Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has openly confronted his former political mentor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, warning the ex-governor to stop attacking him publicly.
Speaking during the official affirmation of Sulaiman Kawu Sumaila as the APC senatorial candidate for Kano South in Rano, Yusuf said his silence should not be mistaken for weakness or fear.
The governor warned that he could begin revealing sensitive details if the continued criticism against him persists.
“For us, peace in Kano remains our priority, but if we are pushed to the wall, we will open our mouths and speak. Silence is not a sign of fear,” Yusuf declared.
He added that keeping quiet was a personal decision rooted in maturity and respect, not intimidation.
“Even remaining silent is an act of wisdom and worship. It is not because we are afraid or because we are children,” he said.
Yusuf also appeared to respond directly to comments allegedly made by Kwankwaso about age and political relevance.
“How can a 69-year-old man call a 63-year-old man a child? The only reason is simply because I respect him as someone slightly older than me,” the governor stated.
According to him, respect should be mutual, warning that younger politicians may eventually respond if older figures continue making provocative remarks.
“However, if an elder refuses to respect himself and remains silent, then the younger person will definitely have something to say,” Yusuf added.
He further appealed to Kwankwaso and his loyalists to stop the public attacks, warning that more revelations could emerge if the situation continues.
“So, we are pleading with them in the name of Almighty Allah and His Messenger to keep quiet. Otherwise, people will hear many revelations,” he warned.
Yusuf’s remarks mark his strongest public response yet since his fallout with the Kwankwasiyya leader earlier this year.
The tension follows recent comments by Kwankwaso during an interview with Trust TV, where he criticised Yusuf for leaving the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
Kwankwaso had also claimed that the movement played a major role in Yusuf’s rise to political power, describing him as a former personal assistant who later became governor through the platform’s support.
