“Our dear state, Kano is one of the oldest in Nigeria, a state with rich culture and history, a state that enjoys tremendous amount of respect all over the world. A state that sets all the good examples for others to follow. All these were thrown to the winds by the last administration. We are all aware of the embarrassments that the Ganduje administration has brought to the office of the Governor and by extension, to the entire people of Kano State – all negative perceptions as a result of crude corruption, land grabbing, and poor governance.

This perception has to change. And the time to change it is now. We shall work together to change this narrative and promote Kano positively.”

These were the words of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf before an unprecedented crowd of supporters and well-wishers just after he had taken the oath of office, at the Sani Abacha Stadium on May 29, 2023.
True to his belief, I believe that there is a breath of fresh air around Kano State within the one year three months of Abba Kabir Yusuf’s stewardship of the arguably the most populous state in Nigeria.

Citizens and residents of Kano State now have the comfort of seeing so many ongoing infrastructural projects that cut across different sectors, the peace of knowing that their resources are judiciously used for scholarships, gratuity and pension and empowerment initiatives.

Most importantly, the people of the state now know that every point of order they raise regarding the handling of the business of leadership goes straight to the right ears and is not met by a tone-deaf leadership that feels to obligation to be accountable to its people.

After a fierce 7-year long struggle to free Kano from the shackles of a kleptomaniac dynasty reign of the Gandujes, the NNPP-led government came in with a lot of promise to right the wrongs and instil a new sense of hope and confidence in elected authority in Kano State. Governor Abba made the Kano State Reformatory Institute, Kiru his first port of call after inauguration. This institute, established by the Kwankwaso-led administration to reform and reintegrate drug addicts abandoned for long, and its purpose was lost. This was the story of other specialized institutes all over the state between 2015-23. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has now successfully renovated the institute with enrolment to begin soon. This has been replicated for the 25 other institutes in the state.

One thing that stands out for the Abba Kabir-led government is its dedication to education. The first major initiative that the government pursued after its inception was the sponsorship of over 1000 first-class graduates to different institutions in India and Uganda. This will not only add to the pool of excellent masters degree holders in Kano, but will open them to being gainfully employed in different sectors around the world.

The declaration of the State of Emergency on Education by the governor exposed two attributes of himself; The admission that a problem exists is not something you could easily get out of many of the present crop of leaders that we have in this Nigeria. The open desire to embrace the shortcomings and correct them is also a demonstration of uncommon leadership.

The governor immediately set to work by permanently employing 5,632 teachers under the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) programme, a World Bank initiative which aims at increasing equitable access for out-of-school children in Nigeria and improve literacy in focus states. The governor equally reopened all public boarding schools closed by the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje across the state.

As we speak, there is an ongoing drive all around the state where classrooms are renovated, under the Community Re-orientation Committee (CRC).

According to the governor, out of the 42,516 total classrooms available in basic schools in the state, a mere 22% meet the most basic standards of habitability.
The rot and gross mismanagement superintended by the previous administration for eight years should normally leave one confused and clueless about where to start from and how to restore confidence in political leadership.

One sector that is having a breath of life is road infrastructure provision. The first step taken by Governor Abba Kabir was to mobilise contractors back to work, this has enabled the governor to complete the first phase of the Wuju-Wuju road, the fully solar-powered 5-kilometre road in Gwarzo local government is a model for rural rebirth, as work is ongoing in most local government areas of the state to replicate it. We are seeing work ongoing on important roads in the state like the Lodge Road-Race Course Road, Unguwar Dabai road, the 15km road from Madobi town to Kubarachi to Kura, and the 70km road from Madobi bridge to Madobi town, through Yako to Kafin Mai Yaki, culminating in Kiru. These are few examples of life-changing projects that the administration is currently pursuing.
There is a recent resurgence of nightlife in Kano which does not come as a coincidence. Governor Abba Kabir has made a conscious effort to energise roads all over the metropolis with solar powered streetlights, this has not only brought life and beautified roads all over the state, but helped in curbing crimes like phone-snatching that was rife on the metropolitan roads. The initiative has also encouraged the people of the state to go about their legitimate business through late hours.

All these have however not come easy for Governor Abba, after laying siege on his concentration to governance through the needless court battle that took more than seven good months, the enemies of Kano State have found their haven in the Kano Emirate saga. On May 23, 2024, The Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, reinstated the deposed Emir o Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, in fulfilment of his campaign promise. Mr Yusuf also signed the bill repealing the State Emirate Council Law 2019 that gave the state five emirate councils. This move, a demonstration that the governor was galvanising all the individuals and systems that would give him the backing to restore Kano’s lost glory was met by an incredible show of disregard for constituted authority by Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero’s occupation of the Nassarawa Guest House.

I am concerned that Bayero’s continued stay there gives people with nefarious intent the shade to strategize and ferment violence on the innocent. The recent vandalization of the Kano State High Court Complex, the NCC Digital Park and the Kano State Printing Press amongst others, has been creditably established to have been masterminded by elements with close links to the ranks of Mr Bayero’s hippodrome. It is therefore very pertinent that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu calls the those close to him that are providing the deposed emir with security and financial backing to order, Governor Abba’s reign is just a fraction in Kano’s history, and that history will not remember the president well for his alleged role in this imbroglio.

