Kaduna NNPP chairman quits party and slams government candidate
New Nigeria Peoples Party Kaduna State Chairman Ben Kure quit the party on Thursday over alleged dominant influence of the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the state, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi .
Kure said he was leaving the party because "two captains can't stay on a ship".
According to him, he submitted his resignation to the party's national secretariat since December 6, 2022, alleging that Hunkuyi, among other unconstitutional interferences, did not allow him to operate freely for the good of the party in the state.
The former president has had an ongoing battle with the gubernatorial candidate and other party officials in the state as of late.
But as he addressed a press conference in Kaduna on Thursday, Kure called his experience with the party's state section "regrettable", noting: "I never hope to have anything either to do with the majority of the state Exco members.”
He said, “I therefore wish to inform you and all my supporters and associates that I have resigned as Chairman of NNPP in Kaduna State and am no longer a member of the party. I will rest, think about my political future and inform the public in an appropriate way.
“I would like to inform you that I submitted my resignation letter to the National Secretariat on December 5, 2022, but was persuaded to stay in order to settle all issues amicably.
"We were invited and held a meeting, and last week the national secretariat ordered us to meet and plan the state rally and solidarity march under my leadership, but Hunkuyi and his gang refused to comply with the directive of the national secretariat.< /p>
"They continued to insult me in social networks, but I refused, out of maturity, to engage them in slander. However, it has come to a point where I can no longer tolerate this kind of thing Let me make it clear that I don't believe in Hunkuyi's candidacy for so many reasons.
"He's just there to block chances, not really to challenge. I'm a serious politician and I won't line up with unserious people. When I see a serious candidate, I know. has no grassroots political activity by the nominee anywhere in the state."
The former president added, "I was democratically elected chairman of the state branch of the party. Since then, we have worked hard to steer the affairs of the party as well as possible, to reposition it as a major player in the state political affairs.
"Under our watch, the party had nominated candidates to run for various positions in the upcoming 2023 general election, including the gubernatorial candidate, Suleiman Hunkuyi, who emerged due to the candidate's goodwill President of the party, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
“It may interest you, however, to note that since Hunkuyi's appointment, the party has remained divided, blocking efforts to organize any mass mobilization to court new members and retain the initial goodwill of the people.
"This is largely due to the high-handed nature of which Hunkuyi tried to hijack the functions of the office of the state president.
"His anti-democratic mentality and disregard for respected elders and prominent party members in the state created a division within the party, forcing prominent members and elders to either abandon the NNPP or adopt a nonchalant, which costs the party dearly its support.”
When contacted about the alleged authoritarian influence and hijacking of the party against him by the incumbent president, Hunkuyi simply responded by saying, "I have no comment."
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New Nigeria Peoples Party Kaduna State Chairman Ben Kure quit the party on Thursday over alleged dominant influence of the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the state, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi .
Kure said he was leaving the party because "two captains can't stay on a ship".
According to him, he submitted his resignation to the party's national secretariat since December 6, 2022, alleging that Hunkuyi, among other unconstitutional interferences, did not allow him to operate freely for the good of the party in the state.
The former president has had an ongoing battle with the gubernatorial candidate and other party officials in the state as of late.
But as he addressed a press conference in Kaduna on Thursday, Kure called his experience with the party's state section "regrettable", noting: "I never hope to have anything either to do with the majority of the state Exco members.”
He said, “I therefore wish to inform you and all my supporters and associates that I have resigned as Chairman of NNPP in Kaduna State and am no longer a member of the party. I will rest, think about my political future and inform the public in an appropriate way.
“I would like to inform you that I submitted my resignation letter to the National Secretariat on December 5, 2022, but was persuaded to stay in order to settle all issues amicably.
"We were invited and held a meeting, and last week the national secretariat ordered us to meet and plan the state rally and solidarity march under my leadership, but Hunkuyi and his gang refused to comply with the directive of the national secretariat.< /p>
"They continued to insult me in social networks, but I refused, out of maturity, to engage them in slander. However, it has come to a point where I can no longer tolerate this kind of thing Let me make it clear that I don't believe in Hunkuyi's candidacy for so many reasons.
"He's just there to block chances, not really to challenge. I'm a serious politician and I won't line up with unserious people. When I see a serious candidate, I know. has no grassroots political activity by the nominee anywhere in the state."
The former president added, "I was democratically elected chairman of the state branch of the party. Since then, we have worked hard to steer the affairs of the party as well as possible, to reposition it as a major player in the state political affairs.
"Under our watch, the party had nominated candidates to run for various positions in the upcoming 2023 general election, including the gubernatorial candidate, Suleiman Hunkuyi, who emerged due to the candidate's goodwill President of the party, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
“It may interest you, however, to note that since Hunkuyi's appointment, the party has remained divided, blocking efforts to organize any mass mobilization to court new members and retain the initial goodwill of the people.
"This is largely due to the high-handed nature of which Hunkuyi tried to hijack the functions of the office of the state president.
"His anti-democratic mentality and disregard for respected elders and prominent party members in the state created a division within the party, forcing prominent members and elders to either abandon the NNPP or adopt a nonchalant, which costs the party dearly its support.”
When contacted about the alleged authoritarian influence and hijacking of the party against him by the incumbent president, Hunkuyi simply responded by saying, "I have no comment."
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