Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has fired a thinly veiled warning at his former political mentor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, saying his continued silence should not be mistaken for fear and that he will respond if pushed “to the wall.”
Speaking to party supporters on Monday at the official affirmation of Sulaiman Kawu Sumaila as the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Kano South in Rano, Governor Yusuf appealed for calm but made clear he will not remain silent indefinitely.
“For us, peace in Kano is our priority,” Yusuf said. “But if we are pushed to the wall, we will open our mouths and talk. Silence is not a sign of fear. To remain quiet is an act of worship, not because we are afraid. How could a 69‑year‑old call a 63‑year‑old a kid? That is only a mark of personal respect for an elder. However, if an older man does not respect himself and keeps silent, the younger one will have something to say.”
The governor urged his opponents to refrain from inflammatory public attacks, invoking religion as he pleaded, “We are pleading with them in the name of Almighty God and His Messenger to keep their mouths shut. Otherwise, you will hear a lot of revelations.”
Yusuf’s remarks mark the strongest public confrontation with Kwankwaso since the two men parted ways earlier this year, a split that has added strain to an already fractious Kano political landscape. The exchange comes weeks after Kwankwaso, in an exclusive interview with Trust TV, said Yusuf erred in leaving the Kwankwasiyya movement and highlighted the movement’s role in elevating Yusuf’s former personal assistant to the governorship.
Monday’s affirmation ceremony, attended by APC supporters and local leaders, also underscored the growing realignment within Kano politics, where loyalties have shifted and internal rivalries remain pronounced. Yusuf’s warning is likely to reverberate through both party ranks and among ordinary voters as political tensions continue ahead of coming national and state contests.
For now, Yusuf framed his stance as a last resort: a plea for restraint coupled with a promise that he will speak out should provocations continue. The governor did not outline what form those “revelations” might take or set a timeline for any public response.
