Kwankwaso Expresses Openness to Reconciliation with Kano Governor

The national leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement and former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has stated his willingness to reconcile with Governor Abba Yusuf despite their current political divide.

Tensions arose between the two political figures after Governor Yusuf defected from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) the platform under which he secured his 2023 gubernatorial victory to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The move drew sharp criticism from the Kwankwasiyya political movement. Kwankwaso himself has since transitioned from the NNPP to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, Kwankwaso clarified that the breakdown in their relationship was due to Yusuf’s decision to exit their political camp, adding that he maintains his affection for his former protégé.

“I still love Abba and I didn’t reject him; he is the one that left,” Kwankwaso stated. He noted that political realignment is common, referencing his historically complex relationship with Abdullahi Ganduje, where the pair fell out and reconciled multiple times over years of collaboration.

Kwankwaso maintained that Governor Yusuf’s 2023 electoral success was a direct result of the political machinery behind him, asserting that the movement intentionally fielded him to test and demonstrate its institutional strength. He dismissed suggestions that Yusuf left out of fear of losing political ground, arguing that the party’s structure in Kano was strong enough to guarantee victory.

Highlighting the necessity of tolerance and forgiveness in political leadership, Kwankwaso emphasized that leaders must maintain an open heart and accommodate diverse perspectives to sustain long-term political progress.