By Abba Anwar

In Kano, not in any other place, as I am writing these paragraphs within the context of Kano politics, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), is set to benefit from the coming together of the three political heavyweights of Kano North politics. Their political influence, goes beyond their zone. You can easily find their touches across the entire 44 local government areas of the state.

These are His Excellency the Deputy Senate President, who also doubles as the First Deputy Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Barau I Jibrin, PhD, CFR, His Excellency the current Deputy Governor, Murtala Sule Garo and His Excellency former Deputy Governor and former Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development, Eng. Abdullahi T. M. Gwarzo.

These gentlemen didn’t attain this political pedigree with such influence and domineering effect, in one day or by accident. They toiled, planned and designed the positions. They are one of the very few, yes very few, politicians within APC, whose dominance and presence are felt across the length and breadth of the state. They go beyond their primary constituencies of Kabo (Jibrin’s and Garo’s), Gwarzo (T. Gwarzo’s) and Kano North, as their Senatorial District.

When you take any of them, they have their contacts and connections in Kano Central and Kano South. I am talking of raw electorate, genuine voters and supporters. Not mere political heads, genuine and/or fake. Coincidentally, all the three gentlemen are reserved, quiet, strategic and not noise makers.

I always say of Garo, he can pick his phone and call his genuine supporter in far away, Baburi, of Tudunwada local government. And not necessarily, Barista Sabi’u Baburi, an outstanding and highly determined youth politician from that end.

Senator Jibrin was hitherto a member of House of Representatives, from Tarauni federal constituency, in Kano Central. When he became Senator representing Kano North, he did many things as a good ambassador of his people and to party leaders, from his zone. He also touched the lives of many people, including those from Kano Central and Kano South. His outreach goes further when he became Deputy Senate President. Appointments around his office are not limited to Kano North. So also other federal appointments he facilitated for other people.

Eng Gwarzo was Deputy Governor, under one of the welfarist administrations in the state, the administration of Senator Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, Sardaunan Kano. Before then, he was the Kano State Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Kano Branch. When he was the Chairman of Gwarzo local government. With these two outstanding positions he held, he has his contacts and connections too, across all the 44 local government areas.

None of these gentlemen, is either a local operator or a noisemaker without substance when it comes to election time. They are all visible outside the reach of their local governments and their Senatorial Districts. All of them are kings in their own right. No doubt about this.

All of them mentored right thinking people in their political life. Some of such mentees are not even from their local areas of Kabo and Gwarzo. Let me give an example of few individuals whom I see as responsive and responsible mentees under the tutelage of these tripartite icons. Either under long, medium or short term mentoring process.

Under Jibrin, I can remember Dr Hafizu Liman, Abdullahi Karkasara, Fa’izu Alfindiki, among others. For HE Garo, I can still remember people like Comrade Magaji Kabiru Gulu, Coordinator, Kano First Students Movement, Musaddique Wada Waziri, Deputy Youth Leader, Kano APC, Barista Sabi’u Baburi, among others. While under HE Gwarzo, I can remember, Alhaji Yawale, some pockets of state legislators when he was Deputy Governor, among others.

I was moved when His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf led the reconciliation effort between DSP Barau and HE Gwarzo, in the race of Senatorial seat for Kano North. Yes other efforts were also helpful in this respect. But the Governor, the way I see it, is the Reconciliator-General, if I may use the term.

I was excited also when I heard that DSP visited Gwarzo in his Abuja residence. That spoke volumes of how peaceful and responsible the two of them are. At Gwarzo’s residence, as DSP posted on his Facebook page, he, the DSP, spoke his mind very openly and said, “Our discussion centred on the development of Kano North, Kano State, and the country as a whole.

With the unity currently prevailing within our party, Insha Allah, All Progressives Congress (APC), the largest political party in Africa will emerge victorious at all levels in the 2027 elections: the Presidency, National Assembly, Governorship, and State Assembly elections.”

His Excellency, DSP, acknowledged that, “As always, the unity and progress of our party, as well as the development of our community, state, and country, remain our top priorities.” This, he said without any doubt. No one also doubts the purity of his mind when he said that.

Is just as I always say, APC has more committed and purely genuine leaders from Kano North than from other two zones of Kano Central and Kano South. They always have the party in their hearts. They believe, all hands must be on deck for the progress of the party. And God so Kind, those of them who have genuine, real and committed supporters and loyalists, are, these three, Jibrin, Garo and Gwarzo. They believe that action is better than noise. They are naturally quite and quintessential.

Their faith in coming together to work tirelessly for the victory and survival of the party, in the forthcoming election, is not only commendable, but inspiring. Internal cohesion, is but the main thrust of APC. It was formed as a united opposition front to unseat the then government at all levels. A mission accomplished.

So any move below this effort, is a total negation of the main cardinal principles of the party. As well as planting seed of destruction from within the party, the APC.

