President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Rabiu Kwankwaso on his 70th birthday, describing the former Kano State governor as a friend and a progressive politician, according to THISDAYLIVE.
In his message, Tinubu said political differences would not diminish his affection for Kwankwaso, TheCable reported. The president's goodwill note was among several tributes from prominent Nigerian figures marking the milestone.
Other leaders also sent their wishes. Former President Goodluck Jonathan's camp was not mentioned in the reports, but Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State celebrated Kwankwaso, per Daily Trust. Former Anambra State governor Peter Obi addressed Kwankwaso as his elder brother in his own message, Daily Post Nigeria reported.
Vanguard News also carried a tribute from Governor Seriake Dickson, who praised Kwankwaso's leadership.
Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor and one-time senator, has been a recurring figure in Nigerian politics, having contested the presidency in 2023 on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party. The birthday messages cut across party lines, with figures from the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition sending their congratulations.
Tinubu's description of Kwankwaso as a friend, despite their political rivalry, was the headline takeaway from the round of tributes, THISDAYLIVE reported.
What to watch next: whether Kwankwaso responds publicly to the tributes, and whether the goodwill exchanges signal any shift in opposition politics ahead of future elections.
