By Lizzy Chirkpi
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on his 70th birthday, describing him as a longtime friend whose political differences with him would not diminish their personal relationship.
In a statement issued by the State House on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Tinubu reflected on his decades-long association with Kwankwaso, dating back to 1992, when both men served in the National Assembly.
While Kwankwaso represented a constituency in the House of Representatives, Tinubu served in the Senate. Both later became governors in 1999, joining the first set of elected state governors under Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
“As members of the Class of ’99 Governors, we both played pivotal roles in laying the foundation for the democracy the nation enjoys today,” the President said.
Tinubu recalled that their political paths crossed again in 2013 when they joined forces with other opposition figures to establish the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said their shared political history and years of public service had kept them connected despite subsequent differences.
“History and service have kept us intertwined,” the President said.
Tinubu also acknowledged Kwankwaso’s contributions to national politics, citing his two terms as governor of Kano State, his service as Minister of Defence, his representation of Kano Central in the Senate and his participation in previous presidential elections.
He described the former governor as “an influential figure and a progressive politician.”
Despite their current political differences, Tinubu said the relationship they had built over the years would endure.
“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,” he said.
Kwankwaso, a leading political figure in Kano State and founder of the Kwankwasiyya movement, remains an influential force in the state’s politics. He is currently associated with the New Democratic Congress (NDC) as its vice-presidential candidate, according to the political alignment referenced in the statement.
Tinubu’s birthday message comes as political parties and their candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 general election.
The President’s tribute highlights a longstanding political relationship that has endured shifting alliances and competing ambitions, with Tinubu insisting that the prospect of electoral rivalry will not erase their personal ties.