We Must Forgive Ourselves,’ Kwankwaso Advocates North, South-East unity

The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has called for renewed political cooperation between the North and the South-East, urging Nigerians to embrace reconciliation and national unity.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Igbo, Kwankwaso said the two regions had a long history of political collaboration and should rebuild that relationship in the interest of the country.

“We have to forgive ourselves. We have to work together as a family. The South-East has been our ally and our friends over the years,” he said.

The former Kano State governor recalled that the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) partnered with the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) during the First Republic, while the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) maintained strong ties with South-East leaders in the Second Republic.

He cited the emergence of the late Alex Ekwueme as vice president and the return of the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu from exile as examples of post-Civil War reconciliation and inclusive politics.

Kwankwaso stressed that renewed cooperation with the South-East should not be seen as opposition to other regions, adding that no part of Nigeria or religious group could successfully pursue national politics in isolation.

“You cannot play politics in this country alone—whether as Muslims, Christians, Northerners or Southerners. At this level, politics requires broad-based cooperation,” he said.