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Kwankwaso’s Scholarship swindles the people of Kano-Muhammad Garba

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6 years ago

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Fomer Kano State Governor, Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso

By MUHAMMAD GARBA

 

When I read a piece pen down by the sacked chairman of the All People’s Congress (APC), Umar Haruna Doguwa titled:’’ Kano: Empty Leadership,  huge liability,’’ I realized that the man, out of desperation, is carelessly ridiculing himself unnecessarily and exposing his candor and witlessness through misrepresentation of facts in the media. Nobody is envying the embattled former party chieftain from aiming for any office, but definitely not through blackmail and spreading of lies. One cannot overlook the deliberate distortion of facts on the state of affairs in Kano but to put out a response, because it could also help in dissuading desperate politicians like Doguwa using every opportunity to ensure that the people are deceived, just to achieve a selfish interest.

 

 

For those who are closer to Kwankwaso know that he always impose his whims on all and exploit them for his personal benefits against collective interest.  Even as pioneer APC chairman, you never run the affairs of the party independently talk less of bragging to have organize and coordinate an election. You were just but a rubber stamp, while your master dictates how things were organized and executed.

Muhammad Garba,Kano Information commissioner

Muhammad Garba,Kano Information commissioner

 

While I absolutely agree with you that Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje did promise to continue with the legacies of the immediate-past administration of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, when he assumed the mantle of leadership on May 29, 2015, the governor has kept to his promise in all spheres of governance This, he did, by fine-tuning most of the policies and, as well, bringing into the bear, innovations that have today crowned Kano as a reference point of good governance in Nigeria and beyond.

 

Read aslo:Governor Ganduje’s Free Primary Education Policy Laughable -Doguwa

As I read the article, I wonder how on earth Doguwa did not mention the huge liabilities Ganduje inherited from the Kwankwaso administration which were discovered by the Transition Committee. Since you were part of the government, you ought to have mentioned how Kwankwaso, who served his last tenure in the office between 2011 and 2015, also introduced unworkable policies and programs as well as execution of projects without financial backing, which allegedly used them to siphon public funds or to make the state ungovernable for the incoming governor.

 

 

At the expiration of his tenure, Kwankwaso left a liability of N313 billion for the incoming government. With these debts hanging on his neck, Ganduje also assumed office when there was a recession, which resulted in reduced federal allocation, dwindling level of Internally Generated Revenue and the slim nature of the state’s treasury which, however, had not deterred him from deploying his wealth of experience to effectively administer the state.

 

 

Some of these projects include Murtala Muhammad Way Bridge, the longest in the country named after the Kano Business mogul, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, which was inherited at 15 percent state of execution which has now been completed, commissioned and put to use; the state Independent Power Project at Tiga and Challawa Dams which was inherited at 35 percent and now at 95 percent stage of execution; dualization of Yahaya Gusau Road left at 10per cent and construction of underpass which was left at 15 percent stages of completion. In fact, the contract sum of the project has to be revised because of the absence of transparency in the project.

 

 

Other projects either uncompleted or abandoned but completed by the Ganduje administration include dualization of ‘Yantaya Kofar Dawanau and rehabilitation of Ahmadiyya Road awarded in 2013; construction of Dorawa Raod; construction of Rijiyar Gwangwan Road; Rehabilitation of Yusuf Road.

 

 

Ganduje also inherited 665 projects valued at N72 billion from Senator Ibrahim Shekarau’s administration out of which N40 billion was paid leaving an outstanding payment of N33.2 billion. Two of such projects include the construction of Giginyu Specialist Hospital (now Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital) and Paediatric Hospital Zoo Road (now Khalifa Sheikh Isyaka Rabi’u Paediatric Hospital). The two hospitals in which contracts were awarded in 2007, were abandoned at a 35 percent completion stage respectively. The Ganduje administration completed the construction, furnishing, and equipping of the facilities. In fact, the two hospitals are one of the best in the country in terms of standard and state-of-art equipment.

 

Read also:The Role of Songs in Advertising a Politician: A Case Study of Kwankwaso’s Dawo- Dawo

Part of the promise made by Governor Ganduje in his inaugural address, which Doguwa failed to complete is that of the initiation of more people-oriented policies and programs for the overall development of Kano state. The noble and modest achievements of the Ganduje administration have, indeed, dismantled the length and breadth of the so-called Kwankwassiyya Movement which has since gone into oblivion. This is so because the article itself depicted the emptiness of the Kwankwassiyya and its foot soldiers, since they have no genuine criticism against the APC administration in Kano, having been intimidated by the uncommon achievements of the present ruling party in the state.

