Even Ganduje was once my boy – Kwankwaso replies Governor Yusuf

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has publicly escalated his political dispute with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, dismissing claims that he described the governor in disrespectful terms and reiterating his long-standing influence within the Kwankwasiyya political structure.

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Speaking to supporters at his Miller Road residence in Kano, Kwankwaso addressed recent remarks from Governor Yusuf, who had criticised him for allegedly referring to him as a “stooge” or “boy,” calling the language disrespectful given their age difference.

Kwankwaso, however, pushed back strongly, insisting that his comments reflected political mentorship rather than insult.

“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? How could even Ganduje deny that he was once my boy?” he said. The reference to former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje was used to reinforce his argument that many prominent politicians in Kano once emerged under his political structure.

The exchange highlights a widening rift between Kwankwaso and Governor Yusuf, who both rose through the Kwankwasiyya movement before parting ways after Yusuf’s election on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). Governor Yusuf, in his response, said Kwankwaso’s repeated public comments were disrespectful and warned that his restraint should not be mistaken for weakness, adding that he could reveal sensitive issues if provoked further.

The dispute marks one of the most significant public breakdowns within the Kwankwasiyya political bloc in recent years, with both sides now openly contesting influence over its legacy and political direction.