By Abba Anwar

Maintaining resilience attitude while making reference to the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, is neither accidental nor coincidence. This, without walling out any challenges.

When you take him and x-ray his unmatched and uncontested efforts in human development via creation of corridors for our youth, to have access to modern knowledge and skills, you can accept the universal truth that DSP Barau is, but a political messiah. A quintessential political leader of great substance.

Come to think of it. Apart from his singular effort in bringing a Campus of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to his constituency, Kano North, years back, establishment of Federal Polytechnic, Kabo in 2022, before he even became Deputy Senate President, and the most recent effort he put in upgrading the status of Federal College of Education, Kano (FCE), to the status of Federal University of Education, Kano, among many other institutional development, his unparalleled commitment in the development of our youth, is indelible, and down-to-earth.

It isn’t in the shopping list of this piece, to view Barau from the standpoint of his political engagement, as one of the leading politicians from Kano, but rather what we are interested in, is his attachment with the life of our future leaders, the youth.

His struggle for supremacy alongside other politicians in Kano, Northern Nigeria or Nigeria as a whole, is not the concern of this write-up. His committed concern in the repositioning of our people through academic pursuit, with carefully selected fields of study, is what matters most at this juncture.

Just few days back, the Distinguished Senator sent 70 students abroad to study Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Robotic Science. At Postgraduate level. Where 65 students are males and 5 females.

Being perplexed with this life changing opportunity, in the form of Barau Scholarship Scheme, I called the effort and the process as Barau Community of Modern Scholars. Modern because, looking at the Courses of study, you may not need further explanation to tell you how this gentleman is preparing these young people against global challenges. And eventually preparing our state and the North, or Nigeria by extension, against future global face-offs.

This is visionary leadership, with foresight, exactitude, enduring engagement, meaningful productivity, patriotism, unequal fruition, increasing care, independent political will and unwavering support in all circumstances. But any expression short of this, is face-palming exercise.

Another interesting development and main reason why I have been consistent that Senator Barau’s genuine intervention in the development of our people and communities, goes beyond Kano or North, but Nigeria in general, is his recent call for applications from our youth for
Domestic Postgraduate Scholarship Programme, 2025, under the auspices of
Barau I. Jibrin Foundation (BIJF).

Where 300 students will be sponsored for 2025/2026 Academic Session at Postgraduate Level. Even the choice of institutions under this scholarship is not only a sign of seriousness, but genuine engagement for national development.

The institutions are Bayero University, Kano, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Lagos, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. While the choice of these institutions tells us or rather speak to all, directly, what education means to the Deputy Senate President, it further gives us the clearer picture that Barau is, but, an embodiment of human development and societal growth and development, without any hesitation.

I think the entire gamut of Barau’s engagement under the scholarship schemes are the genuine human spirit in him, feeling of collective responsibility without recourse to political opponents, deeper interest in the future of our dear nation, searching for lasting solution to youth restiveness and fighting insecurity from the roots.

Just have a look at the chosen courses of study for the domestic scholarship scheme. All at the Masters level. These are Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Robotics Technology, Data Science, Software Development, Information Technology, Mineral Exploration, Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Oil and Gas Operations, Applied Geophysics, Metallurgical and Material Engineering, Climate Change Management, Mechatronic and Intelligence System.

Modern and global fields of study. Which can only be supported and promoted by advanced minds.

What is most fascinating under this scholarships scheme is how the process started as well as the procedures to be followed for successful take-off and implementation. I learned that, all resources to be expended under this 300 students scholarship, are kept under lock and key. Meaning they are available and ready for disbursement to appropriate quarters and successful candidates.

This scientific arrangement, I can say, tells much about the quality and how qualified are the individuals and bodies working for the Senator on this. Starting from his Chief of Staff, to all others. When you were rightly briefed about it, you may begin to wonder, whether Barau is also working with invisible elements (laughter).

His clear understanding of Malam Aminu Kano’s philosophical approach of man as the centre of development, helps him much in critically investing in our people.

To borrow a leaf from Murtala Sule Garo, Deputy Governorship Candidate of APC during 2023 election, in Kano, when he recently called on Kano political leaders, especially former governors, to kindly put heads together to purposely move the state forward, I therefore call on our politicians in the state, to kindly follow suit, irrespective of political leaning.

Well, Senator Kawu Sumaila of Kano South and Hon Abubakar Bichi, representative of Bichi Federal Constituency, in the House of Representatives, have already gone far in this direction. Kudos to them!

Anwar, former Chief Press Secretary to the former Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje CON. And can be reached at fatimanbaba1@gmail.com

The Court of Appeal has invalidated the ruling of the Federal High Court against Malam Muhammadu Sanusi, allowing him to remain as the Emir of Kano. The court has directed the High Court to reassign the case to another judge for a re-trial, a move seen as more favorable to Sanusi than to Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero.

