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

By Abba Anwar

Not only a rare gem, the Deputy Senate President, His Excellency, Barau I Jibrin, PhD, CFR, is an asset for his constituency, Kano North, Kano State and Northern Nigeria, to begin with. I’m yet to see a Senator of the republics I am conversant with, in this country, who served his people close to what DSP has been doing.

Let me confine myself to the North West, or the entire Northern Nigeria. More specifically let me limit my analysis on those who became Senate Presidents and Deputies Senate President from the North. None, I mean none of them, performed so wonderfully well to his people like the incumbent DSP. I stand to be back on the pedal.

I therefore, don’t see any stumbling block on his way to return to the Senate. The way I see it, is, the victory in his reelection bid for 2027, is done, sealed and delivered. Not only voters from Kano North see the writing on the wall, but all other Senatorial zones, Kano Central and Kano South, know this reality.

I’m rest assured that, electorate from his primary constituency know all the interventions I am about to mention below. While they are just a fraction of the feats he achieved, his entire interventions are beyond article writing. We need either a compendium or a repository system, cataloging different sectors like education, security, health, sports, infrastructural development, among others.

Payback time for the Senator, from his constituency, is now or never. His excelling achievements were, long before now, being appreciated by different organizations, associations and agencies.

In the education sector he initiated and presented a Bill for the establishment of Federal Polytechnic, Kabo, that was established with 17 approved programmes in Science, Engineering and Health Sciences. He further lobbied and followed-up legislative process; which also provided infrastructure for the Polytechnic to be transformed to University of Science and Technology, Kabo.

He initiated, lobbied and followed-up for the Federal College of Education (Technical) Bichi, to Federal University of Education Bichi. The same effort was applied to the transformation of the Federal College of Education, (FCE) Kano, to Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, Kano. He initiated and lobbied for the renaming of the University, after the name of the former Permanent Representative of Nigeria, to the United Nations, Dan Masanin Kano Yusuf Maitama Sule.

He was able to facilitate the establishment of 13 National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Study Centres, across all 13 Local Government Areas, of his constituency, Kano North. Also facilitated for the establishment of Federal University Dutsin-Ma 6 Satellite Campuses and four (4) more Study Centres facilitated in Gwarzo, Danbatta, Dawakin Tofa, Gabasawa local governments.

Under human development in education sector, DSP Jibrin sponsored 70 Kano students under his Barau Jibrin Scholarships Scheme, to study AI, Robotics, Forensic Sciences, among other modern fields of study. The 70 students, that I called Barau Scholars, some of them completed their studies. And have since returned to the country to contribute their quota for the development of the state and the overall national development.

At Federal University Dutsinma, he sponsored 600 Kano students to study in different fields. In addition the payment of Fifty Thousand Naira (₦50,000) to each Kano North undergraduate student studying in Bayero University, Kano.

He sponsored 300 undergraduate students across some notable Nigerian Universities to study their chosen field of study. They were selected from all the three Senatorial zones in the state. All their fees were paid instantly.

On yearly basis, he pays for NECO and JAMB examination fees, for less-privileged students from Kano North. His Foundation paid full undergraduate scholarship to 13 students of Azman University, Kano. While at the same time he paid for the registration fees for 650 students from Kano North, studying in FUDMA.

Beyond his constituency, he facilitated for the JAMB Act (Amendment) Bill 2019. With the aim of making admissions, across the country, more transparent. Coupled with his effort in the Federal Colleges of Education Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2019, which he sponsored for reforms in Colleges of Education, across the country.

Under security sector, more specifically his direct support to Nigeria Police Force, the Distinguished Senator donated One thousand (1,000) operational motorcycles. The handing over of the motorcycles took place at Bompai Police Headquarters, Kano. Of which the distribution was at 700 for Kano North Senatorial Zone and the remaining 300 for State Command Headquarters. The donation was purposely made to enhance mobility, rapid response, and reach hard-to-access areas by our Police officers.

He donated other operational vehicles to the Police Command, Bompai, among other donations of vehicles to other police formations, particularly, in Kano North. As he renovated parts of Kano State Police Headquarters. As he further constructed many police stations in different parts of the state.