Read:If President contest election today ,he will not win- Danbilki Kwamanda .

 

These projects include the construction of an underpass at Sharada/Panshekara Junction completed and commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari; construction of underpasses along Katsina Road by Muhammadu Buhari Way; nearly completed underpass and flyover along Zaria Road by Dangi Roundabout; ongoing construction of Cancer Centre at Muhammdu Buhari Specialist Hospital; rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of Burum Burum-Saya Saya-Kibiya-Rano- Bunkure-Karfi Road; Tiga-Rurum-Rano and Rano-Sumaila  Roads; construction/dualization of Court Road (now Rochas Okorocha Road); Abdullahi Bayero Road; dualization of Maiduguri Road (Opp Mobile Police Qtrs)-CBN Qtrs-Zaria Road; construction of asphaltic concrete surfacing from Gidan Maza-S/Gandu-Western Bypass-Kumbotso town and dualized Panshekara-Madobi Junction-Panshekara town Road among others.

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I am also gladdened that Umar Haruna Doguwa, has offered me a window to also refresh the memory of discernable good people of Kano and Nigerians on how the Kwankwaso administration killed the education sector in Kano. Kwankwaso abandoned the basic education and that was why Ganduje inherited a dilapidated infrastructure in the sector, with the quality of basic education degenerating, leading to unacceptably low academic performance. In virtually all public educational institutions, primary secondary or tertiary, classes were overcrowded. Basic amenities are either lacking or obsolete.

 

 

And just as he was about to leave office, Kwankwaso made a mere declaration for ‘free’ education in the state, deviously with the sole intent to leave the encumbrance on the incoming administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. If Doguwa cares to find out, as, on May 29, 2015, there were only 25,000 habitable classrooms out of the 30,000 available, whereas the total requirement in our 3,000 public primary schools is 45, 000 classrooms. Similarly, there were only 18, 000 toilets as against the total requirement of 35, 000, while 3-seater pupils’ desks were only 198, 832 as against the need of 914, 000. In addition to all these, instructional materials were inadequate while staff morale was at its lowest ebb and as a matter of fact, about 50 percent of the teachers.

 

 

This same thing applies to tertiary institutions in the state that included the two state-owned universities. The Ganduje administration inherited only the Senate building at the permanent site of northwest University now Yusuf Maitama Sule University with no academic activities. The university now operates two campuses. This is continuity. Many infrastructure projects were also executed at Kano state University of Science and Technology, Wudil by the present administration, while hundreds of courses were accredited with the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) as well as the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE). With this development, Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education has already commenced the award of the degree.

 

 

Funny enough, Doguwa also brought up the issue of the ill-conceived foreign scholarship scheme on which the present administration was left with a huge liability amounting to N8 billion. While as part of his continuity agenda, Ganduje has settled over N5 billion of the liability and still working towards offsetting it, facts are available on how the scheme was used to allegedly swindle the good people of Kano and Kano state government.

 

 

Far-reaching measures have also to been introduced to reverse the ugly trend by accessing the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC’s) counterpart funding of about N2 billion which enabled the rehabilitation of classroom blocks, the building of libraries, sinking of boreholes, provision of over 15,000 pupils’ furniture, instructional materials, etc. Governor Ganduje also came up with the idea of the Education Promotion Committee (EPC) both at the state level and in all the 44 local government areas which have been able to rehabilitate thousands of blocks of classrooms, provision of seats, and as well as various instructional materials.

 

 

And with the introduction of Free Basic and Secondary Education in the state, which Doguwa overlooked deliberately brushed aside, payment of school fees has been abolished in all the primary and secondary schools. The Ganduje administration has commenced direct funding of primary and secondary schools numbering 1,180 with a total student population of 834, 366 at a total cost of about N200 million per month or N2.4 billion per annum. Furthermore, N357 million has been budgeted to take care of free-feeding for pupils in primary four to six classes in all primary schools across the state.

 

 

Similarly, before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ganduje’s government had provided school uniforms to 779, 522 newly enrolled pupils (boys and girls) at the total cost of N381 million which distribution and other instructional materials were flagged off at Mariri Special Primary School in Kumbotso Local Government Area last year.

