Former Kano State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has expressed willingness to reconcile with his estranged successor, Governor Abba Yusuf.
Kwankwaso spoke on his relationship with Yusuf during an interview with BBC Hausa Service, published on Sunday, amid the political realignment in Kano ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Yusuf was once a prominent member and supporter of the Kwankwasiyya political movement founded by Kwankwaso. The relationship between the two politicians, however, deteriorated after Yusuf moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he aligned with former Kano governor Abdullahi Ganduje, a long-standing political rival of Kwankwaso.
Despite the political differences, Kwankwaso said he still has affection for Yusuf and would welcome reconciliation if the governor is willing to make such a move.
“I didn’t abandon him, didn’t ask him to go or dismiss him, I still like him,” he said.
The former governor also described himself as a forgiving person, saying he had previously reconciled with political associates with whom he had disagreements.
He cited his relationship with Ganduje as an example, recalling that the former Kano governor had challenged him politically on several occasions.
“How many times did I have issues with Ganduje? He challenged me on several occasions,” Kwankwaso said.
He recalled that in 2007, while he was at the Ministry of Defence, Ganduje served as his special assistant but was later involved in efforts to undermine his political ambitions.
“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,” he said.
Kwankwaso said political differences should not necessarily result in permanent hostility, stressing that people have different backgrounds, experiences, levels of education and ways of reasoning.
He also said he did not attempt to dictate the political decisions of those around him.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Kwankwaso's comments come against the backdrop of the political realignments taking place ahead of the 2027 elections, with former allies and political blocs repositioning themselves across party lines.
The former Kano governor said his willingness to forgive political opponents was also reflected in his previous relationship with Ganduje.
“So, if I’m not forgiving, we will not put Ganduje forward; the situation is the same with Yusuf,” he said.
Kwankwaso also maintained that political endorsements and party tickets associated with his political movement were not offered in exchange for financial payments.
“We don’t ask for a dime from each of them to get our endorsement and tickets; we don’t sell our candidature,” he said.
His remarks signal that, despite the political rupture between him and Yusuf, he remains open to reconciliation and does not regard their differences as irreversible.
Yusuf's political trajectory has taken him from the Kwankwasiyya camp to the APC, where he has since aligned with Ganduje, while Kwankwaso is now seeking national office as the NDC's vice-presidential candidate.
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