₦airaland Forum

The 2027 vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has called for renewed political cooperation between Northern Nigeria and the South-East, saying both regions share a long history of political alliance that should be revived.

Kwankwaso made the remarks in an interview with BBC Igbo published on the broadcaster’s Facebook page on Wednesday.

He said Nigeria’s political leaders had, over the years, demonstrated the importance of reconciliation and inclusion, particularly after the Civil War, urging Nigerians to embrace forgiveness and national unity.

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

The former governor recalled the alliance between the Northern People’s Congress and the National Council of Nigerian Citizens during the First Republic, noting that the partnership was led by prominent leaders, including Nnamdi Azikiwe.

He also cited the Second Republic, when President Shehu Shagari and leaders of the National Party of Nigeria worked closely with politicians from the South-East.

“During our own time, or the time of our fathers, grandfathers in politics—in the First Republic—you could see the NPC then, which is mainly northern political party, had an alliance with the NCNC, headed by Nnamdi Azikiwe.

“Even the Second Republic, you could see our leaders, Shagari and co, of course, went coincidentally to the Southeast and even Anambra State, even Azikiwe himself from Anambra State, and so on and so forth. So our leaders had foresight

“The Civil War was finished in 1970. In 1978 and 1979, when democracy came back, the first thing they said was, ‘Look, they are not our enemies. Let’s prove to them. Let’s bring them. Let’s work together.’

“Our leaders of the First Republic worked together with them, and that’s how they brought Alex Ekwueme to be the Vice President,” he said.

Kwankwaso described the late former Vice President Alex Ekwueme as a friend of the North and recalled attending his burial in Oko, Anambra State.

“I went to Oko, the hometown. I was there during Alex Ekwueme’s burial. Throughout his life, he was our friend. It’s only that democracy was truncated,” he added.

He also referred to the return of the late Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, from exile, saying Northern political leaders at the time demonstrated reconciliation by facilitating his return and participation in democratic politics.

“The NPN, a mainly northern party, had to invite Ojukwu to come back. He came back, contested for a Senate seat and lost. But despite the fact that he was the leader of Biafra at that particular time, our leaders decided to forgive themselves and forge ahead.

“We cannot be in the same country and start fighting. We have to have the spirit of forgiveness, whoever offended the other. It depends on who is giving the story,” he said.

Kwankwaso stressed that stronger ties with the South-East should not be interpreted as hostility towards other regions.

“We are so happy that we in the North have decided to go back to history to work with the Southeast. That’s not to say we are fighting the South-West or any zone in this country. No, we are all friends.

“You can’t play politics in this country alone—politics of Muslims, or Christians, or North, or South—not at this level,” he said.

The remarks come amid preparations for the 2027 general election, with Kwankwaso serving as the vice-presidential candidate of NDC alongside the party’s presidential candidate, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.

treesun:
The 2027 vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has called for renewed political cooperation between Northern Nigeria and the South-East, saying both regions share a long history of political alliance that should be revived.

Kwankwaso made the remarks in an interview with BBC Igbo published on the broadcaster’s Facebook page on Wednesday.

He said Nigeria’s political leaders had, over the years, demonstrated the importance of reconciliation and inclusion, particularly after the Civil War, urging Nigerians to embrace forgiveness and national unity.

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



The former governor recalled the alliance between the Northern People’s Congress and the National Council of Nigerian Citizens during the First Republic, noting that the partnership was led by prominent leaders, including Nnamdi Azikiwe.

He also cited the Second Republic, when President Shehu Shagari and leaders of the National Party of Nigeria worked closely with politicians from the South-East.

“During our own time, or the time of our fathers, grandfathers in politics—in the First Republic—you could see the NPC then, which is mainly northern political party, had an alliance with the NCNC, headed by Nnamdi Azikiwe.


“Even the Second Republic, you could see our leaders, Shagari and co, of course, went coincidentally to the Southeast and even Anambra State, even Azikiwe himself from Anambra State, and so on and so forth. So our leaders had foresight

“The Civil War was finished in 1970. In 1978 and 1979, when democracy came back, the first thing they said was, ‘Look, they are not our enemies. Let’s prove to them. Let’s bring them. Let’s work together.’

“Our leaders of the First Republic worked together with them, and that’s how they brought Alex Ekwueme to be the Vice President,” he said.


Kwankwaso described the late former Vice President Alex Ekwueme as a friend of the North and recalled attending his burial in Oko, Anambra State.

