The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has called for renewed political cooperation between Northern Nigeria and the South-East, saying both regions share a long history of partnership that should be revived in the interest of national unity.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Igbo, Kwankwaso urged Nigerians to forgive one another and work together, stressing that reconciliation remains essential for the country’s progress.
According to him, the relationship between the North and the South-East dates back to Nigeria’s First Republic, when the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) formed an alliance with the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), led by the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. He added that the collaboration continued during the Second Republic under President Shehu Shagari, who worked closely with politicians from the South-East.
Kwankwaso noted that following the end of the Civil War in 1970, Nigeria’s political leaders deliberately pursued reconciliation by reintegrating the South-East into national politics. 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 efforts to heal old divisions.
“We have to forgive ourselves. We have to work together as a family. South-East has been our ally, our friends, over the years,” Kwankwaso said.
The former Kano State governor also cautioned against interpreting closer ties with the South-East as hostility towards other regions, insisting that every part of Nigeria has a role to play in nation-building.
He maintained that no region or religious group can successfully pursue politics alone, adding that unity and inclusion remain critical to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
