FORMER Kano State Governor and Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, says he remains open to reconciliation with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf despite their political differences.

Kwankwaso made the disclosure in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, according to reports by the News Agency of Nigeria.

The relationship between the two politicians deteriorated after Yusuf, who won the 2023 Kano governorship election on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, later moved to the All Progressives Congress.

Yusuf had been closely associated with Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiyya political movement before the split.

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Addressing the relationship, Kwankwaso said he had not rejected or abandoned the Kano governor and maintained that he still had affection for him.

“I didn’t abandon him, didn’t ask him to go or dismiss him, I still like him” he said.

Kwankwaso said he would be willing to forgive Yusuf and restore their relationship if the governor was interested in reconciliation.

He also cited his previous political relationship with former Kano governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, as an example of his willingness to move beyond political disagreements.

According to Kwankwaso, he had experienced several disagreements with Ganduje but subsequently supported his political advancement despite those differences.

“How many times did I have issues with Ganduje? He challenged me on several occasions,” he said.

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Kwankwaso recalled that Ganduje served as his special assistant at the Ministry of Defence in 2007 and alleged that meetings were held to undermine him after he contested against his political associates.

Despite the disagreements, he said he later backed Ganduje. “In spite of the misgivings, I put Ganduje forward and supported him but he failed,” Kwankwaso said.

The former governor said political leaders should recognise that their associates have different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives and should not necessarily be expected to follow the same path.

“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.

He added that differences in age, education, background and individual reasoning could influence people’s political decisions.

Kwankwaso also rejected the idea that his political endorsements are based on financial considerations, saying he does not demand money from politicians seeking his support.

“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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