President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said his political differences with former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and their opposing positions ahead of the January 2027 presidential election will not diminish his personal affection for the opposition politician.
President Tinubu said this in a birthday tribute to Kwankwaso who turned 70 yesterday.
He described the former Minister of Defence as a longstanding friend and influential figure in Nigeria’s political development.
The President who is seeking re-election on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Kwankwaso the vice-presidential candidate of the opposition Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and running mate to Peter Obi are currently on opposing sides of the political divide.
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Mr. Peter Obi the Founder of the party Senator Seriake Dickson and former Senate President Bukola Saraki also felicitated Kwankwaso on his landmark birthday.
But in what appeared to be an affirmation of personal friendship above partisan considerations President Tinubu maintained that their political rivalry would not undermine the relationship they have built over more than three decades.
‘That we are in different political parties and competing on different platforms in the January 2027 election will not remove my affection for Senator Kwankwaso’ the President declared.
President Tinubu recalled that his relationship with Kwankwaso dates back to 1992 when both served in the National Assembly during the aborted Third Republic with Kwankwaso in the House of Representatives and himself in the Senate.He noted that their political paths crossed again in 1999 when they were elected governors of Kano and Lagos states respectively at the beginning of the Fourth Republic.
According to the President their shared experience as members of the pioneering class of governors in the current democratic dispensation helped forge a relationship that has endured despite their subsequent political disagreements.
‘Senator Kwankwaso and I have had a longstanding association dating back to our time in the National Assembly in 1992 he in the House of Representatives and I in the Senate and later in 1999 when we both emerged as governors of our respective states.
‘As members of the Class of ’99 Governors we both played pivotal roles in laying the foundation for the democracy the nation enjoys today’ President Tinubu stated.
The President also reflected on their political journey acknowledging that although they had taken different political routes over the years circumstances brought them together in 2013 during the formation of the APC.
‘Shaped by different political choices our political paths differed until we coalesced in 2013 to form the All Progressives Congress. Since then history and service have kept us intertwined’ he said.
President Tinubu also acknowledged Kwankwaso’s contributions to governance and national development particularly his service as a two-term governor of Kano State Minister of Defence senator and presidential candidate.
The President who recognised Kwankwaso’s current position as a vice-presidential candidate described him as an important political figure whose contributions to the nation’s democratic evolution deserved acknowledgement irrespective of partisan affiliations.
‘I must acknowledge Senator Kwankwaso’s immense contributions to Kano State and Nigeria as a two-term Governor former Minister of Defence former Senator former presidential candidate and now a presidential running mate.
‘Senator Kwankwaso remains an influential figure and a progressive politician’ President Tinubu said.
Kwankwaso who contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) is currently the vice-presidential candidate to Obi on the NDC platform in the January 2027 election.
The President wished Kwankwaso continued good health and fulfilment expressing hope that he would remain actively involved in the country’s democratic process.
‘As the former governor marks this milestone I wish him good health personal fulfilment and many more years of engagement in the nation’s democratic process’ President Tinubu stated.
Also the NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi described Kwankwaso as an accomplished public servant whose partnership will help rescue Nigeria from years of bad governance.
In a birthday tribute to Kwankwaso the former Anambra State governor applauded Kwankwaso’s decades of public service describing him as an elder brother friend and partner united with him by a shared commitment to national development.
In the tribute through the Peter Obi Media Office the NDC presidential candidate said his relationship with Kwankwaso had deepened through their conversations and common vision for the country.
‘With the passage of time I have come to appreciate the bond between us deeply the many conversations we have shared and the common commitment to Nigeria that continues to shape our service’ he said.
Obi said Kwankwaso’s experience in the legislature Federal Executive Council (FEC) Kano State government and national politics had prepared him for further service to the country.
‘As you mark your 70th birthday on October 21 I honour not only an accomplished public servant but also a very dear elder brother friend and partner whose life has been dedicated to serving our people’ he said.
The NDC presidential candidate said their partnership was driven by a shared determination to build a country where Nigerians could live in dignity security and prosperity.
‘As we continue to hope for and work toward a better Nigeria I remain grateful for our partnership and for our shared conviction that our nation can become a place where no child is deprived of opportunity no family is left in poverty and every Nigerian can live with dignity security and hope’ Obi added.
In a separate birthday message to the former Kano State governor NDC’s National Leader Seriake Dickson said: ‘You have inspired generations with your belief in Nigeria. Your membership of our great party Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and partnership with His Excellency Peter Obi in the presidential race has drawn more of our people into believing in the possibility of a new Nigeria where everyone is safe prosperous and nobody is oppressed.
‘May this milestone bring you good health peace joy and renewed strength for the journey ahead – the journey to create a better future for Nigerians.’
Also in a statement by its National Chairman Senator Cleopas Moses the party congratulated its vice-presidential candidate on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) the National Working Committee (NWC) members and supporters in Nigeria and the diaspora.
The party praised Kwankwaso’s record in public service particularly his tenure as Kano State governor during which he championed the Kwankwasiyya political movement.
‘At 70 you remain a towering symbol of courage selfless service progressive politics and people-centred leadership’ the statement said.
Also Saraki lauded Kwankwaso’s contributions to education and the development of young Nigerians.
In a message posted on his X handle Saraki described Kwankwaso’s commitment to providing educational opportunities for thousands of young Nigerians at home and abroad as one of his enduring legacies.
The former Senate President said many of the beneficiaries of Kwankwaso’s educational initiatives were making valuable contributions to Nigeria and beyond.
‘One of the lasting measures of leadership is the opportunities that we create for others’ he said.
Saraki added that Kwankwaso’s investment in education provided opportunities for young people to develop their potential and contribute to society.