President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his long-standing relationship with former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, insisting that their looming rivalry in the January 2027 elections will not sour their decades-long personal connection.
In a tribute marking Kwankwaso’s 70th birthday on Wednesday, the President reflected on a political journey the two have shared for over thirty years. Their ties date back to 1992 during the Third Republic, when Tinubu served in the Senate while Kwankwaso was a member of the House of Representatives.
Their paths converged again in 1999 as members of the “Class of ’99” governors. Tinubu noted that during this pivotal era, both men played central roles in laying the democratic foundation that Nigeria continues to build upon today.
“As members of the Class of ’99 Governors, we both played pivotal roles in laying the foundation for the democracy the nation enjoys today,” Tinubu said.
While their political trajectories eventually diverged, the two reunited in 2013 as founding figures of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Reflecting on this period, the President remarked, “Since then, history and service have kept us intertwined.”
Acknowledging the “elephant in the room,” Tinubu addressed the fact that the 2027 general elections will likely see them campaigning on opposing sides. However, he maintained that political competition would not result in personal animosity.
“That we are in different political parties and competing on different platforms in the January 2027 election will not remove my affection for Senator Kwankwaso,” the President stated.
Tinubu went on to praise Kwankwaso’s extensive record of public service, highlighting his two terms as Governor of Kano State, his tenure as Minister of Defence, his time in the Senate, and his previous presidential bid. He described the NNPP leader as a consistently influential figure in the nation’s landscape.
The President concluded his message by wishing Kwankwaso continued good health, personal fulfillment, and many more years of service to the country.
