Kwankwaso Breaks Silence On Rift With Gov Yusuf: I Didn’t Abandon Him, I Still Like Him, Forgive Him If He Returns

The Leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, says he is willing to forgive and reconcile with Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf.

Kwankwaso, who is also the running mate to Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, disclosed this in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, posted on his verified social media handle on Saturday.

It will be recalled that Governor Yusuf, a staunch adherent of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and a political protege of Kwankwaso who served as his aide in the last 40 years, won the 2023 governorship election under the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, before defecting to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The defection created a frosty relationship between both men.

However, Kwankwaso said he did not abandon Yusuf nor ask him to change his political party.

“I didn’t abandon him, didn’t ask him to go or dismiss him, I still like him,” Kwankwaso said, adding that he can forgive and reconcile with Yusuf if he so wishes.

The former governor of Kano State said he is not a vengeful person and always forgives those who wronged him, citing his fallout with former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

“How many times did I have issues with Ganduje? He challenged me on several occasions. In 2007, when we were in the Ministry of Defence, he was my Special Assistant, but they held meetings to bring me down because I contested with them. In spite of the misgivings, I put Ganduje forward and supported him but he failed,” he said.

Kwankwaso said he never considered himself as a leader who dictates or directs people on what to do, stressing that he remains an active politician, not an armchair politician.

“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.

“You don’t expect everybody to act, behave or think like you do, because everyone has his way of reasoning, age, background and educational qualifications.

“So, if I am not forgiving, we will not put Ganduje forward, the situation is the same with Yusuf. We don’t ask for a dime from each of them to get our endorsement and tickets; we don’t sell our candidature,” he added.

NAN