Kwankwaso Reminds Governor Yusuf Of Their ‘Shared Political Journey’ In Birthday Message

The leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and former Kano State governor, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has extended birthday felicitations to his political mentee and incumbent governor of Kano State, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, reminding the latter of their ‘shared political journey’ spanning many years.

The cryptic birthday message comes amid heightened political tension in Kano State over reports of Governor Yusuf’s planned defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a post on his verified X handle on Monday, Kwankwaso reflected on his long-standing political relationship with Yusuf, tracing their years of working together both at the State and Federal levels.

“On this day, I appreciate the birthday of the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf,” Kwankwaso wrote. “I reflect on the many years of our shared political journey, during which he served in various important capacities—first as my Personal Assistant in my first term and as Minister, and then as Principal Private Assistant, and later as Commissioner during my second tenure, and now as Governor—through which he contributed to the vision and programmes we pursued for the development of Kano State.”

Kwankwaso also offered prayers for the governor, saying, “I pray that this new year grants him wisdom, good health, and clarity of purpose.”

The congratulatory message has drawn attention given the current political atmosphere in Kano State, where speculation has intensified over a possible defection by Governor Yusuf from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the ruling APC. Kwankwaso has publicly dismissed the reports, emphasising he was not in support of realignment with APC where his former deputy turned political rival and former governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, holds sway.

Governor Yusuf has yet to make a formal public statement addressing the defection rumours, fueling continued debate within political circles in the state.