By Myke Uzendu
The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has challenged Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso to redirect his criticism towards President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the worsening economic hardship and insecurity in the country.
The council accused Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), of attempting to distract attention from the challenges confronting Nigerians by repeatedly attacking the ADC presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Director of Media and Publicity of the ADC-PCC, Kola Ologbondiyan, described Kwankwaso’s response to the council’s earlier criticism as diversionary, alleging that it raised further questions about his political alignment with the APC and President Tinubu.
The ADC-PCC had previously urged the former Kano State governor, whose presidential candidate is Peter Obi, to stop attacking Atiku and focus on holding the ruling party accountable for its handling of the economy and other national challenges.
According to the council, Kwankwaso’s response failed to address the substance of its concerns, as he mentioned the APC in his defence but devoted much of his reaction to criticising the ADC.
The council said the development raised questions about the priorities of the NDC vice-presidential candidate as an opposition politician.
“Why is Senator Kwankwaso making our candidate the issue instead of confronting the ruling APC, whose policies have made life increasingly difficult for millions of Nigerians?” the council asked.
It argued that Nigerians were more concerned about hunger, insecurity, high fuel prices, the depreciation of the naira and declining living standards than political exchanges between opposition figures.
The ADC-PCC maintained that any politician seeking to provide an alternative to the Tinubu administration should prioritise these challenges rather than concentrate on attacks against rival opposition candidates.
