According to a report by Daily Trust on Monday, May 18, 2026, Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has issued a sharp response to his former political mentor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, amid escalating political tensions between the two, warning that he will not remain silent indefinitely in the face of what he described as “frequent attacks.”
Governor Yusuf said his continued restraint should not be interpreted as fear or weakness, insisting that he is deliberately choosing peace for the sake of stability in Kano State.
The governor made the remarks on Monday while addressing supporters during the official affirmation of Sulaiman Kawu Sumaila as the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Kano South in Rano.
His comments mark the most direct and confrontational public exchange yet between Yusuf and Kwankwaso since both political figures reportedly parted ways earlier in the year, ending a long-standing political alliance under the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
Speaking before party loyalists, Yusuf cautioned against continued verbal attacks directed at him, saying his patience should not be mistaken for intimidation.
“For us, Kano peace is our priority, but if we are pushed to the wall, we will open our mouths and talk. Silence is not a sign of fear,” he said.
He added that his decision to remain quiet at times was intentional and rooted in principle rather than weakness.
“To even keep quiet is an act of worship, not because we are afraid, not because we are kids,” Yusuf said. “How could a 69-year-old call a 63-year-old a kid? It is just a matter of respect that you are slightly older than me.”
“I am 63, you are 69, stop calling me a boy,” he said.
The governor went further to caution that sustained provocation could force him to reveal information he has so far withheld.
“However, if an old man does not respect himself and keeps quiet, the younger one will have what to say. So, we are pleading with them in the name of Almighty and His Messenger to keep their mouths shut. Otherwise, you will hear a lot of revelations,” he warned.
Governor Yusuf’s remarks come shortly after Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso granted an interview to Trust TV, in which he accused the Kano governor of making a “big mistake” by distancing himself from the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
Kwankwaso, a prominent political figure and leader within the Nigeria Democratic Coalition (NDC), also claimed that the movement played a decisive role in Yusuf’s political rise, including his emergence as governor. He suggested that Yusuf’s success was largely built on the structure and influence of the Kwankwasiyya political platform.
