Twenty organizations across Kano state have submitted a petition to the Inspector General of Police through the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of zone one Kano, against former secretary to the state government Alhaji Usman Alhaji over a contents of a press statement dated 30th May 2025, issued under the aegis of the APC Patriotic Volunteers.

The petitioners expressed concern over the content of the statement which they said can instigate violence and disturbe public peace.

“We, the undersigned concerned citizens and stakeholders of Kano State, write to you with deep concern and a sense of urgency, to formally bring to your attention the contents of a press statement dated 30th May 2025, issued under the aegis of the APC Patriotic Volunteers, and signed by Alhaji Usman Alhaji, former Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

The petitioners accused Alhaji Usman Alhaji of making provocative statements over the demolition of illegal structures at Filin Idi, Daula hotel premises and Race Course, the Matter which is currently under judicial review.

“This statement, in our considered opinion, contains incendiary rhetoric and deliberate distortions that pose a grave threat to public peace, civic unity, and the commendable efforts of the Kano State Government to promote mutual understanding, lawful engagement, and the welfare of its people”.

The organization specifically pointed out areas where the former SSG deliberately attempted to provoc the citizens as follows.

1. Deliberate Misrepresentation of the Rimin Zakara Land Dispute
Alhaji Usman Alhaji’s attempt to incite the residents of Rimin Zakara against the Kano State Government over the long-standing land dispute involving Bayero University Kano (a Federal Government institution) is deeply troubling. This dispute, dating back over four decades, is federal in nature, and the Kano State Government has only intervened in a supportive and reconciliatory capacity.
To suggest otherwise is not only misleading but also undermines the genuine efforts made by the state government, which include:

The constitution of a neutral investigative committee,
The payment of compensation to affected individuals,
The provision of essential social amenities such as a Primary Health Care Centre, places of worship, and electrification of the community.
These actions were carried out in good faith to ensure peace and development in the area. Alhaji Usman Alhaji’s narrative twists these facts and risks fueling unnecessary resentment among the populace.
2. Incitement over Ongoing Legal Matters: The Filin Idi Demolitions
Equally disturbing is his attempt to stoke public unrest over the demolition of illegal structures at Filin Idi, Daula Hotel premises, and Race Course—matters currently under judicial review.
By making provocative statements on cases sub judice, Alhaji Usman Alhaji not only undermines the integrity of our judiciary but also risks violating court protocols, potentially amounting to contempt of court. More alarmingly, his remarks appear to be aimed at sowing division, instigating protest, and destabilizing public order.
Such conduct is deeply unbecoming of a statesman of his stature and threatens the fragile peace and social fabric of our dear state. It is incumbent upon all leaders, especially former public office holders, to uphold values of truth, unity, and responsibility in their public engagements.
OUR HUMBLE REQUEST
In light of the above, we respectfully call upon your esteemed office to:
i.Thoroughly investigate the statement issued by Alhaji Usman Alhaji and the potential consequences of his actions,
ii.Call Alhaji Usman Alhaji (Wazirin Gaya) and his platform, APC Patriotic Volunteers, to order and impress upon them the importance of desisting from actions and utterances that threaten peace and public order,
iii.Encourage all political and community leaders to utilize legal and peaceful channels in airing grievances or resolving disputes.

“We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the peace, unity, and development of Kano State, and appeal to all well-meaning citizens to place public interest and harmony above personal or political considerations”

“We trust in your office’s commitment to the preservation of law and order and look forward to swift and decisive action in the interest of peace.”

Note:
A copy of the press statement is hereby attached .

Yours faithfully,

Tijjani Sarki
Convener
Kano Legacy Group
Abbas Abdullahi
Secretary
Kano Legacy Group.

The coalition member organizations are
1. Inter Tribe Community Support Forum. Mr. John Anyawu Chizoro.
2. Foundation for the Eradication of Child Abuse. Asma’u Mustapha.
3. Women Democracy Monitors. Rahina Sani Usman.
4. Fidelity Foundation, Rijiyar Zaki. Ibrahim Khalil Yusuf.
5. Youth Movement of Area. Tajuddeen A.
6. Taimakon Juna Youth Development Association. Umar Ahamad Baba.
7. Girls Gate Initiative. Amb. Mashkura Abubakar.
8. Igbo Community Association. Mr. Michael Nworisa.
9. Dakata Community Development Association. Auwalu Alhaji.
10. Area Ina Mafita. Bello Umar Faruk.
11. Kano Youth Development Political Forum. Sen. Usman Abubakar.
12. The Patriot. Usman Garba.
13. Arewa Youth Vanguard. Musa Ahmed.
14. Kano Youth Enlightenment Forum. Bashir Ahmed Amada.
15. Creative Mind Initiative. Rabi Musa Yakubu.
16. Arewa Youth Advocate for Good Governance. Asma’u Mohammed Dorayi.
17. Progressive Movement of Kano. Kabiru Idris.
18. Amputation of Northern Youth Forum. Yusuf Nuhu.
19. League of Kano Loyalist. Ibrahim Khalil Hussaini.
20. Youth Mobilization. Hajara Musa Ahmed.

House of Representative member from Kaduna North, Bello El-Rufai, has said he was naive to have criticized former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Bello, who is son of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, said he is sorry for criticizing Jonathan’s administration.

The Kaduna lawmaker noted that he failed to realize that Nigeria had a good governance under Jonathan due to his naivety.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday evening, the lawmaker said he is wiser now.

Bello said his naivety came to the fore when he saw his father preparing to visit Jonathan for political consultation.

