Former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso has opened the door to reconciliation with his estranged successor, Governor Abba Yusuf,
despite the political differences that have driven a wedge between the former allies.
Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, made the disclosure while speaking about his relationship with Yusuf in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service published on Sunday.
The former governor said he still has affection for Yusuf and would be willing to make peace with him if the Kano governor is also ready to reconcile.
“I didn’t abandon him, didn’t ask him to go or dismiss him, I still like him,” Kwankwaso said.
Yusuf was once a prominent member of the Kwankwasiyya movement, the political structure associated with Kwankwaso and his supporters.
However, their relationship became strained after Yusuf defected to the All Progressives Congress and aligned politically with former Kano Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, one of Kwankwaso’s major political rivals in the state.
Despite the fallout, Kwankwaso said he does not consider himself a vindictive person.
He pointed to his past relationship with Ganduje, saying he had forgiven him despite several political disagreements.
Kwankwaso recalled that Ganduje served as his special assistant at the Ministry of Defence in 2007. He alleged that Ganduje and others later worked against him after he contested against them.
Despite those differences, Kwankwaso said he eventually supported Ganduje’s political advancement.
The former governor also stressed that he cannot dictate how other people think or behave.
“I’m not God,” he said, explaining that people have different backgrounds, ages, experiences and educational qualifications.
He said political relationships require patience, compassion and an understanding that people will not always act according to another person’s expectations.
Kwankwaso also maintained that he does not demand money from politicians in exchange for endorsements or political tickets.
“We don’t ask for a dime from each of them to get our endorsement and tickets; we don’t sell our candidature,” he said.
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