“I went to Oko, the hometown. I was there during Alex Ekwueme’s burial. Throughout his life, he was our friend. It’s only that democracy was truncated,” he added.

He also referred to the return of the late Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, from exile, saying Northern political leaders at the time demonstrated reconciliation by facilitating his return and participation in democratic politics.

“The NPN, a mainly northern party, had to invite Ojukwu to come back. He came back, contested for a Senate seat and lost. But despite the fact that he was the leader of Biafra at that particular time, our leaders decided to forgive themselves and forge ahead.


“We cannot be in the same country and start fighting. We have to have the spirit of forgiveness, whoever offended the other. It depends on who is giving the story,” he said.

Kwankwaso stressed that stronger ties with the South-East should not be interpreted as hostility towards other regions.

“We are so happy that we in the North have decided to go back to history to work with the Southeast. That’s not to say we are fighting the South-West or any zone in this country. No, we are all friends.

“You can’t play politics in this country alone—politics of Muslims, or Christians, or North, or South—not at this level,” he said.

The remarks come amid preparations for the 2027 general election, with Kwankwaso serving as the vice-presidential candidate of NDC alongside the party’s presidential candidate, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.

https://punchng.com/seast-has-been-norths-ally-we-must-forgive-ourselves-kwankwaso/

christejames:
Even before amalgamation of this country, the North and the East have been strong allies in trade and commerce...


Unfortunately, after the Civil War coupled with the stereotype being orchestrated by the Lagos-Ibadan news media made the two regions look as enemies.

Alas, we are now in the social and digital age where the truth is now being layed bare before sane individuals.



The OK ticket will indeed make Nigeria 🇳🇬 OK 👌.

christejames:
Even before amalgamation of this country, the North and the East have been strong allies in trade and commerce...


Unfortunately, after the Civil War coupled with the stereotype being orchestrated by the Lagos-Ibadan news media made the two regions look as enemies.

Alas, we are now in the social and digital age where the truth is now being layed bare before sane individuals.



The OK ticket will indeed make Nigeria 🇳🇬 OK 👌.

christejames:
Even before amalgamation of this country, the North and the East have been strong allies in trade and commerce...


Unfortunately, after the Civil War coupled with the stereotype being orchestrated by the Lagos-Ibadan news media made the two regions look as enemies.

Alas, we are now in the social and digital age where the truth is now being layed bare before sane individuals.

It never started from you, So I won’t be surprised if it doesn’t end with you.. … Always looking for a way to blame another tribe for your predicament!!



The OK ticket will indeed make Nigeria 🇳🇬 OK 👌.

seunmsg:
Oh, you guys finally want to admit you've been the ones aligning with your Fulani masters to ruin this country? The desperation for presidential power is finally bringing out the truth. In recent years, the lie has been that Yorubas are the ones selling the south to the North. Now that Peter Obi is desperate for power, the SE is now talking about reviving their past alliance with the north. The same alliance that destroyed the country.

Well, you came late to the party this time around. Kwankwanso is only playing games by bringing this up. In fact, he is bringing this up so that Ibos can support his presidential ambition in 2031 and not because he is honest about supporting Obi in 2027. He knows the OK ticket is dead on arrival.

seunmsg:
Oh, you guys finally want to admit you've been the ones aligning with your Fulani masters to ruin this country? The desperation for presidential power is finally bringing out the truth. In recent years, the lie has been that Yorubas are the ones selling the south to the North. Now that Peter Obi is desperate for power, the SE is now talking about reviving their past alliance with the north. The same alliance that destroyed the country.

Well, you came late to the party this time around. Kwankwanso is only playing games by bringing this up. In fact, he is bringing this up so that Ibos can support his presidential ambition in 2031 and not because he is honest about supporting Obi in 2027. He knows the OK ticket is dead on arrival.

seunmsg:
Oh, you guys finally want to admit you've been the ones aligning with your Fulani masters to ruin this country? The desperation for presidential power is finally bringing out the truth. In recent years, the lie has been that Yorubas are the ones selling the south to the North. Now that Peter Obi is desperate for power, the SE is now talking about reviving their past alliance with the north. The same alliance that destroyed the country.

