By Yemi Yusuf
President-Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, continues to solidify his base with post-election alliances as the date for his inauguration draws nearer.
Tinubu, who left Nigeria last week Tuesday for Europe to meet foreign investors, reportedly met the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the February 25 election, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Sources said the meeting discussed ways in which Kwankwaso can be involved in the incoming administration and other issues around the election of presiding officers into the 10th National Assembly.
The meeting between Tinubu and Kwankwaso lasted about four hours with Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Reps and presumptive chief of staff to the president-elect, and Abdulmumin Jibrin, an NNPP rep-elect who accompanied Kwankwaso in attendance.
Oluremi Tinubu, senator and wife of president-elect received Kwankwaso’s wife, Salamatu.
Kwankwaso, reportedly agreed in principle to join Tinubu’s government subject to consultations with the stakeholders on both sides.
Tinubu is expected to brief Kashim Shettima, the vice-president elect, APC governors forum and other party leaders while Kwankwaso will do the same with his party leadership.
Sources said Tinubu expressed concern over the strained relations between Abdullahi Ganduje, outgoing governor of Kano state, and Kwankwaso, and promised to broker peace between them.
Ganduje was deputy to Kwankwaso when he was governor of Kano from 2011 to 2015 but they soon parted ways.
Kwankwaso’s NNPP defeated Tinubu’s APC in both the Presidential and governorship elections in Kano State.
