Tinubu felicitates Kwankwaso at 70, says party rivalry won't touch their bond

President Bola Tinubu don send birthday greetings to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, di former Kano State governor wey turn 70 on Wednesday, 21 October 2026.

Di message, wey di President spokesman Bayo Onanuga release, make am clear say di two men now stand on opposite sides of politics but dem still close personally.

Tinubu dey seek re-election on di All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket. Kwankwaso dey run for vice-president on di Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) platform as running mate to Peter Obi for di January 2027 election.

For di statement, di President talk say belonging to different parties and contesting on separate platforms no go take away im affection for di former Kano governor.

Three decades of friendship

Tinubu trace di relationship to 1992, when both men sit for National Assembly: Kwankwaso for House of Representatives and Tinubu for Senate.

Dem meet again for 1999, when each was elected governor — Kwankwaso for Kano and Tinubu for Lagos. Di President describe that set of leaders as di Class of '99 governors, talk say dem help lay di groundwork for di democracy wey Nigerians dey use today.

Dia political routes later separate, di statement talk, before dem rejoin forces for 2013 to found di APC. Tinubu talk say history and public service don keep dem connected since then.

Di President list Kwankwaso record for public life: two terms as Kano governor, Minister of Defence, senator for Kano Central, a presidential candidate and now a running mate. He call am influential figure and a progressive politician.

He close by wishing Kwankwaso good health, personal fulfilment and many more years for di country democratic life.

For ordinary Nigerians, di exchange na reminder say di 2027 campaign don already start, with former allies now dey ask voters for support from rival camps. Di two men careers don cross for more than three decades, and dia parties go meet for ballot for January 2027.