By Abba Anwar

Multitude of groups are queuing up to make an official endorsement of the Deputy Senate President and First Deputy Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Barau I Jibrin CFR, for the 2027 Kano governorship position.

Impressed by his life saving interventions across the state, political groups, non political groups, urban-based, rural-based, semi-urban based, former elected officials, from the state, to local governments, down to wards levels, business community groups, students bodies and civil society groups, among others, have been trooping to the DSP to register their presence and loyalty.

Apart from the immediate past local governments chairmen, few weeks back, he got more endorsements from former chairmen of the 44 local government areas of Kano State, who served from 2003–2011 at his office in Abuja. The little fraction in the circle of the immediate past local governments bosses, after their endorsement of the DSP, didn’t discourage those who served between 2003 to 2011, anyway. Who are larger in size and upgraded in commitment.

The 2003 to 2011 loyalists were led by the former chairman of Tofa L.G. Hon. Garba Idris Unguwar Rimi, who also doubles as a former Commissioner during Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s reign. During the visit, they unanimously endorsed Sen. Barau for the 2027 Kano governorship. Making reference to his contributions to the people and the party All Progressives Congress (APC). They pledged full support for his victory.

From the higher circle of political actors, who also see reason in declaring their total and absolute support for the DSP’s gubernatorial race, former federal Legislators paid a solidarity visit to the Senator. The group was led by Hon Umar Sadiq, who represented Kumbotso Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, between 1979 and 1983.

Among the former legislators, there are those who were at the House of Representatives twice or even thrice. And those who served during the second, third and current fourth republics They requested the Deputy Senate President, to transmit their message of solidarity to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his bid for the second term.

Hon. Mustapha Bala Dawaki, the Chief of Staff to the current APC National Chairman, was among the delegation. Another prominent lawmaker Hon Faruk Lawan, who represented Bagwai/Shanono of Kano State for 16 years, emphasized their unwavering commitment for ensuring the victory of President Tinubu and Senator Barau come 2027.

The leader of the delegation said it point blank that, “We don’t have any candidate other than Senator Barau. Insha Allah, he is the next governor of Kano State. Senator Barau has been working like a governor – his track record of performance is outstanding. We, therefore, urge him to sustain his good work.”

Accepting their call with deep appreciation, DSP Barau acknowledged that, “This is my constituency as a member of the forum, and it is a thing of joy that you have queued behind the movement to rescue Kano State from the present misrule. This is a rescue mission.

It is the failure of leadership that pushed Kano State to the path of retrogression. Kano is being run like a private enterprise. We will not sit idly and allow things to continue deteriorating. It is not about you or me; it is about our state. Let us all work together to change the situation and utilise all resources for the benefit of all.”

Distinguished Deputy Senate President encourages that, “We are on a rescue mission.”

The delegation of the former federal lawmakers to the Senator, signifies his encouraging human management style. The way he manages decades of relationship, says a lot in his capacity as a leader.

Senator Barau is not only a fast lane to responsible political leadership and progressive governance, as an art and an institution, he is a democratic melting pot, where responsibility, eligibility, ingenuity, acceptability and availability are conjoined together for a better Kano.

His grassroots touch and glue-like atmosphere in democratic parlance create more corridors for real democratic foot soldiers, from the bottom of our society – our local governments – to internalize and institutionalize his genuine feeling for the state. Hence, their support and endorsements from left, right, and centre.

It is under this arrangement and political arithmetic that, the immediate past local governments Secretaries, from across the 44 local governments in the state, paid similar solidarity and endorsement visit to the DSP. Under the leadership of Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai.

Being the most qualified for the position, in their political choice and estimation, they assured him of their total support from their respective communities. Challenging that, they would not blow their trumpet, but the difference would be clear when the chips are down.

To display a deeper touch for the Senator’s bid for Kano gubernatorial seat, come 2027, another all-important group under the platform of an Association of Former Supervisory Councilors, who were in government from 1999 to the last reign of the former Governor in the state, were with the DSP, live and direct, as they endorsed his candidature.

To show how important and engaging the former Councilors were in connection to the endorsement, they were in Abuja in their hundreds. Assuring all that, they would do everything humanly possible to make sure that, DSP becomes governor come 2027 election period.

One important point to note is, all those paying solidarity visits to the Senator, they, at the same time, endorsed the candidature of President Tinubu, to run for a second term.

What surprisesd all during the Councilors solidarity visit, was when they disclosed to the Distinguished Senator that, when the time comes they would purchase gubernatorial Intent Form for him.

This alone speaks volumes of how he sits well in what can be described as Barau Comfort Zone.

