Former Kano State Governor and 2027 Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has called for a political reunion between the North and the South-East, insisting that both regions must forgive past grievances and rebuild their historic relationship.
Kwankwaso made the call during an interview with BBC Igbo, where he recalled decades of political cooperation between leaders from both regions and urged Nigerians to prioritise unity over division.
The former governor said the South-East had always been a trusted ally of the North, stressing that the country must move beyond old wounds.
“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 pointed to political alliances in the First Republic, when the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) partnered with the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), led by the late Nnamdi Azikiwe.
He also recalled the Second Republic, when northern political leaders worked closely with South-East politicians, culminating in the emergence of Alex Ekwueme as vice-president.
“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 northern political party, had an alliance with the NCNC, headed by Nnamdi Azikiwe.”
“The Civil War was finished in 1970. In 1978 and 1979, when democracy came back, 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.
The NDC chieftain described the late Ekwueme as a friend of the North, recalling his attendance at the former vice-president’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.
Kwankwaso also cited the return of former Biafran leader Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu from exile as another example of political reconciliation, noting that northern leaders chose forgiveness and inclusion despite the history surrounding the Civil War.
“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.
Addressing concerns that closer ties between the North and South-East could create fresh political divisions, Kwankwaso said national politics must rise above regional, religious and ethnic considerations.
“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.
