When Political Loyalty No Dey Pay: Kwankwaso's 2015 Regrets

Photo: The Punch

The Bitter Truth About Nigerian Political Alliances

My people, let me gist you something wey don dey happen for Nigerian politics since 1960. Former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso recently opened up about how he and his supporters delivered nearly 2 million votes to help Muhammadu Buhari win the 2015 presidential election, only to get absolutely nothing in return. E be like say person wey help you climb tree, you go forget am when you reach the top.

Kwankwaso, speaking with the pain of a man wey don see shege, explained how the Kwankwasiyya movement mobilized massive support across the North, particularly in Kano State, to ensure Buhari's victory over Goodluck Jonathan. But after the celebration don finish and power don change hands, na only stories dem give the man and his followers.

The Mathematics of Political Betrayal

Let's break am down properly. In 2015, Kano State alone delivered over 1.9 million votes to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Kwankwaso and his political structure were instrumental in delivering these numbers. For those wey no sabi, 2 million votes no be small thing o – that's more than the entire population of some African countries!

But see wetin happen after the election: Kwankwaso and his people were sidelined when it came to appointments and key positions. The man wey bring the numbers suddenly become outsider. This kind scenario don happen so many times for Nigerian politics that we fit write textbook about am.

The Pattern of Political Ingratitude

This Kwankwaso matter no be isolated case at all. Nigerian political history dey full of stories where kingmakers become beggars after elections. Remember how Bola Tinubu helped install many governors and presidents, only to fight tooth and nail to get his own recognition? Or how Orji Uzor Kalu supported various presidential candidates over the years, with mixed results?

The truth be say, Nigerian politics operates like a transactional marketplace where loyalty na currency, but the exchange rate dey fluctuate based on who get power at any given time.

Why This Kwankwaso Revelation Matters

Kwankwaso's confession dey important for several reasons:

• It exposes the myth of political brotherhood: All those 'my political son' and 'elder statesman' talks na just grammar when power enter the matter
• It shows how political calculations work: Once you don serve your purpose, you fit become liability instead of asset
• It explains the frequent party switching: When loyalty no dey pay, politicians go find where their bread dey buttered
• It reveals the transactional nature of Nigerian alliances: Everything na business, sentiment no dey enter

The Domino Effect on Future Politics

Now wey Kwankwaso don talk this thing openly, e go affect how political alliances dey form going forward. Politicians go think twice before investing their political capital and structures to support candidates wey fit abandon them later.

Already, we don see how Kwankwaso left APC in 2018 and formed the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), where he ran for president in 2023. That move na direct result of the 2015 disappointment. The man say 'if you no appreciate my contribution, I go find my own way.'

Lessons for 2027 and Beyond

This Kwankwaso matter dey teach us say political loyalty for Nigeria na two-way street wey don turn one-way. For the 2027 elections wey dey come, politicians go remember this lesson. Nobody wan be the mugu wey go deliver votes and get nothing in return.

Political parties wey wan form alliances for 2027 need to put everything for paper. No more 'trust me, I go remember you when I win' promises. Everything must be clear from day one – who get wetin, when dem go get am, and how e go happen.

The Real Cost of Political Betrayal

When you betray your political allies after they don help you win election, you no just lose their support – you lose credibility for the entire system. Other politicians go dey watch how you treat people wey help you, and e go affect their willingness to work with you in future.

Kwankwaso's case na perfect example. The man get solid political structure for the North, but because of how Buhari treated him, that structure no longer dey available to APC. Na NNPP dey benefit from am now.

The bottom line be say, in Nigerian politics, your word na your bond. If you no fit keep your promises to those wey help you climb, don't expect them to help you when you wan climb again. As our people dey talk, 'na the same way wey you take climb go up na the same way you go use am come down.'

Make we dey watch as these political dynamics play out as we approach 2027. One thing sure pass – politicians don learn from Kwankwaso's experience, and nobody wan be the next person wey go deliver votes for free.