News

Who Holds the Walls of Kano?-Abdulganiyu Rufai

Published

1 year ago

June 29, 2025

By Abdulganiyu Rufai Yakub

When city walls keep collapsing while houses remain bare, and there seems to be no ready replacement in sight, a deep emptiness echoes across the land. This thought has haunted me since the passing of Alhaji Aminu Dantata, the last of a dying breed whose mere mention commanded reverence and whose doors remained open to all peasants, royals, politicians, and technocrats alike.

I remember vividly an interview granted by the late Maitama Sule, Dan Masanin Kano, in which he spoke about the death of Malam Aminu Kano. That death, he said, left a vacuum in the state a vacuum for the occupant of what he described as “the Good Office.”

After Malam Aminu’s death, Maitama Sule was approached to come back from his diplomatic duties to take up that mantle. His response was a revelation of true self-awareness. He told them he was not in good standing to occupy the Good Office of Kano. He said he could not replace Malam Aminu Kano, citing his weakness for pleasure and his inability to fully accommodate the plight of the ordinary people of Kano.

Yet, as time passed, Kano saw him rise to fill that very role he humbly rejected. He became the rallying point for the oppressed and the convenor of the Manyan Kano men like Alhaji Tijjani Hashim, the late Galadima of Kano; Emir Ado Bayero; Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata; the late Magaji Dan Batta; and many others. His words became almost final in Kano. When Maitama Sule spoke, even the most powerful listened.

Years later, in a quiet conversation with an elderly statesman, I was told of how Maitama Sule sent his disciples to meet the late Alhaji Bashir Tofa, urging him to take up the mantle of the Good Office. In his message, he asked Tofa to drop his exclusive Western lifestyle and return to embrace the people as their shield, leader, and conscience.

Maitama Sule said Bashir Tofa was the man who understood the intricacies of Nigerian politics and its shifting dynamics, a businessman with the economic intellect to steer the Good Office with dignity. And it came to be. Alhaji Bashir Tofa became the leaning shoulder of the oppressed, the well of wisdom in political decisions, and the rallying point for direction in Kano. He often convened the remaining Manyan Kano: Barr. Auwalu Yadudu SAN, Prof. Sule Bello, Barr. A.B. Mahmood SAN, Dr. Shamsuddeen Abubakar, and others.

But even he faced obstructions from Ganduje, the then Governor of the state; his boss, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; and other powerful actors in the shadows of Kano’s politics. Today, almost all of them are gone. Only Alhaji Aminu Dantata remained as the final say, and now he too is no more.

So I ask, as one haunted by history and fearful of a rudderless future:

Who holds the Good Office of Kano today? Who remains as the wall of Kano?

Is it Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso? I doubt it. Deeply political, he cannot handle the Good Office in its purity. His rivals and antagonists will never voluntarily submit to his authority in matters beyond politics. Is it Sanusi Lamido Sanusi? Perhaps. Had he not chosen to return as Emir of Kano and maintained his Khalifaship, perhaps he would have earned that final moral voice.

Ganduje? His charisma has been eroded by scandalous campaigns during his time in power, and his moral capital lies deeply fractured.

Today, the walls of Kano lie bare. The houses remain exposed to the storms of selfish politics, unchecked economic sabotage, and moral bankruptcy. There is no single person who can call anybody in or outside power – in Kano or in Abuja – and they will come without hesitation. There is no one who looks at the interest of Kano and its people without political or personal bias.

So, who will be the man with the Good Office? Who will become the walls of Kano?

Perhaps, just perhaps, it is not about a man anymore. Perhaps it is time for a generation to rise and become the moral wall not one person, but a collective shield of conscience, compassion, wisdom, and service. For if no one steps up, the city walls will keep collapsing, and one day, even the houses will no longer stand.

News

Rep. Abubakar Bichi Employs 100 New Islamic School Teachers in Bichi

Published

12 hours ago

September 29, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

The Federal lawmaker representing the Bichi Federal Constituency, Hon. Abubakar Kabir Abubakar Bichi, has inaugurated 100 new Islamic school teachers as part of efforts to strengthen Islamic education in the Bichi Local Government Area of Kano State.

