Politics, it is often said, has no permanent friends, only permanent interests. Yet, in Kano, the long-standing alliance between Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso once appeared to defy that logic. For over four decades, their political bond seemed firm, predictable and almost destined.
Yusuf’s rise was inseparable from Kwankwaso’s towering influence. Mentor and protégé, benefactor and beneficiary, political godfather and in-law—the relationship was both political and deeply personal. For years, Yusuf’s identity was firmly embedded in the Kwankwasiyya movement, with Kwankwaso as its undisputed leader.
Recent political developments, however, suggest that the once-solid alliance may be quietly unravelling—without open confrontation and without public drama, like a dream fading at dawn.
Yusuf’s political journey began with loyalty rather than personal ambition. In 1999, when Kwankwaso became governor of Kano State, Yusuf was appointed his personal assistant. The position offered more than access to power; it became a political apprenticeship.
When Kwankwaso moved to Abuja in 2003 as a federal minister, Yusuf followed, retaining his role. For years, he worked behind the scenes, learning governance and party politics while absorbing the ideology that later defined Kwankwasiyya.
His loyalty was rewarded in 2011 when Kwankwaso returned for a second term as governor and appointed Yusuf Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport. The portfolio proved strategic. As infrastructure projects expanded across the state, Yusuf’s public profile rose, even as Kwankwaso remained the movement’s dominant figure.
By 2018, Kwankwaso was ready to install a successor. He endorsed Yusuf to challenge then-Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje in the 2019 election under the Peoples Democratic Party. The contest was fiercely disputed and ended in defeat for Yusuf after a rerun and an unsuccessful legal battle.
Many assumed the loss would end Yusuf’s ambition. Instead, it hardened his resolve. Kwankwaso stood by him, quietly recalibrating for another attempt.
In 2022, both men defected from the PDP to the New Nigeria Peoples Party. Once again, Kwankwaso’s backing proved decisive. In the 2023 governorship election, Yusuf defeated APC candidate Nasir Yusuf Gawuna to emerge governor of Kano State.
The victory reinforced the widespread belief that Kwankwaso’s political machinery—his loyalists, grassroots networks and enduring appeal—had delivered Kano for Yusuf. To many residents, the new governor was viewed as Kwankwaso’s political son, governing under his mentor’s long shadow.
Few imagined a scenario in which Yusuf would pursue an independent political path, let alone drift away from the man who shaped his rise.
But politics is fluid, and power reshapes relationships.
Speculation is growing that Governor Yusuf may defect to the All Progressives Congress, while Kwankwaso is reportedly exploring an opposition coalition linked to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar under the African Democratic Congress. If confirmed, such moves would mark one of the most significant political separations in Kano’s recent history.
“I never imagined—even in a dream—that Abba would part ways politically with his mentor,” a long-time Kwankwasiyya loyalist was quoted as saying, reflecting the shock rippling through Kano’s political space.
Such a split would go beyond personal differences. It would be ideological and strategic, with far-reaching consequences. Kano remains central to Nigeria’s political calculations, and divisions among its elite often echo beyond the state.
For the ruling APC, Yusuf’s possible defection could strengthen its grip on Kano. Conversely, Kwankwaso’s alignment with a national opposition bloc could energise resistance ahead of the 2027 elections.
Beyond party manoeuvres lies a familiar lesson of Nigerian politics: godfathers may make kings, but kings eventually seek their own crowns. Loyalty can give way to rivalry, and mentorship can quietly yield to independence.
From personal assistant to governor, Yusuf’s journey is one of patience, grooming and political survival. Should he finally step out of Kwankwaso’s shadow, it may be remembered as the moment he truly became his own man—leaving behind a relationship that once defined his political life.
As rumours swirl and alliances shift, one truth remains constant: Nigerian politics is unpredictable. Alliances are temporary, interests supreme, and yesterday’s certainties can dissolve overnight.
For now, Kano watches and waits.
Garba Ubale Kankarofi writes from Kano.
