Kano Govt Open To Reconciliation With Kwankwaso – Commissioner

The Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, has said the state government is open to reconciliation with former governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Waiya stated this on Sunday in a telephone interview with our correspondent while reacting to Kwankwaso’s recent declaration that his door remained open to reconciliation with Governor Abba Yusuf.
Kwankwaso, in an interview with BBC Hausa published on his verified social media page, said he had neither abandoned Yusuf nor asked him to leave his political camp.

He said he still loves the governor, adding that political differences should not prevent reconciliation.
Reacting, Waiya said the government regards the former governor as a father figure and would therefore welcome any move to restore their relationship.

“We regard Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as a father to us. Therefore, just as he said that his door is open for reconciliation, our door is also open,” the commissioner said.
Waiya added that Governor Yusuf had previously urged his supporters not to regard Kwankwaso as an adversary.

“Moreover, our Governor, His Excellency Abba Kabir Yusuf, has said that we should not fight with him because he is a father figure to us.

“Therefore, we have no problem with reconciliation if it happens. Besides, it is not really a fight; it is simply a difference of opinion,” he added.

The comments followed the political differences between Yusuf and Kwankwaso after the governor defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party to the All Progressives Congress.

Kwankwaso, while discussing his relationship with Yusuf, said he believes political disagreements can be resolved through patience, forgiveness and compassion.
He also cited his past relationship with former governor Abdullahi Ganduje, saying despite their political disagreements, he had supported Ganduje’s political ambition at a point.

The former governor stressed that political leaders should not expect their followers to agree with every decision they make, noting that individuals have different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

Yusuf, a former political associate and protégé of Kwankwaso, emerged as the NNPP governorship candidate in the 2023 election with the support of the Kwankwasiyya political structure.

His subsequent defection to the APC altered his political relationship with Kwankwaso and reshaped Kano’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Although Kwankwaso has expressed willingness to reconcile, neither he nor Yusuf has announced any formal agreement to restore their political relationship.