Kwankwaso claims they received no rewards for their role in Buhari's 2015 election victory

Rabiu Kwankwaso, the former governor of Kano state, has expressed his disappointment at not receiving any benefits after delivering nearly two million votes to help former President Muhammadu Buhari win the 2015 election, an experience that drove him to seek political change.

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This revelation was made during an interview on Arise TV on Monday, where Kwankwaso discussed the personal costs of supporting Buhari in the election that ended the Peoples Democratic Party's 16-year rule at the federal level.

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Kwankwaso stated that despite his hard work and the nearly two million votes he brought in, he and his supporters were not recognized, and their lives were put at risk without seeing any benefits, either personally or for the constituencies they represented.

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The former governor did not specify what he had expected in return for his support or what the Buhari administration had failed to do, instead choosing to review the performance of each government since 1999 to explain why he believes the country is now ready for real change.

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Kwankwaso noted that Olusegun Obasanjo did his best, Umar Yar'adua faced serious health problems, and Goodluck Jonathan's time in office was complicated by a disputed agreement for him to serve only one term, and that the current administration also has its issues.

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He added that the determination for change is evident at the grassroots level and among his peers, indicating a desire for some level of transformation.

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Kwankwaso attributed the growing support for the Nigeria Democratic Congress to the failures of past governments, which have created an environment where people are eager for change, as evident since he and Peter Obi formally joined the party on May 3.

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He expressed his happiness at the wave of support, with people opening offices everywhere across the world, and Nigerians joining the party in large numbers.

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Kwankwaso's years in politics have taught him that having a president from one's region is no guarantee of good governance, a view he used to explain his support for zoning the NDC's 2027 presidential ticket to the South.

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He emphasized that what is key to moving the country forward is quality leadership, comprising enthusiastic, determined, and committed individuals who can provide the country with the leadership it deserves.