Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Air Force, Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, has strongly criticized Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso over his remarks condemning recent defections from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

In a statement issued on Saturday, Rurum—who represents the Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya Federal Constituency—described Kwankwaso’s comments as “hypocritical and entitled,” pointing out the senator’s own history of political cross-carpeting.

 

“This is someone who defected from the PDP to the APC in 2015, returned to the PDP in 2018, and then moved to the NNPP in 2022,” Rurum said. “If switching parties is a political sin, then Kwankwaso himself has much to confess.”

 

Rurum’s response follows Kwankwaso’s recent comments at a political gathering in Kano, where the former governor condemned NNPP defectors, labeling their actions as a betrayal.

 

Defending his own decision to leave the NNPP, Rurum emphasized that he and other notable figures—including Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, Hon. Sha’aban Ibrahim Sharada, Hon. Nura Dankadai, and Hon. Badamasi Ayuba Dambatta—defected to the APC based on “prevailing political realities” and a commitment to better serve their constituents.

 

“We are not political ornaments for social media hype or cult followership,” Rurum asserted. “We are grassroots politicians whose mandates are built on years of service, sacrifice, and community engagement.”

 

He went on to accuse Kwankwaso of manipulating narratives for personal gain, alleging that the NNPP leader lobbied for political relevance abroad.

 

“While he condemns others for aligning with the APC, he was seen in France last year lobbying—not in the interest of Kano people, but for his own political survival,” Rurum alleged.

 

Highlighting the impact of their defection, Rurum said the move has already yielded tangible benefits, citing projects in education, agriculture, and infrastructure brought to their constituencies.

 

“These are real gains—not empty slogans,” he stated.

 

Rurum concluded by warning that Kano’s political landscape is shifting and that no individual can unilaterally dictate its course.

 

“The era of one-man dominance in Kano politics is over,” he declared. “Politics must not be reduced to ego battles or blind loyalty. It should remain a tool for development, justice, and improving lives.”