Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Kano State Governor and 2027 vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has called for stronger political ties between the North and South-East, urging Nigerians to embrace forgiveness and unity.
In an interview with BBC Igbo aired on Wednesday, Kwankwaso highlighted the long-standing alliance between the two regions and stressed the need for reconciliation after historical conflicts.“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.Kwankwaso recalled alliances from Nigeria’s First Republic, when the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) partnered with the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) led by Nnamdi Azikiwe.
He also pointed to the Second Republic, where President Shehu Shagari and the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) collaborated with South-East politicians.He noted that shortly after the Civil War ended in 1970, leaders moved quickly to reintegrate the South-East when democracy returned in 1979. This spirit of inclusion led to the emergence of Alex Ekwueme as Vice President.
Kwankwaso described the late Ekwueme as a friend of the North and recalled attending his burial in Oko, Anambra State. He also referenced the return of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu from exile, facilitated by Northern leaders who allowed him to contest a Senate seat.
“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,” he said.
Kwankwaso warned against division, stating that Nigerians cannot afford to fight while living in the same country. He clarified that closer North-South-East cooperation is not directed against any other region.
“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,” he added.
The comments come as Kwankwaso teams up with former Anambra Governor Peter Obi on the NDC ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections, amid ongoing political realignments across the country.
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