Vice presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabi’u Kwankwaso, has made it clear that the North does not have to hold perpetual power in Nigeria.
Kwankwaso on Power Sharing and Regional Fairness
Speaking about his decision to run alongside a Southern presidential candidate, the former Kano governor emphasized that the North upholds fairness, justice and mutual respect with the South.
When questioned about the belief that the North should always rule Nigeria, Kwankwaso pointed to his current political arrangement as proof that such a notion is not universally accepted.
“I don’t need to spell it out. By serving as vice president to someone from the South, I demonstrate that the argument for perpetual Northern rule cannot stand,” he said.
He added, “We in the North believe in fairness; we believe in justice; we believe in mutual respect between the South and the North. That has always been our position.”
Confidence in Peter Obi’s One‑Term Pledge
Kwankwaso also expressed confidence that the NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will honour his promise to serve only one term.
“I personally believe Peter Obi is a gentleman. I have every reason to trust him, especially since he made that pledge publicly. Nobody should doubt his word,” he stated.
A Shared Governance Agenda
The power‑sharing agreement within the NDC, according to Kwankwaso, rests on mutual trust and a collective understanding among coalition partners.
He argued that allowing the South to complete an eight‑year tenure aligns with the alliance’s agreement, noting that a gentleman would not renege on such a commitment.
Beyond individual ambitions, the coalition has drafted a short‑, medium‑ and long‑term roadmap for the country. This agenda will guide whoever assumes office, whether it is Obi, Kwankwaso or another leader.
“More importantly, we have collectively crafted a plan for Nigeria. It does not matter if it comes from the Obidient side, the Kwankwasiyya side or any other faction – we share a common agenda,” he said.
Kwankwaso stressed that the NDC will work to ensure continuity of its programmes regardless of who occupies the presidency in the future.
“That agenda we will, as far as possible, ensure that whoever comes – maybe Peter, maybe me or any other person – will stick to that programme,” he concluded.
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