TheCable

Rufa’i Alkali, national chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), says the party is in talks with Ibrahim Shekarau over his recent outburst against the party leadership. 

Alkali said this on Wednesday during an interview with NAN in Lagos. 

On Monday, Shekarau, a former governor of Kano and serving senator, accused Rabiu Kwankwaso, the party’s presidential candidate, and his group of betraying the trust reposed in them since he joined the party in March.

Shekarau said since his defection to the NNPP, apart from the senatorial slot given to him, none of his supporters have been accommodated in the party.

In response, the NNPP chairman said the party will not be dragged into unnecessary controversies over Shekarau’s planned defection. 

“On Shekarau, we respect his judgment but will not allow the NNPP to be dragged into an unnecessary controversy. We have great respect for him and he is also a person who believes in a better country. We respect his decision, whatever he has decided for himself,” Alkali said.

“What is important again in politics is that if you lose, you will gain. it doesn’t mean a total loss, whatever happened, it doesn’t mean a total loss, it may be a setback.

“But for now, the situation is that we are discussing with him (Shekarau). We are sure that case is not over until it is over.

“The party is working in every state of the federation to ensure that wherever there are problems, we handle those problems.”