 

 

The state government has also sponsored the funding component of the Free and Compulsory Basic and Secondary Education in the state which was launched at the Sani Abacha Stadium Indoor Sports Hall. During that event, Ganduje distributed cash to over 110,000 schools across the state designed to enable them to build capacity and human resource development. He also distributed 790 Digital Classroom All-Inclusive Empowerment Solution and tablets to 728 teachers, 39 master teachers, nine senior secondary school officers, and 14 principal officers. The program was aimed at capacity building towards free and compulsory education on School Development Plan (SDP) and ICT appreciation for directors and zonal education directors.

 

 

With the turn of events, which led to the formal abolishing of the traditional Almajiri system of education in the state, the Ganduje administration is completing arrangements to enroll all 1, 800 repatriated indigenous Almajirai to Kano from other states of the northern region into the conventional educational system. Kano, which is the only state that has in place, a functional Qur’anic and Islamiyya Schools Management Board had earlier, established 12 integrated Tsangaya Model Schools across the state, 10 of which are boarding.

 

 

Each of the facilities has dormitory, hostels, cafeteria, toilets, and staff quarters among others, while 8, 000 volunteer teachers have been engaged to teach in the various public and Quranic schools across the state in a bid to reduce teaching deficiency in the sector.

 

 

Indeed, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s launching of free, compulsory basic and secondary education policy has made serious impact with the reduction of the data of out-of-school children in Kano from 1,306,106 to 410,873, from 2015 to 2019. (Refer to the National Education Data Survey (NEDS) Report of 2015 which shows that, Kano had (then) the highest number of out-of-school children with 1,306,106.) The terrifying report then prompted Governor Ganduje to take the issue with all seriousness, with measures aimed at addressing the situation squarely.

 

 

However, with the free, compulsory basic and secondary education policy, as contained in the report submitted to the Governor Ganduje by the sub-committee on out-of-school children survey 2019, it was noted that as a result of various intervention programs the serious drop becomes inevitable.

 

 

The survey by the sub-committee was conducted across all the 44 local government areas in the state on the house-to-house basis, using village/ward heads under the district heads of each local government area with a view to generating a comprehensive and reliable data that will enable the government to effectively implement the laudable free education policy According to the report, from the total number of 410,873 out-of-school children in the state, 275,917 are boys, that represents 67% and 134,956 are girls, representing 33%.

 

 

Unlike the Kwankwasiyya and their foot soldiers who play politics with everything, the Ganduje’s administration believes that with the right education, the issue of insecurity and unemployment would become things of the past. Education is a right for every citizen. This explains why in Kano today, there is a law that whoever fails to send his children to school is committing an offense.

 

 

Muhammad Garba is the Commissioner for Information, Kano State

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Politics

Kano Deputy Governorship, My Reiterated Position : My Challenge Against Riffraff

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2 hours ago

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April 17, 2026

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By Abba Anwar

It very clear to my readers, that I kept quite at the initial stage of the heated debate hovering around our political development in Kano. When Deputy Governor His Excellency, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, resigned from his position few days back.

I kept quite not because I had nothing to contribute to the debate. I was only observing genuine and fake commentators. Those who talk directly from their clean hearts. And those who say one thing before point A and change tone under the same issue before point B.

Before reiterating my position, which was already in the public domain, “Why Hues, Cries Against Garo,” authored April 5th, 2026, let me say this, with all sincerity of purpose, while referring my readers back to what I wrote before now. All the write-ups are still available and can be searched.

What is that I want to say? I am an ardent advocate for unity and cooperation among leaders and followers of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano state. On this particular issue of unity, I am more concerned with Kano than Nigeria as a whole.

Secondly I don’t hide my political feelings all along. My defence are my write-ups. For the simple reason that, I write frequently for His Excellency, Deputy Senate President, Barau I Jibrin, CFR, that doesn’t mean I cannot write something and praise His Excellency, Deputy Gubernatorial Candidate, under APC, in 2023 election, Murtala Sule Garo.

It is double standard if I cannot tell Barau how I respect Garo. And vice versa. Nowhere in the past, when I support any form of divisions among our political leaders. I always called for unity, internal cohesion and coming together for a united front and purpose.

Yes I write more and more for Barau than Garo, but that does not mean I cannot express my political feelings or reasoning, that may not likely be palatable for Barau.

