Political Differences Won’t Diminish My Affection, Tinubu Tells Kwankwaso

President Bola Tinubu has said that political differences will not diminish his affection for former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as the latter marks his 70th birthday.

Tinubu stated this in a congratulatory message to Kwankwaso on Wednesday, in which he recalled their longstanding political relationship spanning more than three decades.

The president noted that their association dated back to 1992, when Kwankwaso was a member of the House of Representatives and he was a senator in the National Assembly.

He said their political relationship continued in 1999 when both men emerged as governors of their respective states.

According to Tinubu, as members of the Class of ’99 governors, they played pivotal roles in laying the foundation for the democracy the country enjoys today.

The president recalled that although their political paths diverged because of different political choices, they eventually came together in 2013 to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Since then, history and service have kept us intertwined,” he said.

Tinubu acknowledged Kwankwaso’s contributions to Kano State and Nigeria, citing his service as a two-term governor, former minister of defence, former senator and presidential candidate.

He also described the former governor as an influential figure and a progressive politician.

The president said their current political differences and participation on different platforms in the 2027 election would not affect the personal bond between them.

“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,” Tinubu said.

Kwankwaso, who governed Kano State for two terms, remains a prominent figure in Nigerian politics.

Tinubu wished the former governor good health, personal fulfilment and many more years of participation in the nation’s democratic process as he celebrates the milestone.