Let me call the attention of all APC leaders, eders and other relevant stakeholders, especially those who were there before Governor Yusuf joined the party, that, it could be disastrous and too embarrassing to think that, political interest can only be safeguarded and massaged, when discordant tunes are promoted and amplified. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY WRONG!

Governor Yusuf aside, greatest assets for APC in Kano, whose mutual understanding is needed the most, are Jibrin, Garo and Gwarzo. Though they all come from Kano North, but I argued earlier, that, Kano North is the stronghold of APC. TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT!

I am from Kano Central. Yes from Dala local government. But I know that, when you are looking for NOISEMAKING OF EMPTY DRUMS, FAKE LOYALTY, NON-RESULT PACKAGING AND BELOW PERFORMANCE AT ELECTION TIME, COME TO KANO CENTRAL AND KANO SOUTH.

So the ball is now in the court of His Excellency, Governor Yusuf, to rejig, redirect, re-engineer, re-focus and re-design democratic gains for his people, through modern political practice in his party, APC. As 2027 is fast approaching, substantive percentage of the victory of the party, is within the reach of the Governor. To make or mar.

Anwar writes from Kano
Saturday, 23rd May, 2026

By Abba Anwar

Kano First Agenda, in itself, as one of the recently added slogans in the political lexicon in Kano, plays an important role in the affirmation of His Excellency, the Deputy Senate President, Barau I Jibrin, PhD, CFR, to run again for Senate, come 2027 general election.

Primarily, DSP’s interventions across all the 13 local governments under his constituency, Kano North and beyond, informed the unwavering support he enjoys from his people. His people saw reason and wisdom in giving him another chance to go back to Senate again. Meaning more progress, growth and development for the area.

As they believe in his total commitment and promising achievements, people from his constituency, Kano North, irrespective of their party affiliation, stand firm in consolidating their effort towards his planned victory, come 2027. They put their weight behind him and they plan strategies to achieve that. Without any compromise, at whatever cost.

From the comments I heard from people who attended the affirmation event that took place at the Secretariat of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bichi, DSP Barau is not only a supporting wall, he is an institution. He is reliable, dependable and commendable. Being an institution, he represents various interests towards the development of his constituency, Kano State and the country in general.

His fulfilled interventions that come on board in various forms, provide more corridors for structured citizens engagement, more skilful and informed fronts and strategies. Creative in his conception, apt in his action plan and promising in his implementation procedure.

The gathering during the affirmation event for the DSP speaks a lot in ruling out the argument, whether Kano North needs political dialysis or not. If APC is in political intensive care unit (icu) in some zones in Kano, the situation in Kano North, shows different picture. Entirely different. Kano North, can best be described as APC engine room in Kano.

Let me, limit my discussion to DSP alone, in this piece, since the entire write-up is meant for him. His contributions that are rightly structured according to sub-sectors, are carefully managed and prominently engaging. His legacy is seen all over. Go and make an enquiry and see his golden hands in that sector. His scholarship scheme and programmes he initiated are all over.

The same thing applies to other areas like, human development through empowerment, interventions in sports development, grants to party and non-party members and his indelible mark in the transportation system in Kano North.

In the area of security, His Excellency Jibrin has no match at all. Search on your own, go to search engines and see his contributions. His intervention in this area is not only overwhelming, is self-assuring and self-fulfilling. One like no other. A highly respected legislator, an orator and a disciplined political leader.

When APC in Kano South is tearing up, if not because of the quick response of His Excellency, the Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, APC in Kano North, is gaining more ground, making victory around forthcoming elections inevitable. But for Kano Central, there exists a unifying factor, in person of the former Governor, Sardaunan Kano, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau.

What is more fascinating during the affirmation event, was, in the presence of all, when the Deputy Governor, His Excellency Murtala Sule Garo, raised up the hand of DSP Barau, symbolically requesting people to re-elect him again for the position. Yes he represented his Boss, the Governor, but his face showed total and absolute commitment of his action. The support was coming from the depth of his heart. Kano North political leaders, within APC, are more supportive and reliable than other zones, of Kano Central and Kano South. This, has been my position for long.

To tell my readers how DSP was moved by his affirmation, few hours after the programme, he posted on his Facebook page that, “I am deeply impressed by the peaceful and orderly manner in which the affirmation exercise was conducted at the APC headquarters in Bichi Local Government Area, in the presence of thousands of party members drawn from the 13 local government areas of Kano North Senatorial District.”

The echo filled the air when party members were asked whether they still belive in the DSP’s return to the Senate, as acknowledged by the DSP himself, according to him, as a subject matter, “When the Chairman of the APC Electoral Committee for the Kano North Senatorial Primary Election, Hon. Shehu Isa Direba, asked party members to affirm my candidature, the venue erupted with a unanimous chorus of “Yes,” reflecting the unity and commitment of our members.”

As praises and commendations sound musical to our ears and his, Senator Jibrin urged that, “Let us come out en masse to vote for APC candidates at all levels in the 2027 general elections. By doing so, we will consolidate the gains of good governance and continue to enjoy the developmental projects and benefits being delivered by the federal, state, and local governments.”

