By Kingston Magare 26.5.2026
Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwanso seem to have formed a formidable alliance that is rattling the Nigerian political landscape, but far away in the USA a warning has come from Mike Arnold about the banana peel that lies ahead.
Mr. Arnold a former Mayor of Blanco, Texas USA noted that Kwankwanso who was a former governor of Kano is bad company to Obi because of his ties to those pursuing Islamic agenda and terrorism in Nigeria.
“No, I am not ok with Obi-Kwankwaso — and you shouldn’t be, either,” Arnold wrote on X social media platform on Monday night.
“I like Peter Obi. I am not sold on him yet, but he has potential, and I have an open mind.
“What will close my mind instantly, without any wiggle room, is an Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.
“As Governor of Kano State, Kwankwaso formally declared Sharia law on June 21, 2000, and established the Hisbah Board — the religious enforcement agency that has been arresting Kano residents for ‘improper dress’ and ‘indecent mixing of the sexes’ ever since.
“He lost his re-election in 2003 anyway, for being insufficiently Islamic for the Kano clerical establishment. Obasanjo handed him the Defence Ministry the same year.”
Arnold insisted that any presidential ticket involving Kwankwaso would be unacceptable to him, regardless of who emerged as the presidential candidate.
He said, “Sharia. Hisbah. Pension funds. Pharmaceutical contracts. The defence ministry during a genocide. A different party every cycle. And now the vice presidency.
“That is why I will actively oppose any ticket with Kwankwaso on it. No matter who is on top.
“Peter Obi, if you want my open mind, pick a running mate who is not a puppet of the Sultan.”
Mr. Arnold popularly known as Senior Apostle in Nigeria has developed deep interest in Nigerian political affairs. He has been to the slums in Lagos and the terror ravaged Plateau State to minister.
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