Former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has disregarded his incumbent successor’s warning not to be called “a boy,” insisting that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf just like Abdullahi Ganduje remain his political protégé.
The chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) made the remarks at his Miller Road residence in Kano while addressing members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
His comments followed recent reaction reportedly credited to Governor Yusuf over Kwankwaso’s repeated reference to him as “his boy”, asserting that his silence should not be mistaken for fear.
According to the Governor, “How could a 69-year-old call a 63-year-old a kid? It is just personal respect because you are slightly older than me.
“However, if an old man does not respect himself and keep quiet, the younger one will have plenty to say. So, we are pleading with them in the name of the Almighty and His Messenger to keep their mouths shut. Else, you will hear a lot of revelations.”
This public outburst marks the first time the governor has openly confronted his former political godfather since their fallout in January, which culminated in Yusuf joining the ruling APC – a move that Kwankwaso described as betrayal.
Responding to the issue on Wednesday, Kwankwaso maintained that both Yusuf and Ganduje rose politically under his mentorship and said there was nothing inappropriate in acknowledging that relationship.
Dressed in a white flowing gown and his trademark red cap, Kwankwaso told the gathering in Hausa that he had been informed some individuals were uncomfortable being described as his political protégés.
“I heard that some people said they dislike being called boys. If not for insolence, how could [former Reps] Mai Gidan Ruwa or Aminu Goro say they were not my boys politically?
“If it is not out of disrespect, will Abba Kabir Yusuf say he is not my political son? If it is not out of disrespect, will Abdullahi Umar Ganduje say he is not my political son?”
The audience greeted his speech with an applause. It remains unclear why Kwankwaso included Ganduje in his comments, as the former governor has largely remained silent amid the recent political exchanges involving the Kwankwasiyya leader and Governor Yusuf.
The latest exchange is seen as another indication of the evolving political dynamics within Kano State ahead of political activities and alignments for the 2027 elections.