In a detailed analysis, seasoned journalist Ibrahim Sheme argues that the Court of Appeal’s decision is a significant victory for Sanusi. “The Court of Appeal has not removed Malam Muhammadu Sanusi but invalidated the ruling of the Federal High Court against him. So he stays put as the Emir of Kano,” Sheme wrote.

Sheme points out that the Court of Appeal’s directive for a re-trial by another judge, under the practical control of the Kano State government, suggests a likely favorable outcome for Sanusi. “The Court of Appeal has merely asked the High Court to reassign the case to another judge and conduct a re-trial. This is a court that is, in practical sense, under the control of the Kano State government. What do you think the outcome will be?” he questioned.

The journalist highlights the contrasting reactions to the judgment, noting that Sanusi’s supporters celebrated the decision, while there was no visible celebration from Bayero’s camp. “Sanusi even issued a video from Ƙofar Kudu thanking the Almighty God for his victory and asking his supporters to remain calm and cool. Did you see the other party celebrating?” Sheme observed.

Sheme asserts that Sanusi is unlikely to be removed by a court, suggesting that only another government fiat could achieve such a result. “It is my considered view that Malam Sanusi will never be removed by a court. He could only be removed by another government fiat if that would ever happen again in future,” he stated.

Reflecting on historical precedents, Sheme notes that emirs from various regions, including Gwandu, Sokoto, Muri, and Kano, were removed by civilian or military politicians, not by courts. “Recall that emirs from Gwandu (Jokolo) to Sokoto (Dasuki) to Muri (Abba) to Kano (Sanusi I and Sanusi II), etc., were not removed by the courts but by civilian or military politicians,” he wrote.

Sheme concludes that court cases related to chieftaincy matters often result in confusion and financial gain for lawyers, rather than meaningful resolutions. “All these court cases are wishful abracadabra that end up confusing the common follower, knocking the heads of social media commentators, and putting cool money in the deep pockets of lawyers and other beneficiaries while wasting our time and browsing data,” he remarked.

By Abba Anwar

For the first time, yes first time, in this republic, I mean since the restoration of our democracy from 1999 to date, I came across a prominent politician in Kano, blaming our leading politicians in the state, particularly past governors, over non-challant attitudes towards teaming up for the sake of state development.

Not only that, his worries could be spotted from his face while making the lamentation. To tell his audience, how disturbed he was. This is a straightforward politician WHOSE YES IS ALWAYS YES. And whose type of seriousness and commitment are rarely seen in many political actors.

It was at an Award Dinner organized by the former Speaker of Kano State House of Assembly, Right Hon Abdulaziz Gafasa, of the 8th, 9th and 10th Assembly for the APC members of the House, on Sunday, when Murtala Sule Garo, APC Deputy Governorship Candidate, 2023 election, spoke out in vivid terms, his concern for the inability of political leaders in the state, in putting heads together for the development of the state.

To display his political maturity going beyond internal ploy and deliberate setbacks, unnecessarily caused within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Garo’s foresight sees beyond that. His concern is the state at large. Not who are best fitted for elective political offices in the forthcoming 2027 election. That, to him is secondary. Patriotism at its best form.

So his piece of advice is for all past governors in the state. You can think of Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, in chronological order. May Allah forgive those amongst them who passed away.

He made an important reference point with Zamfara state, when he said, “It is interesting to see that in Zamfara state… past governors come together during events under one platform, for the sake of the development of their state.”

“They put aside all political differences and affiliations, even those who differ within the same political party/parties, they put heads together and discuss issues that can bring development to their state,” he commended.

“But it is disheartening in the case of Kano…,” he lamented, that, “… our parents, our leaders and former governors cannot put heads together and bring to the table, for genuine discussion, what will bring development to the state.”

Garo urged them, with an open mind that,” They should please, if they truly love Kano, create a viable platform for discussing problems facing our dear state. They should keep aside all their personal interest and face reality.”

At the second segment of his remarks, as he described it, he commended the former Speaker, Gafasa, for organizing the Award Dinner, urging all stakeholders to rally round such effort for the strong survival of the party, APC.

“We should all encourage them for deciding to come together and face Kano’s growth and development. When their effort is strengthened and encouraged they will definitely make their initiative to be sustained. Eventually the state will immensely benefit from the process,” he observed.

My readers and I, including Garo himself, we all know that, close to those leaders there exist EVIL-MIND individuals pretending to be real, while they are FAKE by whatever standard. Whose end would not be met if those leaders live peacefully with others. So they strive hard to see that internal cohesion and external collaboration are unattainable.

Such fake individuals do not want to see peace reign even from within, the APC for example. So also there exist same or similar elements within the ranks of other political parties. Probably such situations need the application of reverse psychology.

Anwar, former Chief Press Secretary to the former Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje CON and can be reached at fatimanbaba1@gmail.com
January 7th, 2025