The good people of Kano State must remember the happiness of students whose tuition fees were settled by Governor Abba, the pensioners that are receiving their gratuities without cutting any corner, the millions of women and children that are receiving free healthcare in state government-owned hospitals, the thousands of farmers that got free fertiliser, the children that are finding hope in the renovation of their schools and everyone positively touched by his compassionate leadership. Each government comes with its peculiarity, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf holds a lot of promise to restore Kano’s lost glory, he is focused on the goal, and we must have his back to steer us to prosperity.

Mu’azu Adamu writes from Kano

In a recent development, the Maliya Media Reporters have raised concerns over the dissemination of fake news allegedly spread by Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the spokesperson of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf. The controversy centers around a story titled “Ganduje Loses Grip As 44 Former Council Chairmen Defect to Barau APC Faction,” which was posted on the WhatsApp platform, Kano News Room, by Tofa. The media group claims the story is baseless, misleading, and a deliberate act of mischief, likely carried out on behalf of the Kano State Governor.

According to a statement released by Comrade Adamu Abdullahi Karkasara, Chairman of Maliya Media Reporters, a screenshot of Tofa’s post indicates that the story was shared at 4:32 pm on Friday, with a directive for journalists to attribute it to anonymous sources. Karkasara argued that if Tofa was the source of the story, he should have issued it as an official statement from the Kano Government House, complete with his signature, rather than resorting to anonymous sources.

The Maliya Media Reporters commended the professionalism of Kano journalists, who refrained from spreading the unverified story, upholding the ethical standards of journalism. The group also urged editors and publishers in both online and traditional media to be vigilant against such fake news.

To clarify the facts, the media group noted that on Thursday, former chairmen from the 44 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kano State, led by Alhaji Muhammad Baffa Takai, visited Abuja to meet with the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin. The purpose of the meeting was to congratulate Senator Barau on the establishment of the North West Development Commission (NWDC) and to express their gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the NWDC bill into law.

The media group emphasized that no discussions about the APC or any political party took place during the meeting, which focused solely on attracting more development projects to Kano State.

In light of these revelations, the Maliya Media Reporters called on Tofa to desist from spreading false information that could sow discord among political leaders in Kano. The group urged leaders across all political parties to work together for the development of Kano and Nigeria, in alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Finally, the group expressed hope that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf would intervene and caution Tofa against further dissemination of fake news, emphasizing that unity and collective effort are crucial in addressing the challenges facing Kano State.

In a heated political exchange, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), has dared Abdulmumin Jibrin Kofa to reveal any alleged information against him, asserting his independence and repeated electoral success without reliance on Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Doguwa, a prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), responded to Abdulmumini’s threats of a “bombshell” revelation that could lead to his expulsion from the party. Abdulmumini, affiliated with the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), warned Doguwa against insulting Kwankwaso, the former governor of Kano State, and a self-acclaimed national leader of the NNPP.

Popular Politician, DOGUWA Dumps APC

The controversy began when Kwankwaso labeled Doguwa and other APC leaders as “Banzaye” (stupid people) in a viral video. Doguwa retorted by challenging Abdulmumini to expose any alleged secrets, asserting his steadfast loyalty to the APC and confidence in the party’s leadership and policies.

“I challenge Abdulmumini Jibrin to drop any bombshell he has against me. I dare him not to spare or keep secret whatever he knows about my political conviction and commitment to my party, the APC,” Doguwa stated, emphasizing his unwavering loyalty.

Doguwa highlighted his political achievements, noting that he has won elections in his Doguwa/Tundun Wada Federal Constituency four times without support from Kwankwaso. He also pointed out his success in the 2023 elections, where he secured victories for himself and two state assembly members, despite a challenging political climate in Kano State.

Reflecting on Abdulmumini’s political history, Doguwa criticized him as a “political parasite” who relies on others’ political structures to win elections. He cited Abdulmumini’s failure to return to the House of Representatives following a rerun election as evidence of his dependence on external support.

Doguwa’s political career includes notable roles such as Chief Whip in the 8th Assembly and Majority Leader in the 9th Assembly. He also led key committees, including the House Special Committee on the Petroleum Industry Bill, instrumental in its passage.

Emphasizing his political independence, Doguwa remarked, “I have, by the grace of Allah, won my elections to the House of Representatives four consecutive times without Kwankwaso.”

Beyond politics, Doguwa holds a Masters in Public Relations from Bayero University Kano and a Global Certificate in Strategic Leadership Skills from Harvard Business School. He also carries traditional titles, including Sardaunan Rano and others across Nigeria, reflecting his influence and recognition beyond the political arena.

Doguwa concluded by reiterating his allegiance to the APC and dismissing Abdulmumini’s claims, asserting his long-standing political independence and achievements without Kwankwaso’s support.