He recalled paying his father a visit and noticed that he was going out. He asked where he was going.

Bello said: “And he said he was going to see President Jonathan, and I paused because when I was naive or when I thought ego or gratification mattered, I used to be very active in criticising President Jonathan.

“I even forgot in my naivety as many young people do, that we had governance then and I found my father saying that he is going to consult President Jonathan. I said, ‘please when you see him, tell him I am very sorry, I am wiser now’.

“The system is a problem. Now, why did I mention President Jonathan? It takes a lot, particularly in Africa, to lose an election and leave, he did that.”

El-Rufai initially had a good relationship with Jonathan and he even urged him to contest the 2011 presidential election.

Reports said after Namadi Sambo’s emergence as Vice President, El-Rufai and his family members heavily criticized Jonathan’s administration.

One should ‘ve overlooked the press briefing by the former Secretary to the Government of Kano State, Alhaji Usman Alhaji under the banner of “APC Patriotic Volunteers”, in which he accused the government of Kano State of lack of clear policy direction, petty sentiments, and incompetence in managing the state affairs.

His assessment of the 2-Year NNPP Administration in Kano State, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, was unjustifiably harsh on Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration, accusing it of bad governance and non performance.

However, while ignoring such weighty accusations without clarifications, it will amount to giving it a tacit approval. In essence, it is like supporting the misinformation and distortion of facts.
Alhaji Usman Alhaji’s vituperation is like “the ranting of an ant.” As a “political figure’ who held various political positions, there is no doubt experiencing a fall from grace to grass, is indeed painful

It is obvious that he is gasping for political relevance, hoping to bounce back into the circle of politically relevant personalities in the State and in the country, at large

The best way to describe his predicament is the Hausa proverb that says “Tururuwa in taso lalacewa fukafuki ta kan yi,” meaning “if an ant is about to lose relevance, it will develop wings.”
A cursory look at Alhaji Usman Alhaji’s political history would reveal like an ant whose time was up, how he has been gradually losing relevance due to his serial election loses and lack of political impact even at the lowest grassroots level.

Although Alhaji Usman Alhaji
This is a man who has assigned to key important positions in politics. He was General Secretary of National Republican Convention (NRC), a National Political Party. He also served as Education Commissioner in Kano State and later became Secretary to the State Government, yet it was evident all these positions he held were never impactful, as they were all acquired not through dent of hard work but through political consensus and negotiations. All his records of political contests had resulted in failure, a development that perhaps explained his deep frustrations and why he is suddenly drifting to the depths of irrelevance and is currently hanging on a Kangaroo and Mushroom Political Support Group to regain his feet.

A further close examination of Alhaji Usman Alhaji’s political life would reveal how he is gradually undergoing a sense of political decline with diminishing relevance and is equally experiencing a fall from prominence to irrelevance

How can a politician who has occupied key positions in political parties at national and state levels lack a visible political structure but are suddenly reduced to holding a banner of a support group?

His tale is a perfect description of a person experiencing a significant decline and downfall from a position of success as appointee, holding a position of power and influence to a state of minimal importance, effectiveness and relevance.

A politician who has been reduced to such level and is now gasping for air through a pressure group can best be described as someone drifting from political peak to a political pit.

The misinformation and distortion of facts he rather chose to profess is perhaps borne out of these political frustrations, which is associated with his sudden decline and irrelevance, as he is currently experiencing.

In the year 2007, Alhaji Usman Alhaji ran for the Senate under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but lost to Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya

He equally contested for the Senate under the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2011, yet he lost the election.
During the 2015 election, he was one of the most visible aspirants in terms of publicity, but unknown to many, he was a paper tiger, bargaining for an appointment. He stepped down for Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje who was in the gubernatorial election but was compensated with the position of SSG.

Psychologists are of the view that the psychological impact of repeated electoral defeats can lead to increased stress and anxiety levels, as they can potentially affect a person’s mental health and decision-making abilities.

While serial losses of elections may erode a politician’s confidence and his abilities to perform, it thus makes it more challenging for him to bounce back and regain momentum in his political career. His situation can also lead to the loss of public support and can add to the stress and pressure on his political life and emotional distress, which can be substantial, and can potentially lead to feelings of disappointment, frustration, and despair, as in the case of Alhaji Usman Alhaji, who had a free fall from national relevance to a state of obscurity.

For almost eleven years, Alhaji Usman Alhaji had held the position of secretary to the Kano State Government (SSG).
The first four years were under Engineer Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso and the remaining years under Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Let’s look at his antecedents and performance. His performance has been dismally low, falling short of expectations, with no record of significant achievements and policy direction. Engineer Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso tolerated him and gave his administration a clear direction, while the Ganduje administration caved into failure along with him.

This is a man who was privileged to hold key positions in his educational career and later in political circle, but, one can see how desperate he is holding to a Kangaroo political support group to gain prominence.

It’s worth noting that politicians like this are not immune to the emotional and psychological effects of repeated failures. Hence, there is no doubt that Alhaji Usman Alhaji has been the case. His narration is a tale of a politician betraying his State while biting the figures that fed him, showing a difference between dignity and political desperation.

However, despite his antics, if you keep your ears to the ground, you will hear the footsteps of NNPP Administration, under Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf on education, healthcare development, agricultural revolution and a lot more.

The impact is clear and palpable. The people of Kano State are happy with the leadership of His Excellency, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, and the administration performance is outstanding.

Muhammad Salis
State Coordinator,
Nigeria Democracy Working Team
12th June, 2025