Our able DSP constructed a modern Police Secondary School in Kabo, his hometown. He is not only concerned with operational vehicles and infrastructure, he is mindful of aiding his people to get recruited into the available spaces under our security system.

Hence he facilitated the recruitment of 120 security personnel as Police Cadets, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials, and Federal Fire Service officers from Kano North. After the completion of their training, he hosted them at a dinner in their honor, at Bristol Palace Hotel, Kano. As he charged them on integrity, patriotism, service to the nation and loyalty to their respective formations.

To further enhance security in the streets across his constituency, he helped in the installation of one thousand (1,000) solar-powered streetlights across Kano North, to improve nighttime patrols. As he rushed to Kano Central donating for market security, where he donated Hilux, 5 motorcycles for patrol at Farm Centre phone market.

As our Distinguished Senator believes in re-positioning of our security system and architecture, he sees reason in security infrastructure development. This informs his patriotic decision in facilitating for the establishment of

NSCDC Training College, in Gwarzo, Nigeria Police Service Commission Training Institute, in Kabo and Nigeria Immigration Service Training School, in Bichi.

I still don’t see a Senator from Kano, or even from other parts of the North, who did half of what the DSP is doing to his people. My reader should please mark my words, I’m not ridiculing our patriotic legislators. I am only stating the obvious, with evidences, facts not fictions.

I don’t know how DSP Jibrin’s constituency can reward him. I think taking him back to the Senate in 2027 election, yes is rewarding, but is not enough a reciprocal engagement. They should, I suggest evolve other means and manner to appreciate this gentleman. The best mean and manner to me is, support, support and support for his policies, programmes and projects.

Under agriculture the biggest project is the long awaited programme on maize and rice cultivation to boost food security, under Barau Initiative for Agricultural Revolution in the Northwest (BIARN), that was launched in April 2025. With the intention of the distribution of about Three Billion Naira (N3b) interest-free loan scheme for 558 young farmers across the 7 states of the North West.

As beneficiaries would get access to, ranging from One Million Naira (N1m) to Two Million Naira (N2m) up to Five Million Naira (N5m) per individual beneficiary. What is delaying the implementation of the programme is the paucity of Funds from the partner organization, Bank of Agriculture (BOA).

Under nfrastructural development, road construction and rehabilitation

specifically, he lobbied for Kano-Gwarzo-Dayi federal road among others. Other infrastructure in Gwarzo, where roads, bridge, water projects and installation of solar lights, became the order of the day, under his interventions. So also hospital construction and upgrades, in the same Gwarzo local government.

Community projects like construction and rehabilitation of Mosques, Palaces and training institutes are all over.

Under Youth and Women Empowerment for economic development, he initiated the distribution of Twenty Thousand Naira (₦20,000) only. For 10,000 less-privileged across all the 44 LGAs in the state. With Kano North taking the largest share of 6,500 beneficiaries, at 500 per LGA.

Just recently DSP launched monthly One Hundred Thousand Naira (₦100,000) only, capital support, for 1,300 beneficiaries, from the Month of February 2026 to December 2026. A year round project. A total of 18,200 beneficiaries, will benefit from the sum of Two Hundred and Eighteen Million, Two Hundred Thousand (₦218.2m) only.

Under other, varying empowerment programmes, Senator Jibrin distributed 130 vehicles to transport associations, across 13 local governments under his constituency. A total number of 1,000 motorcycles were distributed to headmasters, teachers and other residents in the rural communities.

When students benefited from 1,300 tricycles, 1,300 sewing machines, 1,300 noodle-making machines and flour to women, 1,300 deep freezers and 1,300 bicycles

Sports & Community Development are not left behind. As 150 football teams per local government benefited with Jerseys and balls. Totaling 1,950 teams across Kano North.

In my candid opinion, His Excellency Distinguished Senator and First Deputy Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Barau I Jibrin, PhD, CFR, should be Dinga Yi, Dinga Yi and Dinga Yi.

Anwar writes from Kano

Tuesday, 12th May, 2026