By Musa Baba Adamu
The presidential running mate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said the North is prepared to renew its political alliance with the South-East ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an interview with BBC Igbo, monitored in Abuja, the former Kano State governor urged Nigerians to embrace forgiveness and national unity, stressing that past political leaders had demonstrated the benefits of cross-regional cooperation.
Kwankwaso recalled that the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) partnered with the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) led by Nnamdi Azikiwe during the First Republic, while the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) also worked closely with South-East leaders in the Second Republic.
According to him, the decision by Northern leaders to support the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme as vice president reflected the commitment to national integration after the civil war.
He also cited the return of the late Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, from exile, noting that the NPN facilitated his return to Nigeria despite his role during the civil war.
Kwankwaso said Ojukwu later contested a Senate seat, describing the development as evidence that political leaders of the time chose reconciliation over division.
“We have to forgive ourselves and work together as one family,” he said, adding that the renewed partnership with the South-East should not be interpreted as hostility toward the South-West or any other region.
He maintained that Nigeria’s progress depends on unity rather than politics based on ethnicity, religion or regional differences, insisting that all parts of the country remain partners in the nation’s democratic journey.
