RABIU Kwankwaso, vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has said he is willing to reconcile with Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, despite the political differences that have strained their relationship.
News Point Nigeria reports that Kwankwaso made the disclosure in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service published on Sunday, where he addressed issues surrounding his frosty relationship with the Kano governor.
Yusuf, who won his election in 2023 on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), was previously a staunch supporter of the Kwankwasiyya movement, a group of supporters loyal to Kwankwaso.
However, their relationship turned sour after Yusuf defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), pitching his tent with Abdullahi Ganduje, the former governor of Kano who has long been regarded as Kwankwaso’s major political rival in the state.
Speaking during the BBC interview, Kwankwaso said he still has deep affection for Yusuf and would be willing to reconcile with him if the governor so wishes.
“I didn’t abandon him, didn’t ask him to go or dismiss him, I still like him,” he said.
Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, said he was not a vengeful person and always forgives those who wrong him.
He said he had forgiven Ganduje, the former governor of the state, despite what he described as several wrongdoings meted out to him.
“How many times did I have issues with Ganduje? He challenged me on several occasions,” Kwankwaso said.
“In 2007, when we were in the ministry of defence, he was my special assistant (SA), 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.”
Kwankwaso said that as a leader, he does not dictate or direct people on what to do, stressing that he remains active in politics and is 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,” he said.
“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’m 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.”