Former Kano State Governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf owes his electoral success to the strength of the Kwankwasiyya movement, insisting that the governor’s decision to leave the political fold remains a personal choice.
Speaking in an interview aired by BBC Hausa, Kwankwaso maintained that despite their political differences, he still holds no grudge against Yusuf and would welcome him back if he chooses to return.
“I still love Abba and I didn’t reject him; he is the one who left,” Kwankwaso said.
The former governor argued that Yusuf emerged victorious in the 2023 governorship election because of the popularity and structure of the Kwankwasiyya movement, which backed him under the banner of the New Nigeria People’s Party.
“We picked Abba to contest under the NNPP and we won, but he later joined the same people we defeated,” he said.
Kwankwaso dismissed suggestions that Yusuf defected out of fear of losing political relevance, insisting that the movement remained strong enough to retain power in Kano.
According to him, the choice of Yusuf as the party’s candidate was a deliberate strategy to test the influence of the Kwankwasiyya movement rather than a reward for seniority or academic qualifications.
“We did not choose him because he was the most senior or the most educated. We chose him because we wanted to test the strength and calibre of the movement at that time,” he stated.
The former governor, who recently moved from the NNPP to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, also stressed the need for tolerance and forgiveness in politics, noting that disagreements among political allies are not unusual.
Drawing a comparison with his past relationship with Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Kwankwaso said political differences should not permanently destroy relationships.
“As a leader, you need to have an open heart. Without forgiveness, we would not have come this far,” he said.
Despite the fallout, Kwankwaso reiterated that the door remains open for reconciliation with Yusuf and any other former allies willing to return to the movement.
