That Kwankwaso suspended his presidential ambition to team up with Peter Obi in the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) tells the true story of a committed patriot. He worked with Speaker Agunwa Anaekwe in the Third Republic and has continued to build bridges down South.
By Emeka Obasi
Understanding the balance of power between Northern and Southern Nigeria is the key to national unity. Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso feels very much at home with both sides of the divide beginning with his first big national outing as Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives in 1992.
That Kwankwaso suspended his presidential ambition to team up with Peter Obi in the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) tells the true story of a committed patriot. He worked with Speaker Agunwa Anaekwe in the Third Republic and has continued to build bridges down South.
It does not smell sweet that after four years of President Bola Tinubu, the North will come back to power. Unfair is the word to describe President Bola Tinubu’s attempt to go for a second term when the South – East remains excluded from Aso Villa tenancy.
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Kwankwaso is a true democrat who weighed the consequences of sidelining the South – East, re – electing Tinubu or giving Abubakar Atiku undue advantage in 2027. Injustice to one, like the great Martin Luther King jr posited, is injustice to all.
After going solo in the 2023 presidential election, Kwankwaso believes teaming up with a reliable Southern candidate will restore national peace. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) did not care about the feelings of Nigerians with their divisive Muslim – Muslim repeat ticket.
Those who do not understand the power behind Kwankwasiyya have themselves to blame. Kwankwaso is like hurricane. He demolishes the opposition with solid achievements. As governor of Kano State, he introduced free feeding and uniforms for primary schools. Education in that state has remained a priority.
Who parades as much profile? Kwankwaso was governor, moved to Abuja as minister of Defence, returned to Government House Kano, relocated to the Federal Capital Territory as senator and has gone through diplomatic circles as Special Envoy to Somalia and Darfur.
Here is a man that understands the power of Regional cooperation. When Vice President Atiku wanted to upstage President Obasanjo, Kwankwaso stood against that for it meant that after eight years of Ibrahim Babangida, five years of Sani Abacha and one year of Abdusalami Abubakar, another Northerner would hurriedly climb the podium.
As governor of Kano State in 2002, Kwankwaso made friends with his Southern Colleagues. I remember meeting him at the Ogbe Stadium Benin, the day then Edo State governor Lucky Igbinedion, took to the field against the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).
Igbinedion was originally a goalkeeper but while schooling in the United Kingdom, lonely moments in the cold knocked him away from the post. It was not a surprise that Kwankwaso also took time to inspect the Ogbe lawn tennis courts.
When the former Kano governor spent 17 years (1975 – 1992) as a Water Engineer at the Water Resources and Engineering Construction Agency, they had a strong football team, known as WRECA. That outfit did not give Works Golden Stars and Bank of the North, a breather. In 1990, state sports commissioner, Ibrahim Galadima brought all three clubs under one roof, as Kano Pillars.
Kwankwaso is a quiet giver. Not many remember that he once doled out over 150 million naira to equip amateur clubs all over the country. As governor in 2003, Kano produced Sport minister Musa Mohammed and NFF Chairman, Ibrahim Galadima.
Here we have a man of integrity. The Obi/ Kwankwaso combination will be a complete departure from the past. The NDC Vice Presidential candidate sold his investment and donated ted the proceeds to the Kwankwasiyya Development Foundation.
This grassroots man has a clean heart, as white as snow. I joked with someone that Kwankwaso wears white because, of the 13 military governors that ruled Kano, from Audu Bako to Aminu Kontagora, there was no naval officer. So, to make up for the missing navy blue, Kwankwaso adopted the white of the sea lords.
It was difficult for a governor to support his deputy but Kwankwaso did it for Abdullahi Gandunje. Abba Kabiru Yusuf, is not only married to Kwankwaso’s daughter, the present Kano State governor followed his father – in – law, from WRECA to the House of Representatives, Defence House and Government House, Kano. At the right time, they will come back to the Kwankwasiyya family.
People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges. Kwankwaso is a crowd puller. Kwankwasiyya is a mass movement. Now combine all this with the Obidients. Nigeria is in a for a new Dawn. Everything is going be OK.
Obasi is a Lagos based Comparative Historian and Author.
