Kwankwaso: I’m willing to reconcile with Governor Yusuf, I still like him

The vice presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, says he is willing to reconcile with Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf.

It would be recalled that Yusuf, a staunch adherent of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, won election in 2023 under the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and later defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The development resulted to a frosty relationship between Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, and Yusuf, whom he served as his aide in the last 40 years.

However, in a recent interview with BBC Hausa Service, Kwankwaso said he can forgive and reconcile with Yusuf, if he so wishes.

Kwankwaso said he didn’t abandon nor ask Yusuf to change his political party.

“I didn’t abandon him, didn’t ask him to go or dismiss him, I still like him,” the former governor of Kano State.

Kwankwaso said he was not a vengeful person, and always forgive those who wronged him.

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He added that he forgave former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje despite several wrongdoings meted against him.

He said: “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 (SA), but they held meetings to bring me down because I contested with them.

“Despite the misgivings, I put Ganduje forward and supported him but he failed.”

Kwankwaso, who said he never considered himself as a leader who dictates or directs people on what to do, added that he is still in politics, and not an armchair politician.

He said: “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 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 sale our candidature.”