“My Friend At 70” — Tinubu Celebrates Kwankwaso, Says Different Parties Won’t Remove Affection

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on his 70th birthday, describing him as his friend and acknowledging their longstanding political association dating back to 1992.

In a State House press release on October 21, 2026, President Tinubu said Kwankwaso and himself have shared history from the National Assembly in 1992, when Kwankwaso was in the House of Representatives and he was in the Senate, and later in 1999 when both emerged as governors.

Tinubu noted that as members of the Class of ’99 Governors, they both played pivotal roles in laying the foundation for the democracy the nation enjoys today.

“My warm congratulations to my friend Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Governor of Kano State, one-time Minister of Defence and former Senator representing Kano Central Senatorial District, on his 70th birthday on October 21, 2026,” Tinubu said.

“Senator Kwankwaso and I have had a longstanding association, dating back to our time in the National Assembly in 1992, he in the House of Representatives and I in the Senate, and later in 1999 when we both emerged as governors of our respective states.

“As members of the Class of ’99 Governors, we both played pivotal roles in laying the foundation for the democracy the nation enjoys today.

“Shaped by different political choices, our political paths differed until we coalesced in 2013 to form the All Progressives Congress. Since then, history and service have kept us intertwined,” the President said.

Tinubu acknowledged Kwankwaso’s immense contributions to Kano State and Nigeria as a two-term Governor, former Minister of Defence, former Senator, former presidential candidate, and now a presidential running mate, describing him as an influential figure and a progressive politician.

The President stressed that their current political differences ahead of the January 2027 election will not affect their personal relationship.

“I must acknowledge Senator Kwankwaso’s immense contributions to Kano State and Nigeria as a two-term Governor, former Minister of Defence, former Senator, former presidential candidate, and now a presidential running mate.

“Senator Kwankwaso remains an influential figure and a progressive politician.

“That we are in different political parties and competing on different platforms in the January 2027 election will not remove my affection for Senator Kwankwaso,” Tinubu added.

He wished the former governor good health, personal fulfilment, and many more years of engagement in the nation’s democratic process as he marks the milestone.