I am ready to make peace with Gov Abba Yusuf — Kwankwaso

Former Kano State Governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has expressed readiness to forgive Governor Abba Yusuf and reconcile with him despite recent political tensions between them.

Kwankwaso, who recently defected from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), said his relationship with Yusuf remains rooted in affection and shared political history, insisting that their fallout has not erased personal ties.

Speaking in an interview in a video posted by BBC Hausa on Monday, the former governor said reconciliation remains possible, stressing that Yusuf was the one who left their political bloc.

“I still love Abba and I didn’t reject him, he is the one that left. So not just Abba, if anyone who left comes back, I won’t be unforgiving,” Kwankwaso said.

He added that political disagreements are part of public life and recalled his own past reconciliations, including with former Kano governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.

“Look at Ganduje, in the many years we worked together, we fell out several times and got back together. That is how politics works,” he said.

Kwankwaso maintained that Yusuf’s emergence as governor in 2023 was largely due to the strength of the Kwankwasiyya movement, which he said played a decisive role in the election.

“We picked Abba to contest under the NNPP and we won, but he left to join the people we defeated,” he said.

He also explained that Yusuf was not chosen based on seniority or academic credentials but as a strategic candidate to test the influence of the movement.

“We chose him because we wanted to test the strength and calibre of the Kwankwasiyya movement at that time,” he stated.

Emphasising tolerance and leadership, Kwankwaso urged political actors to embrace forgiveness and accept differing viewpoints.

“As a leader, you need to have an open heart. You cannot force people to think the way you do,” he added.