Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Kano State governor and vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has opened the door to reconciliation with his estranged political ally, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Kwankwaso made the disclosure in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service published on Sunday, amid the political differences that have driven a wedge between the two men.
Yusuf, a former member of the Kwankwasiyya political movement, was elected Kano governor in 2023 on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). He later defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), deepening his political estrangement from Kwankwaso.
But Kwankwaso said the political fallout had not erased his personal affection for the governor, stressing that he had neither abandoned Yusuf nor asked him to leave.
“I didn’t abandon him, didn’t ask him to go or dismiss him, I still like him,” he said.
The former governor said he remained willing to forgive Yusuf and rebuild their relationship should the governor choose to seek reconciliation.
Kwankwaso also cited his past relationship with former Kano governor Abdullahi Ganduje as an example of his willingness to forgive political opponents.
He recalled that Ganduje had challenged him politically on several occasions, including during his time at the Ministry of Defence, but said he nevertheless supported Ganduje at a later stage of his political career.
“How many times did I have issues with Ganduje? He challenged me on several occasions,” Kwankwaso said.
He added that leadership required patience, compassion and an ability to accommodate people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.
“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.
Kwankwaso maintained that he does not compel people to follow his political preferences, describing himself as an active participant in politics rather than a spectator.
He said the same principle of forgiveness applied to Yusuf, adding that he did not demand money from political associates in exchange for endorsements or tickets.
“We don’t ask for a dime from each of them to get our endorsement and tickets; we don’t sell our candidature.”
Kwankwaso’s comments amount to a public invitation to reconcile, although no response from Governor Yusuf or details of any formal reconciliation process were included in the reports of the interview.
