In a dramatic political development, Senator Rufai Sani Hanga, widely regarded as a loyal supporter of the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said he now understands why Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, parted ways with his political mentor.
Hanga, who represents Kano Central Senatorial District, said recent political developments have convinced him that Governor Yusuf was justified in severing political ties with Kwankwaso.
The senator made the remarks during an interview on a political programme aired in Kano, where he reflected on the events that led to the rift between the governor and his former political mentor.
Hanga’s comments come amid ongoing political realignments in Kano State following the widely publicised split between Governor Yusuf and Kwankwaso, a development that has reshaped the state’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The senator disclosed that before the relationship between the two leaders deteriorated, he held an extensive private meeting with Governor Yusuf in a bid to persuade him to reconsider his decision and remain aligned with Kwankwaso.
“We sat down with Governor Abba and discussed his reasons for leaving our political movement, but I have not disclosed those reasons to anyone. We spent several hours together, and some of the explanations he gave for his decision are ones I can accept,” Hanga said.
Although he declined to reveal details of their conversation, Hanga maintained that it would be inappropriate to make the discussions public at this stage, insisting that the time was not yet right to disclose what transpired during the meeting.
According to him, subsequent events have changed his perspective, leading him to conclude that some of the reasons advanced by Governor Yusuf for distancing himself from Kwankwaso were valid.
“What has happened since then has shown me that Governor Abba had justification for some of the reasons he gave. I can now understand and accept some of those explanations,” the senator said.
