President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, on his 70th birthday, acknowledging his contributions to national development, democratic governance and public service across several decades of political leadership.
The President, in a personally written and signed birthday message on Wednesday, described Kwankwaso as an influential political figure and progressive politician whose service to Kano State and Nigeria had spanned executive, legislative and national political responsibilities.
President Tinubu lauded the former governor’s record of public service, including his two terms as Governor of Kano State, his tenure as Minister of Defence, his representation of Kano Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, his presidential candidacy and his current role as a presidential running mate.
“I must acknowledge Senator Kwankwaso’s immense contributions to Kano State and Nigeria as a two-term Governor, former Minister of Defence, former Senator, former presidential candidate, and now a presidential running mate,” the President stated.
Reflecting on their longstanding political association, the President recalled that their relationship dated back to 1992, when both served in the National Assembly, with Kwankwaso in the House of Representatives and himself in the Senate.
He noted that their political paths crossed again in 1999 when they were elected governors of Kano and Lagos states, respectively, at the commencement of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
“As members of the Class of ’99 Governors, we both played pivotal roles in laying the foundation for the democracy the nation enjoys today,” President Tinubu said.
The President further reflected on their evolving political relationship, acknowledging that although their individual political choices subsequently took them in different directions, they reunited in 2013 to participate in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said; “Shaped by different political choices, our political paths differed until we coalesced in 2013 to form the All Progressives Congress. Since then, history and service have kept us intertwined.”
President Tinubu acknowledged that their shared political history and longstanding personal relationship had continued to endure despite changes in party affiliations and political interests.
He emphasised that their current membership of different political parties and participation on competing platforms ahead of the January 2027 general elections would not reduce mutual regard established over more than three decades.
“That we are in different political parties and competing on different platforms in the January 2027 election will not remove my affection for Senator Kwankwaso,” the President stated.
Describing the former governor as an influential figure in Nigeria’s political landscape, President Tinubu commended his continued participation in the nation’s democratic process.
President Tinubu wished Rabiu Kwankwaso good health, personal fulfilment and many more years of active engagement in Nigeria’s democratic development.
