Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has issued a direct warning to his former political mentor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, cautioning him to stop public criticism of his administration or risk a full verbal response.
The governor spoke on Monday in Rano during a political event where Abdulrahman Kawu was affirmed as the All Progressives Congress senatorial candidate for Kano South.
Yusuf said his long silence in the face of repeated attacks should not be mistaken for weakness or fear.
“I will start talking,” he warned, adding that restraint was a conscious decision rather than an inability to respond.
“For us, Kano’s 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 also made it clear that he could escalate his response if provoked further.
“If we are pushed to the wall, we will speak out,” he repeated, stressing that patience should not be interpreted as submission.
The governor, without mentioning Kwankwaso directly, also addressed remarks that appeared to question his maturity and political standing.
“To even keep quiet is an act of worship, not because we are afraid, not because we are kids,” he said.
He further pushed back on perceived disrespect linked to age comparisons.
“How could a 69-year-old call a 63-year-old a kid?” he asked, adding that respect should guide political communication regardless of age differences.
Yusuf also issued a sharper warning about possible disclosures if attacks continue.
“If an old man does not respect himself and keep quiet, the younger one will have plenty to say,” he said, adding, “We are pleading… keep your mouths shut. Else, you will hear a lot of revelations.”
The remarks mark one of the most direct public confrontations between both political figures since their fallout earlier in the year.
The dispute intensified after Yusuf’s political realignment from the New Nigeria People’s Party to the All Progressives Congress, a move that also brought several lawmakers and local government officials under the APC structure in Kano.
Kwankwaso has consistently criticised the defection, describing it as a major political betrayal and an abandonment of the Kwankwasiyya movement.
He said the move undermined the mandate that brought Yusuf to office and warned that voters would respond in the 2027 elections.
According to Kwankwaso, the governor’s action was a breach of trust with supporters who backed the movement’s political platform.
He has also insisted that the development would have consequences at the ballot.
