Kano political rift deepens as Gov Yusuf fires back at Kwankwaso, warns of ‘Revelations’ if Provoked

Abba Kabir Yusuf, Governor of Kano State, has issued a sharp rebuke to his estranged political mentor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, escalating an internal rift within the state’s dominant political bloc and signalling a possible breakdown in long-held restraint.

Yusuf, speaking on Monday during the official affirmation of Sulaiman Kawu Sumaila as the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Kano South in Rano, said his silence in the face of repeated criticisms should not be interpreted as weakness. He warned that he could begin speaking out if further provoked.

The governor’s remarks mark his most direct and confrontational response yet to Kwankwaso since both men drifted apart earlier this year, ending a political alliance that shaped Kano’s recent electoral landscape.

“For us, Kano peace is our priority, but if we are pushed to the wall, we will open our mouths and talk. Silence is not a sign of fear,” Yusuf said, addressing party supporters.

He added that his restraint was deliberate and rooted in principle rather than intimidation.

“To even keep quiet is an act of worship, not because we are afraid, not because we are kids. How could a 69-year-old call a 63-year-old a kid? It is just a personal respect that you are slightly elder than me,” he said, in an apparent reference to Kwankwaso.

The governor, however, cautioned that continued verbal attacks could force him to abandon his silence.

“However, if an old man does not respect himself and keeps quiet, the younger one will have what to say. So, we are pleading with them in the name of Almighty and His Messenger to keep their mouths shut. Else, you will hear a lot of revelations,” he warned.

Yusuf’s comments come in response to recent remarks by Kwankwaso, who, in an interview with Trust TV, said the governor made a “big mistake” by leaving the Kwankwasiyya Movement. Kwankwaso also boasted that the movement was instrumental in elevating his former personal assistant to the governorship seat.

The exchange underscores growing tensions between the two politicians whose alliance under the Kwankwasiyya political structure played a decisive role in Kano politics for years before their fallout.

Political observers say the latest verbal sparring could further deepen divisions within Kano’s ruling elite, particularly as both camps seek to consolidate influence ahead of future electoral contests.

While Yusuf has largely avoided confrontation since assuming office, Monday’s remarks suggest a shift in tone that could reshape the state’s political dynamics if the feud continues to escalate.