Kano: I still love Gov Abba, ready for reconciliation — Kwankwaso

Leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has expressed readiness to reconcile with Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, if the governor shows interest in restoring their relationship.

Kwankwaso stated this in an interview with BBC Hausa published on his verified social media page, amid the political differences that emerged between him and Yusuf following the governor’s defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Yusuf was elected governor of Kano State in 2023 on the platform of the NNPP before subsequently defecting to the APC.

Kwankwaso, who was Peter Obi’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), said he had never closed the door to reconciliation with the governor.

He maintained that he neither abandoned Yusuf nor asked him to leave the political movement, insisting that he still holds him in high regard.

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“I never abandoned him. I never asked him to leave, and I never expelled him. I still love him,” Kwankwaso said.

The former Kano governor also described himself as a forgiving person, saying he had previously reconciled with political associates despite disagreements.

He cited former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as an example, recalling their political differences and saying he nevertheless supported Ganduje’s political ambitions.

“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 said he did not consider himself a leader who imposed his will on others, stressing that individuals have different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

“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,” he said.