Hanga Says Yusuf’s Split with Kwankwaso Was Justified
By Ahmad Tijjani Abdul
KANO — Senator Rufai Sani Hanga, who represents Kano Central Senatorial District, has said subsequent political developments have convinced him that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf was justified in severing political ties with the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Hanga made the remarks during an interview on Maraicen Kura, a political programme aired on Danuwa Rano TV, where he reflected on events leading to the political rift between the Kano governor and his former political mentor.
Hanga’s remarks come amid continuing political realignments in Kano State following the widely publicised split between Governor Yusuf and Kwankwaso, a development that has reshaped the state’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The senator disclosed that before the relationship between the two leaders deteriorated, he held an extensive private meeting with Governor Yusuf in a bid to persuade him to reconsider his decision and remain aligned with Kwankwaso.
“We sat down with Governor Abba and discussed his reasons for leaving our political movement, but I have not disclosed those reasons to anyone. We spent several hours together, and some of the explanations he gave for his decision are ones I can accept,” Hanga said.
Although he declined to reveal the details of their conversation, Hanga maintained that it would be inappropriate to make the discussions public at this stage, insisting that the time was not yet ripe to disclose what transpired during the meeting.
According to him, subsequent events have altered his perspective, leading him to conclude that some of the reasons advanced by Governor Yusuf for distancing himself from Kwankwaso were valid.
“What has happened afterwards has shown me that Governor Abba had justification for some of the reasons he gave. I can now understand and accept some of those explanations,” the senator stated.