Well, you came late to the party this time around. Kwankwanso is only playing games by bringing this up. In fact, he is bringing this up so that Ibos can support his presidential ambition in 2031 and not because he is honest about supporting Obi in 2027. He knows the OK ticket is dead on arrival.

floss:
Please make sure you use your monthly 1gb data wisely, stop making silly comments on every thread, go to chatgpt and get ideas on how to defend gbaja 54B naira loot, that should be your focus now... Put your monthly 30k naira to work please

seunmsg:
lol. Send me a dm if you are broke, i can spare you some little cash I am currently not using from the 30K i get monthly from my pay per post work. Don't be shy.

christejames:
Even before amalgamation of this country, the North and the East have been strong allies in trade and commerce...


Unfortunately, after the Civil War coupled with the stereotype being orchestrated by the Lagos-Ibadan news media made the two regions look as enemies.

Alas, we are now in the social and digital age where the truth is now being layed bare before sane individuals.



The OK ticket will indeed make Nigeria 🇳🇬 OK 👌.

seunmsg:
Oh, you guys finally want to admit you've been the ones aligning with your Fulani masters to ruin this country? The desperation for presidential power is finally bringing out the truth. In recent years, the lie has been that Yorubas are the ones selling the south to the North. Now that Peter Obi is desperate for power, the SE is now talking about reviving their past alliance with the north. The same alliance that destroyed the country.

Well, you came late to the party this time around. Kwankwanso is only playing games by bringing this up. In fact, he is bringing this up so that Ibos can support his presidential ambition in 2031 and not because he is honest about supporting Obi in 2027. He knows the OK ticket is dead on arrival.

anonimi:
How we foiled Jonathan’s effort to make Mulika Adeola Speaker, Akande reveals

AS president in 2011, Goodluck Jonathan did all he could to ensure South West grabbed the country’s number four seat, including lobbying then opposition leaders from the zone, to no avail. The North West eventually grabbed the seat, supported by South West leaders in opposition to then ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Former Governor of Osun State and now statesman, Chief Bisi Akande, made this revelation in his autobiography, “My Participations” which is currently dominating political and national dis- course.

Aminu Tambuwal, now Sokoto State governor, won the seat, against the preferred pick of his party, Mrs Mulikat Adeola Akande, from the South-West. Defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, then a fledging opposition, which had Akande and his soulmate, former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, as front- line leaders, openly asked its elected members of the House of Representatives, mostly from the South-West, to work against their region and back Tambuwal from North-West.

The opposition party’s support carried Tambuwal through the contest against Akande, then ruling party’s favourite for the speakership seat.

In his book, Chief Akande revealed that former president then as incumbent, personally reached out to Tinubu, who is now believed to be nursing presidential aspiration in 2023 and himself, but couldn’t convince them.

He wrote, “President Jonathan, immediately after the meeting (with political parties), called Bola Tinubu aside into a lobby to broach the matter of ACN support for a choice of who would become the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“That same day, President Jonathan talked to me on phone about the same matter. He disclosed that PDP had zoned the position to the South-West but that only one Muraina and another Mulika won elections on PDP ticket from the zone into the House of Representatives.

https://tribuneonlineng.com/how-we-foiled-jonathans-effort-to-make-mulika-adeola-speaker-akande-reveals/

christejames:
Even before amalgamation of this country, the North and the East have been strong allies in trade and commerce...


Unfortunately, after the Civil War coupled with the stereotype being orchestrated by the Lagos-Ibadan news media made the two regions look as enemies.

Alas, we are now in the social and digital age where the truth is now being layed bare before sane individuals.



The OK ticket will indeed make Nigeria 🇳🇬 OK 👌.

seunmsg:
Oh, you guys finally want to admit you've been the ones aligning with your Fulani masters to ruin this country? The desperation for presidential power is finally bringing out the truth. In recent years, the lie has been that Yorubas are the ones selling the south to the North. Now that Peter Obi is desperate for power, the SE is now talking about reviving their past alliance with the north. The same alliance that destroyed the country.

Well, you came late to the party this time around. Kwankwanso is only playing games by bringing this up. In fact, he is bringing this up so that Ibos can support his presidential ambition in 2031 and not because he is honest about supporting Obi in 2027. He knows the OK ticket is dead on arrival.

LordIsaac:
Election lamba!

Buccalcavity2:
RMK, everything you said is true about historical alliance. To forgive means there was an offense. Do igbos agree there was an offense? Pre civil war stories are still being contested. Also looking at the flip, will igbos forgive you or the offense is one way?
Or should all just forget the past (even the recent past) and embrace the PORK ticket for your sake?