There's a pattern emerging in Kwankwaso's political career, and it's not a good one.

First it was Ganduje. The man he mentored, the man he made, the man he brought from nowhere and turned into somebody. Abdullahi Ganduje was Kwankwaso's boy, his trusted ally, his political son. Until he wasn't.

Ganduje didn't just leave; he went to the other side and became Kwankwaso's biggest headache in Kano politics. He joined APC and made it his life's mission to dismantle everything Kwankwaso built. The betrayal was deep, and Kano politics has never been the same since.

"Alright," many thought, "these things happen in politics. Kwankwaso will bounce back."

And bounce back he did. He found a new protégé in Abba Kabir Yusuf. The current Kano State Governor was supposed to be different. He was supposed to be loyal. After all, Kwankwaso literally handed him the governorship on a platter through NNPP. Without Kwankwaso, there would be no Governor Abba Yusuf.

But history is repeating itself in the most painful way possible.

Reports are now flying around that Abba Yusuf is also distancing himself from his political godfather. Some say he's already been holding secret meetings with APC bigwigs. Others claim he's tired of being seen as Kwankwaso's puppet and wants to be his own man. The signs are there, and they're not looking good for the Kwankwasiyya leader.

So what's really going on? Why do Kwankwaso's mentees keep running away from him?

Some political analysts say it's a control issue. They claim Kwankwaso wants total control over anyone he brings up, and once these people get power and taste authority, they want to be free. "He treats governors like errand boys," one source close to Kano politics alleged. "Eventually, they get tired and rebel."

Others say it's about political pragmatism. "Look at the reality," they argue. "NNPP is a small party with limited reach. Once these politicians get into power and see the bigger picture, they realize they need to align with bigger parties like APC or PDP to survive. Kwankwaso's stubbornness in staying with NNPP is holding them back."

Whatever the reason, one thing is clear: Kwankwaso is becoming a lonely king. And today, that loneliness showed in a rather desperate outburst.

The Kano political heavyweight cried out publicly about his political future, making a bold declaration that has left many people talking. According to him, any party he joins for the 2027 elections must either give him the presidential ticket or the vice presidential ticket. Nothing less.

"I've paid my dues," sources quoted him as saying. "I won't be a foot soldier again. It's either I'm the captain or the vice captain."

On the surface, it sounds like confidence. But when you read between the lines, it sounds more like desperation. It sounds like a man who knows his political relevance is slipping away and is trying to negotiate from a position of weakness while pretending to be strong.

Let's be honest: which party is going to give Kwankwaso their presidential ticket in 2027? APC already has Tinubu eyeing a second term. If the opposition manages to form a coalition in ADC, they already have bigger names like Atiku and Obi in the mix. Even PDP, if they stay separate, has options that don't include Kwankwaso.

And the vice presidential slot? That's usually a bargaining chip for regional balance and strategic alliances. Would any presidential candidate really waste that slot on someone whose own mentees keep abandoning him?

The harsh truth is that Kwankwaso's political stock is falling. His inability to keep his own boys loyal raises serious questions about his leadership style and political judgment. If you can't maintain loyalty among people you personally raised up, how can you lead a nation?

The Kwankwasiyya movement that once shook Kano to its foundations is now looking more like a one-man show. And in Nigerian politics, one-man shows don't win presidential elections.

Some of his supporters are already begging him to be realistic, to accept a ministerial position or a lesser role, to work with others instead of making impossible demands. But Kwankwaso doesn't seem to be in the mood for compromises.

The irony is painful. Here's a man who could have been President if he had played his cards right in 2023. If he had agreed to be Obi's running mate or worked out a deal with Atiku, Nigeria's political story might have been different. Instead, he insisted on running alone with NNPP, splitting the opposition vote and helping Tinubu win.

And now, even his stronghold of Kano is slipping away as Abba Yusuf appears to be following in Ganduje's footsteps.

What's next for Kwankwaso?

Will he swallow his pride and accept a realistic role in the 2027 elections?

Will he continue with NNPP as a regional party and abandon national ambitions?

Or will he keep making impossible demands until he becomes completely irrelevant in Nigerian politics?

The sad reality is that without the loyalty of his own political family, without a strong party structure, and without the willingness to compromise, Kwankwaso's presidential dreams are looking more and more like a pipe dream.

The king is lonely, his sons have abandoned him, and time is running out.

What do you think is Kwankwaso's problem? Is it a leadership issue, or are his mentees just ungrateful? And can he still be relevant in 2027 with these conditions he's setting? Let's hear your thoughts in the comments section.