Kwankwaso Under Fire as Northern Youth Assembly Condemns Alliance With Obi
The Northern Youth Assembly (Majalisar Matasan Arewa) has strongly criticized the reported political alliance between former Kano State Governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, describing the development as a major departure from the principles and values upon which the movement was built.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its Secretary General, Dr. Hafiz Garba, the group accused Kwankwaso of abandoning the core ideals of northern pride, cultural identity, and regional advocacy that, according to the Assembly, formed the foundation of the Kwankwasiyya Movement for more than two decades.
The statement argued that Kwankwaso rose to political prominence largely through a movement that championed northern development, educational advancement, youth empowerment, and the promotion of the region’s interests within Nigeria’s political landscape.
According to the Assembly, the movement distinguished itself through scholarship programmes that enabled thousands of northern students to pursue higher education within and outside Nigeria, as well as welfare initiatives that provided support to vulnerable communities across Kano State and beyond.
The group maintained that the political and cultural identity associated with the Kwankwasiyya Movement was rooted in the promotion of northern dignity and historical consciousness, values it claimed are now being compromised by the emerging political partnership.
The Assembly specifically expressed concern over what it described as the relationship between the alliance and individuals within the Obidient Movement whom it accused of making disparaging remarks about some of Northern Nigeria’s most revered historical figures, including Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto; Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa; and Islamic scholar Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio.
It questioned why Kwankwaso had not publicly addressed or distanced himself from such remarks, arguing that his silence had raised concerns among many supporters who viewed him as a long-standing defender of northern interests and heritage.
The statement further contended that millions of supporters who embraced the Kwankwasiyya Movement because of its message of regional development and cultural pride deserved clarity regarding the implications of the alliance and how it aligns with the values previously championed by the movement.
While acknowledging that political realignments and coalitions are common features of democratic politics, the Assembly insisted that leaders must remain consistent with the principles and commitments upon which they built their political careers and public trust.
The group warned that any perceived departure from those principles could undermine the confidence of supporters who had invested years of loyalty in the movement and its leadership.
Concluding the statement, the Northern Youth Assembly described the reported alliance as a significant disappointment to many northern political observers and urged political leaders to prioritize the preservation of the region’s history, identity, and collective aspirations above personal political calculations.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Kwankwaso nor representatives of the Obidient Movement had publicly responded to the allegations and criticisms contained in the statement.