On 5th October, 2024, please go and search, I wrote “Barau’s Political Gamble : Ignoring His Supporters for Kwankwasiyya and NNPP Defectors.” In it I said, “Senator Barau, despite his admirable record of representation and infrastructure projects, seems distracted by these unnecessary political maneuvers. The time spent wooing disloyal members of rival parties would be better utilized in strengthening his political base. He should focus on empowering those who have supported him from the start, especially the youth and grassroots leaders who have been instrumental in his rise.”

As I said the above for Barau, I said this for Garo, in my write – up captioned, “Garo’s Bitter Truth and Kano’s Development,” dated January 5th, 2025, “For the first time, yes first time, in this republic, I mean since the restoration of our democracy from 1999 to date, I came across a prominent politician in Kano, blaming our leading politicians in the state, particularly past governors, over non-challant attitudes towards teaming up for the sake of state development.”

Not only Garo, with all my good write – ups for Barau, I still found it desirable to wrote something and commend Hon Abubakar Kabir Bichi, member representing Bichi federal constituency, at the House of Representatives. Bichi too, is seen by many as a die-hard political opponent for Barau. Go and search my piece titled, “Fateful Triangle : Kano APC’s Stronghold, Kano North,” dated 5th May, 2025.

I don’t hide my political leaning to anybody. Let people know that, with all modesty, I am just above collecting resources from so so person and write bad thing against another person in this race for Deputy Governorship in Kano. I cannot collect any inducement from opponents to write bad about Hon Kabiru Alasan Rurum, or Hon Rabi’u Sulaiman Bichi or HE Garo or Right Honourable Speaker, State House of Assembly, Hon Falgore.

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I cannot do that. And at the same time, I cannot write any bad thing and give to other opponents to write someone’s name. I don’t do that! Man, I am above that! When I believe in something, I dont hide.

LET ME PUT MY CHALLENGE FORWARD, WHOEVER KNOWS THAT SO SO PERSON GAVE ME SOMETHING AND I WROTE A SINGLE LINE EVEN, OR A PARAGRAPH, OR A COMPLETE ARTICLE AND GAVE IT TO ANOTHER PERSON’S OPPONENT TO PUT A PEN NAME, NOT MY NAME, AND USE IT AGAINST SOMEONE, WHOEVER KNOWS THIS AND KEEPS QUITE MAY ALLAH CURSE HIS LIFE COMPLETELY. LET HIM COME FORWARD WITH HIS EVIDENCE PLEASE AND MAKE IT PUBLIC. AND IF I DID THAT AND NOW SAID I DIDN’T DO, MAY ALLAH, OUR CREATOR, CURSE MY LIFE COMPLETELY TOO!!! AND WHOEVER GAVE ME A PENNY TO DO THAT AND KEEPS QUITE, MAY ALLAH CURSE HIM TOO!!!

Whenever I write something, I own it, no matter what. Let me give an example here, yes I worked under His Excellency, former Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CON, as his Chief Press Secretary, for six good years, but few months back during Tsanyawa /Kunchi and Bagwai/Shanono by-elections, after the declaration of the results by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), what I saw was nothing to write home about. Not impressive at all.

I immediately picked my pen and wrote an article, captioned, “Kano By-election : The Beginning of an End Era,” dated 17th August, 2025, in it, I called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, that he should review his political appointees who came from there, Kano North and immediately remove those who cannot perform as his good Ambassadors. I gave an example with the son of my boss, Engineer Abba Ganduje. I didn’t use any other name. I wrote it, I owned it and it was published and widely circulated. Please go and check.

The piece partly says, “To Allah Who Created me from nothing, if sadism, treachery and unnecessary political confrontation continue to take lead in our political relationship, especially among our leaders, APC is going nowhere in Kano. Even if it is leading Africa not Nigeria. Kano is known for its radical political engagement. I suggest President Tinubu should, I can’t say must – being a President – hastily look inward in Kano’s appointments and make necessary modifications.

For example, looking at the Kano North, where APC lost in this by-election, what is the use and relevance of appointments like that of Eng Umar Abdullahi Umar (Abba Ganduje) among other irrelevant appointments? What is the wisdom behind dropping people like Murtala Garo from the zone? What is the wisdom behind the unnecessary face-off between our elected people from the zone? What for?!”

When I wrote another article, where I blamed APC leadership in Kano for distraction and destruction, who gave me penny? And whose name was there as the author? The piece is titled, “Kano APC in Discombobulation : As Ploys Against DSP Barau Thickens,” dated December 15th, 2025. So I am beyond that, with all sense of modesty.

