Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, have held what aides described as a “constructive” meeting in Kano.

The meeting took place on Thursday during Obasanjo’s official visit to the state.

Kwankwaso’s media aide, Saifullahi Hassan, disclosed the visit in a post on Friday, saying the former Kano governor paid a courtesy call on the elder statesman at his temporary residence in Kano.

According to Hassan, Kwankwaso was accompanied by the former Deputy Governor of Kano State and the NDC governorship candidate for the 2027 election, Aminu Gwarzo.

“His Excellency, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, PhD, FNSE, the Vice-Presidential Candidate of the NDC, last night paid a courtesy visit to elder statesman and former President of Nigeria, His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo, at his temporary residence in Kano,” Hassan wrote.

He added that Obasanjo, who is in Kano on an official assignment, used the opportunity to exchange views with the former governor in what he described as warm and constructive discussions.

Neither Obasanjo nor Kwankwaso disclosed the details of the discussions.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of Obasanjo’s longstanding political relationship with Peter Obi, the NDC presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, Obasanjo publicly endorsed Obi over the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing the former Anambra State governor as the most suitable candidate for the presidency.

In his endorsement at the time, the former president likened Obi to “a needle with thread attached to it from the North and the South,” saying he possessed the character and support needed to unite the country and remain accountable.

Obi eventually finished third in the 2023 presidential election behind Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and eventual winner, President Bola Tinubu of the APC.

Photographs released after Thursday’s meeting showed Obasanjo and Kwankwaso in a cordial atmosphere, although no official statement was issued on the outcome of their discussions. (The Guardian)