President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated former Kano State Governor and former Minister of Defence, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, on his 70th birthday, reaffirming that their political differences would not diminish their longstanding personal bond.
In a congratulatory message released on Wednesday, Tinubu described Kwankwaso as a longtime friend and political associate whose contributions to Nigeria’s democratic development remain significant.
The President traced their relationship to 1992, when both served in the National Assembly, with Kwankwaso as a member of the House of Representatives and Tinubu as a senator.
According to him, their political association deepened in 1999 when they emerged as governors of their respective states.
“As members of the Class of ’99 Governors, we both played pivotal roles in laying the foundation for the democracy the nation enjoys today,” Tinubu said.
He noted that their political paths later diverged as they made different political choices, but they reunited politically in 2013 to help form the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Since then, history and service have kept us intertwined,” he added.
Tinubu acknowledged Kwankwaso’s contributions to Kano State and Nigeria, highlighting his service as a two-term governor, Minister of Defence, senator representing Kano Central Senatorial District and presidential candidate.
He also recognised Kwankwaso’s influence in Nigerian politics, describing him as a prominent figure and progressive politician.
The President stressed that their membership of different political parties and participation on opposing platforms in the January 2027 election would not affect his personal regard for the former Kano governor.
“That we are in different political parties and competing on different platforms in the January 2027 election will not remove my affection for Senator Kwankwaso,” he said.
Tinubu wished Kwankwaso good health, personal fulfilment and many more years of active participation in Nigeria’s democratic process as he celebrated the milestone.
