By Kolawole Ojebisi
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has publicly reaffirmed his loyalty to his political godfather and former governor of the state, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Yusuf also refuted claims of a rift between him and the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Kwankwaso.
The governor stressed that it would be a height of betrayal and ingratitude to stab Kwankwaso in the back after years of enjoying his love and guidance.
Yusuf said this on Thursday during an interaction with journalists. Speaking on the rumoured rift between him and Kwankwaso, Yusuf stressed that their relationship has stood the test of time having lasted for 40 years.
“There is no truth in the rumours of a misunderstanding between us,” Yusuf said.
The governor went down memory lane and recounted how he met Kwankwaso 40 years ago and how their intimacy blossomed into genuine friendship.
“In my 40 years of knowing him, tell me, who among politicians has stayed with someone this long and still maintained harmony? When he was governor, I served as his personal assistant, always by his side. In all these years, we have never had a rift. To now suggest that I am somehow chained by Kwankwaso is simply unfair.
“Even just two days ago, I visited him and told him about these rumours. I said, ‘I am surprised. Do people expect me to insult the man who stood by me?’ This is someone who has been there for me, and now some want me to go against him. It is simply not in my nature,” Yusuf asserted, adding that his governorship is not due to any person’s influence but the will of God.
He warned those asking him to severe the mentor-mentee ties between him and the leader of the Kwankwasiyan movement to desist from doing so.
Yusuf made the warning in reaction to the demand of a faction within the NNPP known as “Abba Tsaya da Kafarka” (meaning “Abba, stand on your own”) calling on the governor to distance himself from his political mentor, encouraging him to make decisions independently of Kwankwaso’s input.
The movement’s momentum has increased, with members from both the party and other political circles pushing for Yusuf’s perceived autonomy.
Yusuf addressed this group directly, calling their message an “insult” to his loyalty.
“This ‘stand on your own’ slogan is the greatest insult I have faced as governor. It implies that I should repay good with bad. What has Kwankwaso done to me to deserve this? All the good we are doing for the people is overlooked, and instead, they promote this divisive rhetoric,” Yusuf remarked, adding, “It’s as if people do not know what we are doing for them.”
The New Diplomat had reported rumoured crisis rocking the Kwankwasiyya movement. There are also speculations that the crisis has spread to the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) as there are allegations that Kwankwaso exerts excessive influence over Yusuf’s administration, with some claiming he dictates policy decisions, effectively running a “third term by proxy.”
