The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 general election, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has called for the revival of the long-standing political alliance between Northern Nigeria and the South-East, saying both regions have a history of working together for national progress.
Kwankwaso made the call during an interview with BBC Igbo, where he stressed the need for forgiveness, reconciliation and unity among Nigerians, irrespective of past political or historical differences.
According to him, the country’s political history demonstrates that leaders from different regions once built strong partnerships that promoted national cohesion.
“We have to forgive ourselves and work together as one family. The South-East has always been our ally and our friend over the years,” he said.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s political evolution, Kwankwaso recalled that the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) and the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), led by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, forged a formidable alliance during the First Republic.
He also referenced the Second Republic, noting that President Shehu Shagari and the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) embraced leaders from the South-East, culminating in the emergence of the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme as Nigeria’s Vice President.
Kwankwaso said the decision to integrate the South-East into national leadership after the Civil War reflected the foresight of Nigeria’s founding political leaders.
“The Civil War ended in 1970, and when democracy returned in 1979, our leaders made it clear that the people of the South-East were not enemies but partners in nation-building. That spirit produced leaders like Alex Ekwueme as Vice President,” he stated.
The former Kano State governor described the late Ekwueme as a dependable friend of the North and recalled attending his burial in Oko, Anambra State, as a mark of respect.
He further cited the return of the late Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, from exile as another demonstration of reconciliation by Northern political leaders, who encouraged him to return home and participate in Nigeria’s democratic process.
According to Kwankwaso, genuine nation-building requires forgiveness rather than perpetual division.
“We cannot continue to live in one country and keep fighting one another. Whoever may have offended the other, we must embrace the spirit of forgiveness and move forward together,” he said.
He clarified that strengthening political cooperation with the South-East should not be misconstrued as opposition to any other region of the country.
Kwankwaso maintained that no region, religion or ethnic group can successfully pursue national politics in isolation, insisting that inclusive partnerships remain the foundation of Nigeria’s democracy.
