Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has revealed that neither he nor his political supporters benefited after helping former President Muhammadu Buhari secure victory in the 2015 presidential election.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Monday, Kwankwaso said the sacrifices made by his political movement during the election campaign yielded no meaningful rewards despite delivering nearly two million votes.
According to him, his camp played a major role in ending the 16-year rule of the Peoples Democratic Party at the federal level but was left disappointed by the outcome.
“I worked so hard. We brought about 1.9, almost 2 million votes. But as politicians, we are not recognised. We put our lives even on the line at that time. But unfortunately, we could not see any benefit either as individuals or the constituencies that we represented,” he stated.
Kwankwaso, however, did not specify the exact benefits he expected from the Buhari administration or identify specific promises that were not fulfilled.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s democratic journey since 1999, the former governor assessed the performances of past administrations, saying former President Olusegun Obasanjo made notable efforts while the late Umar Yar’Adua struggled with health challenges during his tenure. He also noted that former President Goodluck Jonathan governed under difficult political circumstances linked to an alleged one-term agreement.
Turning to the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Kwankwaso suggested that growing dissatisfaction among Nigerians was fueling demands for political change ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Everybody knows there are issues with this administration again,” he said.
He added that many Nigerians at the grassroots level were increasingly determined to support a new political direction.
Kwankwaso further disclosed that the Nigeria Democratic Congress had witnessed a surge in support since he and Peter Obi officially joined the party on May 3.
“Since we decided to join NDC, Nigerians have decided to come and join us. People are opening offices everywhere across the world. So we are happy about that,” he said.
The former governor also argued that national progress should not be tied to regional sentiments, stressing that effective leadership matters more than a president’s place of origin.
He used the argument to defend his support for zoning the NDC’s 2027 presidential ticket to the South.
“Those of us in the political trenches would tell you that it is not only the man from your end that would make the country move forward,” Kwankwaso said.
“What is key is to have quality leadership, people who are enthusiastic, determined and committed to give the country the leadership it deserves.”
