Peter Obi: You Do Not Have The Mandate To Decide For The North – Kwankwasiyya Rebukes Ali Modu Sheriff
The Kwankwasiyya Movement has criticised former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff for his remarks on the North’s stance regarding the presidential ambition of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) flag bearer Peter Obi.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesperson, Habibu Sale Mohammed Mailemo, the movement described Sheriff’s comments as disappointing and insisted that no individual possesses the authority to determine how the people of Northern Nigeria should vote.
“The North is not the personal political estate of anyone,” the statement declared.
The movement said millions of Nigerians and free‑spirited Northerners were disappointed by Sheriff’s remarks, labelling them unfounded and reflective of a patronising attitude toward Northern voters.
According to the statement, the comments implied that citizens are incapable of making independent political decisions without the approval of a few self‑appointed political gatekeepers.
It stressed unequivocally that no individual holds a mandate to decide for the entire North, noting that Northern Nigeria is home to diverse political opinions, aspirations and convictions, and its electorate has repeatedly shown it cannot be reduced to stereotypes or dictated to by political elites.
The movement also referenced remarks by its national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who observed that the outcome of the 2023 presidential election disproved the claim that any candidate cannot attract support across regional boundaries.
“Our National Leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, correctly observed that the outcome of the 2023 presidential election clearly disproves the claim that any candidate is incapable of attracting support across regional boundaries. The votes cast across Northern Nigeria reflected the constitutional freedom of citizens to support candidates of their choice,” the statement read.
The movement warned that attempts to rewrite the political reality of the last election would neither strengthen democracy nor promote national unity, but would instead encourage unnecessary divisions at a time when Nigerians expect leaders to focus on pressing national challenges.
It added that the average Nigerian is more concerned about the rising cost of living, widespread insecurity, youth unemployment, declining purchasing power, the state of education and access to quality healthcare — issues deserving serious political engagement, not narratives that seek to define the political choices of millions of voters.
The Kwankwasiyya Movement concluded that leadership must be earned through performance and the trust of the people, not through media declarations or claims of regional ownership.
“Leadership is earned through ideas, credibility, performance and the confidence of the electorate, not through media declarations or claims of regional ownership,” the statement said.
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