Former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has characterized his support for former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 as a “fruitless sacrifice,” lamenting that the massive electoral mandate he delivered was met with systemic ingratitude and a total abandonment of his constituency.
Speaking during a high-stakes interview on Arise TV on Monday, Kwankwaso, the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, laid bare the deep-seated grievances that have reshaped his political trajectory. He revealed that despite mobilizing a staggering 1.9 million votes to end the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) 16-year hegemony, he and his followers were treated as peripheral figures once the reins of power were seized.
“We didn’t just vote; we fought. We put our lives on the line in the trenches of 2015 to bring about that change,” Kwankwaso declared, his tone reflecting years of simmering resentment. “But as soon as the victory was secured, the doors were slammed shut. We were not recognized, our people were ignored, and the constituencies that provided the bedrock for that victory were left in a political wasteland. There was zero benefit—not for the individuals who labored, nor for the millions who believed in the promise.”
**A Cycle of Failure**
Expanding his critique beyond the Buhari era, Kwankwaso provided a grim autopsy of Nigeria’s leadership since the return to democracy in 1999. He described a cycle of missed opportunities and systemic stagnation. While acknowledging Olusegun Obasanjo’s efforts and the health-related constraints of Umaru Yar’adua, Kwankwaso dismissed the Goodluck Jonathan era as one mired in bitter internal disputes over power-sharing.
Turning his gaze toward the current landscape, the former governor did not mince words regarding the incumbent Tinubu administration. “The cracks are visible to everyone,” he remarked. “The current government is grappling with the same fundamental issues of trust and delivery. Nigerians are tired of the same old rhetoric; they are hungry for a radical departure from this cycle of mediocrity.”
**The Rise of the NDC: A Seismic Shift**
Kwankwaso’s disillusionment has catalyzed what many analysts are calling a “political earthquake.” He confirmed that his decision to join the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) alongside Peter Obi on May 3 has ignited a grassroots firestorm.
“The response has been overwhelming,” Kwankwaso noted. “Since the NDC was formed, it has ceased to be just a political party; it has become a national movement. People are not waiting for us to reach them—they are opening offices in their own villages and even across the diaspora. This is the momentum of a people who have finally reached their breaking point.”
**Competence Over Tribe**
In a move that has rattled traditional Northern political circles, Kwankwaso reaffirmed his commitment to zoning the NDC’s 2027 presidential ticket to the South. He argued that the “Northern identity” of a president had failed to translate into security or prosperity for the North, citing the Buhari years as a prime example of regionalism failing its own people.
“The trenches have taught us a hard lesson: a president being from your village does not put food on your table or keep your children safe,” he said. “We have moved past the era of ethnic sentiments. What Nigeria needs now is quality, enthusiastic, and committed leadership. We are looking for builders, not bigots.”
As the 2027 election cycle begins to take shape, Kwankwaso’s candid admission of betrayal serves as a rallying cry for his supporters and a stark warning to the political elite: the era of harvesting votes without delivering dividends is over. With the NDC positioning itself as the “Third Way,” the veteran politician seems determined to ensure that his next political investment yields actual progress for the Nigerian people.
