The 2027 vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has called for stronger political cooperation between Northern Nigeria and the South-East, saying both regions have shared a long history of working together.
He made the appeal during an interview with BBC Igbo published on Wednesday, urging Nigerians to embrace reconciliation and build a united country ahead of future elections.
Kwankwaso said political leaders in the past promoted unity after the Nigerian Civil War by bringing different regions together instead of allowing divisions to continue.
He recalled that the alliance between the Northern People’s Congress and the National Council of Nigerian Citizens during the First Republic showed that both regions could work together for national progress.
He also pointed to the Second Republic, when President Shehu Shagari and other leaders of the National Party of Nigeria partnered with politicians from the South-East. According to him, leaders of that era believed that national unity was more important than political differences and acted to strengthen relationships across regions.
The former Kano State governor said the decision to make the late Alex Ekwueme vice president reflected the commitment of northern leaders to include the South-East in national leadership after the civil war.
He described Ekwueme as someone who maintained a strong relationship with the North throughout his political career and recalled attending his burial in Oko, Anambra State.
Kwankwaso also referred to the return of the late Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, from exile. He said northern political leaders supported Ojukwu’s return to Nigeria and welcomed his participation in democratic politics, describing the move as an example of reconciliation after years of conflict.
According to him, no country can move forward if its people continue to hold on to past disagreements. He said forgiveness remains necessary for national development, regardless of the differing views people may have about historical events.
Kwankwaso explained that rebuilding ties between the North and the South-East should not be seen as an attempt to isolate any other region. He said every part of Nigeria remains important and that cooperation across all geopolitical zones is necessary for national stability.
He added that politics in Nigeria cannot succeed when based only on religion, ethnicity or regional interests. He said leaders must build partnerships that cut across different parts of the country if they hope to achieve lasting progress.
His comments come as political parties continue consultations and alliances ahead of the 2027 general election, where he is serving as the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress alongside the party’s presidential candidate, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.