 His tenure as the governor of Kano State was very eventful because of several other groups who were opposed to his high-handed governorship and his attempt at supporting president Obasanjo, who hails from a different tribal group.His party the PDP also became split between his supporters and those who opposed him.Kwankwaso was subsequently appointed as the Minister of Defence in President Olusegun Obasanjo's cabinet in 2003.