Kwankwaso is right about Muslim-Muslim ticket but wrong about everything else

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso appeared on Channels Television's Politics Today on Monday and made some valid points about the Muslim-Muslim ticket President Tinubu is presenting again for 2027. He said he is surprised that Tinubu, who balances appointments, would not balance his ticket. He even cited the 1993 SDP ticket of MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe as an example where competence mattered more than religion. That part I agree with.

But let us be honest. Kwankwaso is the same man who picked an Archbishop as running mate in 2023 for balance, yet he is now running with Peter Obi on the NDC ticket. Where is the balance there? Peter Obi is a Christian from the South-East. That is a Christian-Christian ticket by the same logic he is using to attack Tinubu. You cannot criticise a Muslim-Muslim ticket while presenting a Christian-Christian ticket and expect people not to notice the hypocrisy.

Kwankwaso said those criticising the NDC alliance are not in touch with realities in northern Nigeria. He said people are tired and want leaders who can improve their living conditions. That is true. But if he truly believed that, he would not be running with someone whose core supporters openly insult northerners daily. The young people he claims to speak for are not stupid. They can see that this alliance is about power, not about the people. Am I the only one that thinks this is pure political calculation dressed up as principle?