My position for Deputy Governorship, as I said very clearly in my recent write-up, captioned, “Why Hues, Cries Against Garo,” dated April, 5th, 2026, is Garo. I spoke out my reasons for his choice. My reader can kindly go and search.

In it I said, “And the way I see it, Garo is not desperate about it. He isn’t so desperate to become a Deputy Governor. My view, I stand to be corrected. As it is now, former Governors and former Deputy Governors, are still benefiting from him, from many standpoints.

Garo, unlike former Deputy Governor and Gubernatorial candidate under the platform of APC in 2023 election, His Excellency Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, who after he lost 2023 election was appointed, Chairman Governing Board, Bayero University, Kano and Chairman Board of Directors of Mortgage Bank, exited from APC recently to African Democratic Congress (ADC), in search of more political breathing space, Garo remains in the party without any appointment, whatsoever.

All along, nowhere was it reported that Garo was castigating the party at either state or national level. Now a vacancy arises, and the space is naturally available without any effort from anybody. Who then is in the best position to be compensated? If not Garo, who?”

When the write – up was published, Barau didn’t rise an eyebrow about it. In fact I sent him the links of all the online platforms that published the piece. The same way as, whenever I wrote something about Barau, Garo was one of the first people I send my write-ups to. Even for once, Garo never complained about it. And he didn’t change mood when we meet. I still believe misunderstanding between Barau and Garo or between Barau and Abban Bichi or between Garo and former State Party Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, or between any other leader or their followers, is not necessary please. All the leaders need each other. They believe it or not.

Anwar writes from Kano
Friday 17th April, 2026

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A Glimpse into the Politics of Distinguished Senator Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar, Marafan Sokoto

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3 hours ago

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April 17, 2026

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By Ahmad Musa Jega

 

In his political history, he stands out as one of the prominent politicians from Northwestern Nigeria who has never changed his political party. No matter the challenges or hardships, he has never betrayed his party through conspiracies or divisions.

Everyone knows the difficulties and challenges he endured between 2019 and 2022. There is hardly any political challenge in the world that Distinguished Senator Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar (Marafan Sokoto) has not faced. One could even say that only his life was spared, yet despite all this, he never abandoned his party, the APC.

– ANPP Zamfara State Secretary, 2003–2004
– ANPP Zamfara State Chairman, 2004–2006
– Member, House of Representatives (Anka–Talata Mafara Federal Constituency), 2007–2011
– ANPP Acting National Treasurer
– Governor of Zamfara State, 2011–2019
– Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum, 2014–2019
– Distinguished Senator representing Zamfara West Senatorial District, 2023–present

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Distinguished (Marafan Sokoto) is the only politician in the Northwest who has kept politics within its boundaries, friendships within their boundaries, and has never allowed party differences to affect his friendships.

Examples:
1. Senator (Dr.) Aliyu Magatakarda Wamako (Sarkin Yamman Sokoto), his mentor and a leader in Northern politics.
2. Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, his friend and confidant, despite the political weight of Sokoto State, he has never allowed politics to break their bond.

Distinguished (Marafan Sokoto), no matter how great his political ambitions, never allows them to cause anyone to lose their position or status just to satisfy his own needs.

Examples:
1. In 2023, when he and Minister Hon. (Dr.) Bello Muhammad Matawalle were in APC, there was a proposal to dissolve the Zamfara State Executive Council and redistribute positions. He opposed it, insisting everyone should keep their seats until after the 2023 elections.
2. In 2023, there was a proposal to restructure APC leadership in Zamfara State. He refused, saying everyone should retain their positions, while he and Minister Matawalle would maintain their own structures.
3. In 2023, during the sharing of political candidacies in his constituency (Talata Mafara 1), even though he had more qualified candidates, he allowed Hon. Shamsuddeen Hassan Basko (aligned with Minister Matawalle) to retain his seat. After winning, Basko defected to PDP, yet Distinguished (Marafan Sokoto) did not retaliate.

Distinguished (Marafan Sokoto), if he knows you through a friend or close associate, but later you return without that connection, he will not deal with you until you reconnect through the same channel.

In conclusion, in Nigerian politics, Distinguished Senator Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar (Marafan Sokoto) does not betray, does not slander, does not conspire against anyone, and does not sow division.

