A throng of supporters of Rabiu Kwankwaso repeatedly chanted Peter Obi’s name as the former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate attended the annual Kwankwasiyya Eid festival in Kano on Sunday.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has said that they are collaborating with Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to ensure that Nigeria, and indeed northern Nigeria, gets back on its feet.

“Although we are here today not for politics but to celebrate Sallah with Kwankwaso, but I bet you we are putting a strong association to bring back Kano and its Industrial hubs,” he said.

The crowd, with many sporting the signature red caps of the Kwankwasiyya movement, belted Kwankwaso’s name alongside Obi’s as both men acknowledged the cheers and delivered short speeches.

Kwankwaso, ex-presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), was hosting Obi during the celebrations.

The ex-minister also received Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, and Seriake Dickson, ex-governor of Bayelsa state, at his residence in Kano.

Addressing the crowd, Obi said the visit was not political but aimed at celebrating the Eid-el-Fitr and honouring Kwankwaso.

“I’m here to felicitate with you on the occasion of Sallah and to pay my respect to our leader,” Obi said.

The former Anambra governor also spoke about the need to revitalise Kano’s industrial base.

“We want to change Kano. We want to build a new Kano,” he said.

“What we want to do is bring back the power of Kano — all those factories in Bompai, Sharada 1, Sharada 2, Bank of the North—we want to bring all of them back. Today is not politics; it is the celebration of Sallah.”

There have been permutations pertaining to a hypothetical Obi/Kwankwaso presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 presidential poll.

While  Obi has since perfected his move to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kwankwaso has said he would only leave the NNPP for another platform if guaranteed the party’s presidential or vice-presidential ticket.