A former Deputy Governor of Kano State, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, has claimed that the Kwankwasiyya Movement was conceived by him and five other political associates, insisting that its founder was not the movement’s namesake, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Abubakar, who spoke while recounting the origins of the political platform, said the idea, name and symbol of Kwankwasiyya were collectively developed by a small group of loyalists at a time Kwankwaso was politically isolated.
According to him, “Five of us, including myself, created the Kwankwasiyya Movement and even adopted the red cap as its symbol. It was not created by Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.”
He listed Dr Yunusa Adamu Dangwani, Rabiu Suleiman Bichi and other associates as part of the founding group, noting that the acronym was coined when Kwankwaso was facing intense political pressure in Kano State.
Abubakar said the group rallied around the former governor during what he described as a political storm, mobilising support to keep his career afloat.
“We stood by him when the odds were against him. That was how the movement was formed, to help him survive the political tsunami unleashed by powerful interests in the state,” he said.
The former deputy governor, however, accused Kwankwaso of failing to acknowledge the contributions of those who supported him, describing the attitude as disappointing.
He said the alleged lack of appreciation gradually alienated loyal supporters, leaving the former governor politically isolated.
Abubakar contrasted Kwankwaso’s conduct with that of the late Mallam Aminu Kano, whom he praised for consistently recognising the collective efforts behind movements such as NEPU, PRP and Sawaba.
“We expected Kwankwaso to follow that example by giving credit where it was due, but unfortunately, that never happened,” he added.
The comments come amid ongoing political realignments in Kano State, with key actors openly revisiting past alliances and the origins of influential political movements in the state.