Olusegun Obasanjo Is From The South-West, But He Made Me The Minister Of Defence -Kwankwaso Reveals

In a recent interview on Trust TV, on Sunday, May 17, 2026, Chieftain Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) addressed the rising controversy surrounding leadership selection in Nigeria in the run-up to the 2027 general elections, touching on topics such as national unity, political appointments, and his time spent serving under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

During the interview, Kwankwaso stated, “Olusegun Obasanjo is from the South-West, but he made me the Minister of Defence.” He made the remark while emphasizing that political appointments in Nigeria should be guided by competence and trust rather than ethnic or regional considerations.

The nomination of Kwankwaso by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he said, was indicative of a time when national interest took precedence over sectarian feelings. He claimed that national leaders were able to put aside their disagreements and cooperate for the benefit of the country.

He said that these kinds of things show how important unity is in government and that leaders in Nigeria need to be able to put aside their differences in order to solve the country’s problems. An overemphasis on regional identity, he said, makes it harder to choose qualified people for delicate national positions.

The former governor of Kano State also brought up his time in office in relation to the current discussions about alliances and coalition politics in the run-up to 2027. Instead of focusing on polarisation, he said that modern political groups should put an emphasis on competence, service provision, and national advancement.

Furthermore, Kwankwaso stressed that young Nigerians are becoming less swayed by religious or ethnic feelings when it comes to political decision-making and more concerned with matters like education, employment, and security.

Finally, he emphasised that his political philosophy is still based on performance and inclusivity, and that the leadership of Nigeria must keep demonstrating competence and national unity if the country is going to solve its urgent problems……See More