Kwankwaso Calls for Unity Between North and South-East

Former Governor of Kano State and NDC presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has urged for stronger political ties between Northern Nigeria and the South-East. He believes both regions have a rich history of working together that needs to be rekindled.

Kwankwaso shared his thoughts in an interview with BBC Igbo, which was posted on the broadcaster’s Facebook page on Wednesday.

He said Nigerian leaders have shown the need for forgiveness and inclusion, especially after the Civil War. He called on Nigerians to embrace reconciliation and national unity.

“We have to forgive ourselves. We have to work together as a family. South-East has been our ally, our friends, over the years,” he said.

The former governor reflected on the partnership between the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) and the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) during the First Republic. He mentioned that this alliance included key leaders like Nnamdi Azikiwe.

He also highlighted the collaboration during the Second Republic, where President Shehu Shagari and leaders from the National Party of Nigeria worked alongside politicians from the South-East.

“During our own time, or the time of our fathers, grandfathers in politics, in the First Republic, you could see the NPC then, which is mainly a northern political party, had an alliance with the NCNC, headed by Nnamdi Azikiwe.

“Even in the Second Republic, you could see our leaders, Shagari and co, of course, went coincidentally to the Southeast and even Anambra State, even Azikiwe himself from Anambra State, and so on and so forth. So our leaders had foresight.

“The Civil War ended in 1970. In 1978 and 1979, when democracy returned, the first thing they said was, ‘Look, they are not our enemies. Let’s prove to them. Let’s bring them. Let’s work together.’

“Our leaders of the First Republic worked together with them, and that’s how they brought Alex Ekwueme to be the Vice President,” he said.

Kwankwaso described the late Alex Ekwueme as a friend to the North. He remembered attending Ekwueme’s burial in Oko, Anambra State.

“I went to Oko, the hometown. I was there during Alex Ekwueme’s burial. Throughout his life, he was our friend. It’s only that democracy was truncated,” he added.

He also mentioned the return of the late Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, from exile. He noted that Northern political leaders at that time showed a willingness to reconcile by facilitating Ojukwu’s return to politics.

“The NPN, a mainly northern party, had to invite Ojukwu to come back. He came back, contested for a Senate seat and lost. But despite the fact that he was the leader of Biafra at that particular time, our leaders decided to forgive themselves and forge ahead.

“We cannot be in the same country and start fighting. We have to have the spirit of forgiveness, whoever offended the other. It depends on who is giving the story,” he said.

Kwankwaso emphasized that building stronger relationships with the South-East does not mean being against other regions.

“We are so happy that we in the North have decided to go back to history to work with the Southeast. That’s not to say we are fighting the South-West or any zone in this country. No, we are all friends.

“You can’t play politics in this country alone, politics of Muslims, or Christians, or North, or South, not at this level,” he said.

These comments come as preparations ramp up for the 2027 general election, with Kwankwaso as the vice-presidential candidate of NDC alongside the party’s presidential candidate, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.