President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated his longtime political associate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, on his 70th birthday, describing him as an influential figure and progressive politician whose contributions to Kano State and Nigeria remain immense.
In a congratulatory message he personally signed, President Tinubu noted that his association with Kwankwaso dates back to 1992 when they both served in the National Assembly — Kwankwaso in the House of Representatives and Tinubu in the Senate — and was strengthened in 1999 when they both emerged as governors.
The President recalled that as members of the Class of ’99 Governors, they both played pivotal roles in laying the foundation for the democracy the nation enjoys today, adding that though shaped by different political choices, their paths coalesced again in 2013 to form the All Progressives Congress.
President Tinubu acknowledged Kwankwaso’s service as a two-term Governor of Kano State, former Minister of Defence, former Senator representing Kano Central, former presidential candidate and now a presidential running mate, stressing that history and service have kept them intertwined despite their different political trajectories.
He stated that their current political differences will not erode their friendship, noting that being in different political parties and competing on different platforms ahead of the January 2027 election will not remove his affection for the former governor.
The President wished Kwankwaso good health, personal fulfilment, and many more years of active engagement in the nation’s democratic process as he marks the milestone.
