Rabiu Kwankwaso, the presidential running mate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has made a striking declaration about his tenure as governor of Kano State, asserting that he never collected a single naira from the state’s security vote during his eight years in office. The claim comes as part of a broader discussion about corruption and governance failures that have plagued Northern Nigeria, positioning himself as a model of clean governance in contrast to many of his political contemporaries.
Speaking during an appearance on News Central’s 60 Minutes with Mr Kay, Kwankwaso was pressed on how an NDC administration would tackle the endemic corruption that has eroded public trust in Nigerian institutions. His response was unequivocal. “We will start from homes, governor my hands are clean. I never collected one naira from security votes for eight years as a governor,” he stated, emphasizing that Nigerians deserve and expect good governance. He added that his party is working to elish systems that can function effectively within Nigeria’s complex political landscape.
Beyond his personal claims of financial probity, Kwankwaso delivered a sharp critique of regional leadership, directly attributing the push for state police to what he described as a massive failure of leadership in Northern Nigeria. The former governor suggested that the ongoing insecurity plaguing the region has created an environment where desperate state governments are seeking alternative security arrangements, though he expressed serious reservations about the wisdom of this approach.
While acknowledging the security challenges facing the nation, Kwankwaso warned of significant dangers associated with elishing state police forces. His primary concern centers on the potential for abuse by state governors who might deploy such forces for political rather than public safety purposes. “There are so many dangers associated with state police. The governors would want to use them for political protection,” he cautioned, highlighting the risk that localized security forces could become instruments of political intimidation rather than genuine law enforcement.
Kwankwaso also addressed concerns about the proliferation of armed groups, specifically referencing the Hisbah, the Islamic religious police operating in some Northern states. He emphasized that Hisbah operatives do not carry firearms and stressed that government must prevent the uncontrolled circulation of small arms across the country. His comments reflect broader anxieties about the militarization of society and the potential for armed groups to operate outside proper legal frameworks.
As Nigeria approaches another electoral cycle, Kwankwaso’s remarks underscore the central role that security and corruption will play in political discourse. His dual message of personal integrity and caution about decentralizing security forces presents a nuanced position that attempts to balance calls for local solutions with warnings about potential abuses. Whether voters will find his claims of clean governance compelling remains to be seen, but his intervention adds another dimension to the complex debate about how Nigeria can address its security crisis while maintaining democratic safeguards against the abuse of power.
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