Kwankwaso Says He Is Ready to Reconcile with Kano Governor
From Muhammad Kabir Kano
The leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said he is willing to forgive Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and reconcile with him if the governor shows interest in restoring their relationship.
It will be recalled that political differences emerged between Kwankwaso and Abba Kabir Yusuf—once one of the leading figures of the Kwankwasiyya movement—after the governor left the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Abba Kabir Yusuf was elected governor of Kano State in 2023 on the platform of the NNPP before later defecting to the APC.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, which was published on his verified social media page, Kwankwaso said he has never ruled out the possibility of reconciliation with the governor.
He maintained that he never abandoned Abba Yusuf, nor did he ask him to defect or seek to drive him out of politics.
“I never abandoned him. I never asked him to leave, and I never expelled him. I still love him,” Kwankwaso said.
Kwankwaso, who was Peter Obi’s running mate in the presidential election under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), said he is not a vindictive person and has always been willing to forgive those who wrong him.
He cited former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as an example, saying that despite their past political disagreements, he forgave him and even supported his political ambition.
“How many times did I have problems with Ganduje? He challenged me on several occasions.
“In 2007, when we were at the Ministry of Defence, he served as my Special Assistant, yet meetings were held to remove me because I contested against them.
“Despite all that, I chose Ganduje, supported him, and in the end he did what he did, but he did not succeed,” he said.
Kwankwaso added that he has never seen himself as a leader who compels people to follow his will, stressing that he remains an active participant in politics rather than a spectator.
“I am not God. If Abba or anyone else wants to return, one must be patient, forgiving and compassionate, because not everyone will follow your path.
“You cannot expect everyone to work, behave or think exactly as you do. Every individual has a different background, age, upbringing and level of education.”
