.