We pray to Allah (SWT) to continue guiding (Marafan Sokoto) on the right path, grant him health, wealth, and honor, and bless Zamfara State and the entire Northern Nigeria with peace, for the sake of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

 

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Politics

Tarauni 2027 : How Hon Hafizu Kawu Stabilizes Political Competition

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2 days ago

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April 16, 2026

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By Abba Anwar

While some cowards, political appointees in federal government’s positions, refused to resign from their offices, in anticipation of their political careers against 2027 general elections, former member of the House of Representatives, from Tarauni federal constituency, Hon Hafizu Kawu (OON), (mni), did not resign for two or three fundamental reasons. He has never been a coward before now.

First and foremost, he refused to resign, because, his resignation would hit hard at Kano state. In his current position, he is representing North-West geopolitical zone. National Commissioner (Technical), at National Pension Commission (PENCOM). So when he resigns, Kano state would definitely be at the receiving end. Because there is no assurance that the position would be maintained in Kano. His love for his state supercedes other personal interests.

After his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, effective August 7, 2025, confirmation by the Senate and inauguration as part of the PENCOM Board, by the Secretary to the Federal Government, he promised to work tirelessly, to advance PENCOM’s objectives, strengthen pension administration, and safeguard the welfare of retirees across Nigeria.

As the position of Kawu was seen by many as portrayal of a good Ambassador from Kano, it is also understood as part of President Tinubu’s strategy to reposition key federal agencies for improved efficiency, making youth at the centrestage. With the confidence reposed in Kawu by Tinubu, his presence there, at the Commission, is highly needed and desirable. Not only by Kano people, but by all North-West people. Across our seven states.

No strange to federal positions and appointments, Kawu was Member, House of Representatives for Tarauni Federal Constituency, Kano (2019–2023), on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC). He served as Special Assistant to former Vice President, Prof, Yemi Osinbajo, GCON, (2015–2019). For national recognition and honour, he is the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), conferred in 2022. Kawu is Member, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, (mni), Kuru, Near Jos. A university graduate, with many certifications.

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The second reason why he didn’t resign is, yes he has all it takes to contest for the position, but his special interest in the party unity, genuine membership cohesion and leadership honest consolidation, partly inform his decision not to contest. As some may argue that, his popularity, grip to the grassroot and political strength, are placed above other aspirants. With all the qualities, with all his pedigree and with the development he brought to his constituency, when he was a member, he quietly removed himself from the potential contestants.

Honourable Kawu’s strength and influence among the electorate, make him a focused political icon and juggernaut in Tarauni. As people look up to him, seeking for political direction come 2027. Though he is not contesting, he still has the power to do and undo in his primary constituency, at least. Or rather at best.

Apart from the incumbent member, the major contender for this position, is Hon Aminu Bala Ja’oji. Who recently resigned as Senior Special Assistant to the President, on Citizenship and Leadership. While he too, is another political king in his own right, his major obstacle is, the refusal of some notable politicians from Tarauni to support his ambition.

I was able to eavesdrop that, Ja’oji’s major political opponents are ganging up against him. As there was insinuation, which is yet to be ascertain that, he would get an automatic ticket. Automatic ticket could be possible and accepted in some federal constituencies in Kano, but in Tarauni, it could be vanity upon vanity.

With the undisputed influence and strength of Kawu in Tarauni politics, a possibility of dark horse is not penciled down. I learned that, some have started coming up with new strategies, new possibilities, new engagements, new interested minds and new normal. Whether true or false, Kawu may not support the candidature of Ja’oji.

Regardless of the arrangement, Kawu’s non-participation in the process as a contestant, will prove further, to all, who between him, Ja’oji and the incumbent [I don’t know if he is in APC or not] commands more respect from the party leadership and followership. If Tarauni is having parallel leadership structures, then the tug-of-war will be more interesting to watch from a distance.

For healthier, clearer and more interesting political competition, for the 2027 Tarauni election, some may suggest that Kawu should not aid Ja’oji get the ticket. And Ja’oji shouldn’t aid Kawu’s preferred aspirant, to get the ticket, during the nomination process. But when any of them gets it, then political alignment and realignment is quite normal and proper. The choice is theirs!

While in some federal constituencies, automatic ticket means peace, harmony, genuine consensus and sign of victory, in Tarauni federal constituency, automatic ticket means disaster, danger and self-defeat. Examples of where automatic ticket means peace, harmony and strategy, are Dala, Tudunwada/Doguwa, Bichi, Municipal, federal constituencies among others.

This piece is not interested in discussing Senatorial of Gubernatorial positions. Or State House of Assembly positions. The context is limited only to federal constituencies; House of Representatives.

Anwar writes from Kano
Thursday, 16th April, 2026

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