The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 general election, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has called for the revival of political cooperation between the north and South-East, describing the two regions as longstanding allies whose partnership has shaped the country’s political history.
Kwankwaso made the remarks in an interview with BBC Igbo published on the broadcaster’s Facebook page on Wednesday.
He urged Nigerians to embrace forgiveness, reconciliation and national unity, arguing that the country’s leaders demonstrated the value of inclusion after the Civil War by bringing the South-East back into mainstream politics.
“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 during the First Republic, the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) formed a political alliance with the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), led by Nnamdi Azikiwe.
He also referenced the Second Republic, noting that President Shehu Shagari and the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) maintained close political ties with leaders 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 a northern political party, had an alliance with the NCNC, headed by Nnamdi Azikiwe,” the ex-minister added.
“Even in the second republic, you could see our leaders, Shagari and co, of course, went coincidentally to the south-east 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.”
Kwankwaso described the late former Vice President Alex Ekwueme as a friend of the North, recalling that he attended his burial in Oko, Anambra State.
He also cited the return of the late Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, from exile as another example of post-war reconciliation, noting that the NPN encouraged him to return to Nigeria and participate 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,” Kwankwaso said.
Kwankwaso stressed that rebuilding political ties with the South-East should not be interpreted as hostility toward other parts of the country.
“We are happy that the North has decided to return to history by working with the South-East. That does not mean we are against the South-West or any other zone. We are all friends,” he said.
He added that no region 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.”
