Rabiu Kwankwaso is a Nigerian politician, a two term Governor of Kano State, one time Senator and also former Minister of the Federation. He has served Nigeria in diverse sectors and he is one of OldNaijaHistory‘s public figures to bring to our dear readers today.
Early Life and Biography
Rabiu Mohammed Musa Kwankwaso was born on the 21st of October 1956 in Kwankwaso village, in the ancient city of Kano. Rabiu was born into a royal Fulani family with his father holding the Sarkin Fulani Dagacin Kwankwaso title.
Rabiu Kwankwaso started his educational career at the Kwankwaso Primary School, Gwarzo boarding senior primary school where he obtained his first school leaving certificate and proceeded to Kano Technical College.
He bagged an Ordinary National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in civil engineering from Kaduna Polytechnic and proceeded to the United Kingdom where he got a Master’s degree in civil engineering from Loughborough University of Technology.
Career
RMK as he is fondly called started off his career at the Kano State Water Resources and Engineering Construction Agency where he worked, gained knowledge and rose through the ranks for 17 years to become the Principal water engineer.
Politics and Achievements
Rabiu gained entry into politics on the Social Democratic Party Platform in 1992 when he was elected to represent Madobi constituency in the Federal House of Representatives. During his stay at the Green Chambers, Kwankwaso was the Deputy Speaker, assisting Agunwa Anaekwe, who was the House of Reps. Speaker.
First Governorship Term
Kwankwaso became the Governor of Kano in 1999 under the People Democratic Party’s umbrella. He governed the state from 1999 to 2023 when he failed to secure a re-election.
After Kwankwaso’s first term, he was appointed by then President Olusegun Obasanjo as the Minister of Defense.
Second Governorship Term
In 2011, Kwankwaso contested again for the governorship position and won. He had issues in the PDP and was part of the feuding factions that formed the G-7 Governors, before they eventually defected to the APC in 2013.
Senatorial Position
After his second tenure as the Governor of Kano State, Kwankwaso represented Kano Central Senatorial District at the House of Senate from 2015 to 2019.
Presidential Candidate
As a result of a possible fallout with the All Progressives Congress, Kwankwaso formed a new party known as the New Nigeria Peoples Party where he came out as a Presidential aspirant in the 2023 general elections where he came fourth after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of APC, Abubakar Atiku of PDP, Peter Obi of Labour Party.
His political career has been saturated, filled with applause, indictment, controversy and many more.
Rabiu Kwankwaso’s Wife
Rabiu Kwankwaso is married to Salamatu Rabiu Musa. The duo got married in a Nikkah in 2000.
RMK was previously married and he has a total of eight children.
