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NDC vice-presidential candidate for 2027 election, Rabiu Kwankwaso |
The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has publicly expressed readiness to reconcile with the current Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.
According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Kwankwaso made the comments in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service published on Sunday. In the interview, he addressed the strained relationship between the two politicians that has drawn significant attention in Kano politics.
Governor Abba Yusuf won the 2023 Kano governorship election on the platform of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). He was previously regarded as a key figure within the Kwankwasiyya movement, the political support base associated with Kwankwaso. The relationship between the two later deteriorated after Yusuf’s political realignment, including moves that brought him closer to former Kano Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, a long-time political rival of Kwankwaso.
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In the BBC Hausa interview, Kwankwaso stated that he continues to hold personal regard for Yusuf and remains open to reconciliation if the governor is willing.
“I didn’t abandon him, didn’t ask him to go or dismiss him, I still like him,” Kwankwaso said.
He described himself as someone who does not hold grudges and who is prepared to forgive past differences. To illustrate the point, Kwankwaso recalled his history with Ganduje, noting that he had previously forgiven the former governor despite multiple disagreements.
“How many times did I have issues with Ganduje? He challenged me on several occasions. In 2007, when we were in the Ministry of Defence, he was my special assistant, but they held meetings to bring me down because I contested them. Despite the misgivings, I put Ganduje forward and supported him, but he failed,” Kwankwaso said.
Kwankwaso emphasized that he does not dictate the actions of others and rejected the idea that he is an armchair politician. He stressed the need for patience and understanding in political relationships.
“I’m not God. So, if Yusuf or whoever wishes to come, you need to have patience, have a large heart and compassion because not all will play along your line. You don’t expect everybody to act, behave or think like you do, because everyone has his way of reasoning, age, background and educational qualifications. So, if I’m not forgiving, we will not put Ganduje forward; the situation is the same with Yusuf,” he said.
He also stated that his political endorsements and support have never been based on financial demands: “We don’t ask for a dime from each of them to get our endorsement and tickets; we don’t sell our candidature.”
The comments come against the backdrop of ongoing political realignments in Kano State, one of Nigeria’s most politically influential states.
Kwankwaso remains an active figure in national politics through the NDC, while Governor Yusuf continues to navigate the state’s complex political landscape. Whether the expressed willingness to reconcile leads to any formal rapprochement remains to be seen.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria report on the BBC Hausa Service interview.
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