North ready to forgive South-East, work together — Kwankwaso

Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said Northern leaders have chosen to forgive the South-East and rebuild political cooperation with the region.

Kwankwaso made the statement during an interview with BBC Igbo, where he reflected on historical alliances between Northern and South-Eastern politicians, including the relationships between former Biafra leader Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the late former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, and Northern political figures.

The former Kano State governor stressed the need for leaders from both regions to work together as one family, describing unity and forgiveness as necessary for Nigeria’s progress.

He recalled that during the First Republic, the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) formed an alliance with the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), led by Nnamdi Azikiwe, while political cooperation continued into the Second Republic.

According to him, the decision by past leaders to reconcile after the civil war paved the way for greater political inclusion, including the emergence of Ekwueme as vice president.

Kwankwaso said: “We have to forgive ourselves and work together as one family. The South-East has been our ally and friend over the years.”

He also recalled that Northern political leaders supported the return of Ojukwu to Nigeria after years away and noted that the former Biafran leader later contested for a Senate seat.

“Despite the fact that he was the leader of Biafra at that particular time, our leaders decided to forgive themselves and forge ahead,” he said.

Kwankwaso added that Nigeria’s political landscape should move beyond ethnic and religious divisions, saying leaders should avoid politics based on North-South or Muslim-Christian sentiments.

“We are all friends. You can’t play politics of Muslim-Christian, North or South, not at this level,” he said.