Impressed by the presence of the Deputy Governor, Garo, DSP said in his expression of satisfaction, “The Governor of Kano State, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, who was represented at the event by the Deputy Governor, Hon. Murtala Sule Garo, expressed optimism that the people of Kano North and Kano State at large would overwhelmingly vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Abba, me, and all APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.”

Let me congratulate Kano North again, that Senator Jibrin vows to bring to the fore, more development to his area. As he puts it that, “I sincerely thank our party members for renewing their confidence in me through their overwhelming support. I assure them of my continued commitment to effective representation and service to our people.”

As an ardent supporter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, DSP did not relent in stressing that, “I therefore urge our people not to waver in their support for President Tinubu and the APC. We must not allow ourselves to be distracted by baseless criticisms and unnecessary political noise.”

Let me suggest to the national leadership of the APC that, since the party is now put together, through reconciliation, alliances of interests, within its fold and outside, deeper and proper understanding of party politics and internal cohesion among leaders, the National Chairman and other members of the National Working Committee, should go and rest. So long as the tempo will remain so, then victory is inevitable, with the Divine Help of our Creator.

Anwar writes from Kano
Wednesday, 20th May, 2026

By Abba Anwar

As superintended by His Excellency, Executive Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, the reconciliation between aspirants of the position of House of Representatives, from Tarauni federal constituency, which produced the former Senior Special Assistant to the President on Citizenship and Leadership, Hon Nasir Bala Aminu (Ja’oji), as the flag bearer under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), the political atmosphere in Tarauni is now cooled, rancour-free, enduring and promising.

What is more fascinating is how Ja’oji accepted the entire process in good faith. With all sense of humility, commitment and promising engagement in pre, during and post election periods. Governor Yusuf surprised people with his skilful intervention as the leader of the party in the state. Many expected increasing political turbulence in Tarauni before any agreement could be reached, in House of Representatives race.

Yes Tarauni was one of the dicey political environments in the state, pregnant with political uncertainties. At the starting point, what signaled soft landing for the constituency, was the good understanding of his constituents about his capacity, capability and certainty towards the development of his people.

The long held speculation that, Ja’oji, right from onset, would be anointed from Abuja to come and contest, was put to rest and was flawed by the struggle of all aspirants before and during the just concluded and meticulous consensus arrangement. Which gave Ja’oji edge over all others.

Without fear of mincing words, Iet me put it succinctly clear that, among all the hitherto aspirants, Ja’oji was closer to the people, more visible when it comes to contributing for the development of his people and the constituency. Even before he was appointed Senior Special Assistant to the President, Ja’oji was and remains household name in Tarauni and many parts of Kano.

So many people were of the opinion that, even if there would be primary election between him and other aspirants, he would emerge victorious. But to me, in this and similar context, consensus is better and healthier for internal party cohesion. Before and during the consensus period, Ja’oji remained calm, as he always behaves. Some pundits believe that, he is more composed with the needed exposure, for the position, at the National Assembly.

Celebrating his victory from the consensus arrangement, is just one out of many celebrations attached to his political life. All will celebrate him when his interventions in many areas of human development, are made public in an astonishing public presentation.

Apart from hundreds of students he aided with scholarships and keep up, his well-structured empowerment programmes of women and youth, as harsh economic realities are suffocating citizens, health assistance for clearing hospitals bills and grant to his people, are all tip of an iceberg in his political character and social behavior.

In my estimation of his interventions to his people, he spent close to Two Billion Naira (N2b) only, to put smiles on the faces of his people. That was from the time I started having interest in writing about his contributions for the development of his people. But before then, other expenses were counting.

To bring it to the fore, Ja’oji may not have a match, outside government, who serves his people tirelessly in Tarauni federal constituency. He serves his party, leaders and elders of the party, party members and non-party elements. That is why the respect he commands in Tarauni and elsewhere is incomparable to his peers.

Ja’oji’s statement after the consensus shows how humble he is in victory. He didn’t boast as being more powerful, more influencial, more connected, more capable and more exposed than other aspirants. He thanked His Excellency, the Governor for spearheading the process. Together with other important political leaders.

At the point of commending co-aspirants, he praised them for being courageous to face the process. What is more interesting and fascinating is when he mentioned their names individually. It says a lot about his open heart and open door policy.

I was moved when he called other aspirants with their individual names. Not only that, he ascribed Honourable to their respective names. Hear him, “I must commend all those who withdrew from the race. Let me begin with Hon Abubakar Zakari (Habu PA), Hon Ibrahim Babangida, Hon Ibrahim Auwal, Hon Eng Haruna Ahmad Sabo, Hon Mutari Isa Dikko, Hon Nasiru A Shuaibu, Hon Nasiru Shuaibu and Hon Abubakar Hashim.”

Anwar writes from Kano
Saturday, 16th May, 2026