Anwar writes from Kano
Sunday, 21st December, 2025

From Abba Anwar

Either for good, in their own definition, or for bad, some elements within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano, are planning to play their second to the last political card against His Excellency, the Deputy Senate President, Distinguished Senator Barau I Jibrin, CFR, by planning and organizing press conference and protest at the National Assembly, calling for the removal of the Deputy Senate President. From his position.

To me personally, the open but crude rivalry and unnecessary display of hatred among political juggernauts within the APC, is a pointer to one fact that, the leadership circle of the party in the state, is not only, weak and self-first promoter, it is destabilizing, deconstructing and disengaging.

Leaders and elders of the party have a long way to go to strengthen party structure and redirect respect to honesty, transparency, openness and sincerity of purpose. Without these, all so-called efforts, by whatever name they are called, stakeholders engagement, elders forum, caucuses, former this or former that, could be as insignificant as building castle in the air. In other words? All in vain. Vanity upon vanity.

What fertilizer is to plant, so also orchestrated hatred is to the Distinguished Senator Barau. Continuation of the preventable face – off among leaders of the party in Kano, is as good as signing death warrant of all factions. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s political interest, in his sight, supercedes all other interests.

A word is enough for a wise!

When DSP Barau’s intervention in sponsoring thousands of students across the sate of Kano and influence in the establishment of Federal University of Science and Technology, Kabo and establishment of North West Development Commission, with headquarters in Kano, among other numerous interventions, is like they are not being appreciated as part of the development process of the state and the region. By those people. where then are the calculation and political arithmetic of plotters against the DSP?

What is more surprising is, when people started concocting all lies against Senator Barau for the travails of some of our politicians in the state, you see Tom, Dick and Harry blindly condemning this gentleman without fact checking the entire process and procedures.

Unknown to them, by blaming all odds times to the Senator, they are at the same time telling us that the Distinguished Senator is such a very powerful leader. Who can do and undo. To whoever he wishes. While his rivals and enemies from the other side of the table are standing helplessly.

His efforts in the security of the state, appear to deliberately, be non-traceable to his opponents. Because their brain is not only retarded, but beclouded with unguided interest and self-first lifestyle. The provision of thousands of operational equipments, ranging from vehicles, motorcycles, office equipments, rehabilitation and construction of offices of security agencies, are numerous to mention.

Let me ask this singular question, how can a call for the removal of the DSP – a plan in the pipeline – be seen and interpreted as love for Kano? Let us see who these noise makers could be. Well, even if some nonentities or faceless individuals are put forth to be floating in the ocean of uncertainty and frustrations, architectures are neither invisible nor unidentifiable.

Anwar writes from Kano
Monday, 15th December, 2025

The Northern Youths Merger Group APC has distanced itself from the recent statement made by Engineer Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the former Governor of Kano State and leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, criticizing President Ahmad Bola Tinubu’s handling of the security situation in the country.

In a press release signed by the National Coordinator of the group, Hon. Musa Mujahid Zaitawa, the group expressed its disappointment and condemnation of Kwankwaso’s statement, describing it as “baseless” and “shameful”. Zaitawa pointed out that Kwankwaso has a history of opposing the government without justification, citing his previous criticisms of former President Goodluck Jonathan and his current stance against the APC government.

The group questioned Kwankwaso’s credibility, given his roles as a former Minister of Defence, Governor, and Senator, and wondered why he would make such statements at a time when the President is working tirelessly to address the security challenges facing the country. Zaitawa noted that Kwankwaso’s comments were not only unhelpful but also undermined the efforts of the government to ensure peace and stability in the country.

The statement further highlighted the erosion of support for Kwankwaso among his former associates, including Senator Kawu Sumaila, members of the National Assembly, and other prominent individuals who have abandoned his camp.

The Northern Youths Merger Group APC urged Kwankwaso to desist from making statements that could be perceived as inciting or divisive, and instead, encouraged him to support the government’s efforts to address the country’s challenges. The group emphasized that the Tinubu administration is committed to ensuring security and development in the country and will not be deterred by baseless criticisms.
The Arewa Youths Mager group said they have uncovered a conspiracy by Kwankwaso to use the Kano State Government to politicize the security situation in the state by leveling baseless allegations against former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin that they were involved in it, to show that the government of Asiwaju Ahmad Tinubu failed to address the insecurity problem for people of Kano when it comes to the 2027 campaign to turn their backs on the APC.

NYMG warned Kwankwaso to refrain from making statements that could provoke the youth to do illegal things that could cause discord and instability among the people’s

The group also commended President Tinubu’s efforts to address the security situation in the country, including the appointment of a new Minister of Defence and the allocation of funds to support farmers in the North.