The inauguration ceremony was held on Sunday, 27 September 2026, and marked the fourth batch of School Teachers employed under the lawmaker’s initiative bringing the total of number of teachers engaged through the programme to 600.

Before their employment, the 100 teachers underwent a special examination conducted at the directive of the lawmaker. Those who obtained the highest scores across the 11 wards of Bichi Local Government Area were selected for the teaching positions.

The lawmaker had previously supported the teachers by paying their monthly allowances as volunteers before formally employing them as full-time teachers in Islamic schools across the local government area.

Prominent Islamic scholars and dignitaries attended the inauguration ceremony, including Sheikh Habibu Dan Almajiri, Chairman of the Kano State Zakkah Commission; Dr. Nazifi Ishak, former Kano State Commissioner for Religious Affairs; Dr. Zahrau Muhammad Umar, former Commissioner for Women Affairs; and Sheikh Sanusi Sharif Bichi.

Also in attendance were the Chairman of Bichi Local Government Area, Alhaji Hamza Sule Maifata; the Director-General of the APC Campaign Council in Bichi, Alhaji Sani Mukaddas, and the Kano State APC Secretary, Prof. Yusuf Muhammad Sabo.

The Islamic scholars and other dignitaries commended Hon. Abubakar Kabir Abubakar Bichi for his efforts towards improving both Islamic and modern education in the Bichi Local Government Area.

Hon. Abubakar Kabir Abubakar has also previously engaged several youths in various sectors, including healthcare, environmental services, education and other community development activities, as part of his efforts to create opportunities for young people across Bichi Federal Constituency and Kano State.

The lawmaker, who serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, has consistently expressed his commitment to youth development and community empowerment through various initiatives across the constituency.

News

FG Seeks Fresh $1.5bn World Bank Loans As Nigeria’s Debt Hits N166.79tn

Published

1 day ago

September 28, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Federal Government is in discussions with the World Bank for three new loans worth a combined $1.5 billion, even as Nigeria’s total public debt climbed to a record N166.79 trillion by June 2026.

The proposed facilities consist of three $500 million loans targeting climate resilience, social protection and early childhood development.

The first is an additional $500 million for the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, which would increase its total financing to $1.2 billion. The funds are expected to support land restoration, flood and erosion control, irrigation, water management and other climate-resilience measures across northern Nigeria.

Another $500 million facility is proposed for the Household Prosperity and Empowerment-Social Protection (HOPE-SP) project. It is designed to support poor and vulnerable households through cash transfers, an improved social registry and stronger social protection systems.

The third $500 million loan would finance the Nigeria Early Childhood Development programme, covering all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The programme aims to improve access to healthcare, nutrition, early learning, childcare, water and sanitation for children aged zero to five.

Meanwhile, figures from the Debt Management Office show that Nigeria’s public debt increased by N14.39 trillion , from N152.40 trillion in June 2025 to N166.79 trillion in June 2026. Domestic debt stood at N91.59 trillion, while external debt was N75.20 trillion.

Nigeria’s debt to the World Bank Group also rose to $20.73 billion by June 2026, accounting for about 38 per cent of the country’s $54.52 billion external debt.

Economist Adewale Abimbola said concessional loans could support development if properly structured and effectively utilised, stressing that the key issue was how the borrowed funds were deployed.

News

Report: Nigeria Records N166trn Public Debt

Published

3 days ago

September 26, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

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‎By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
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‎The Debt Management Office (DMO) says Nigeria’s total public debt rose to N166.79 trillion as of June 30, 2026.
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‎The DMO published the latest public debt portfolio report on Friday.
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‎The figure represents a 9.4 percent or N14.39 trillion increase from the N152.4 trillion recorded at the end of June 2025.
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‎It also represents an increase of N7.44 trillion or 4.7 percent compared with the N159.35 trillion recorded at the end of the first quarter (Q1) of 2026.
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‎According to the latest report, the debt stock comprises N91.59 trillion in domestic debt, which accounts for 54.91 percent of the total debt stock, and N75.2 trillion in external debt, representing 45.09 percent.
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‎The debt office said domestic debt increased by N11.04 trillion (13.7 percent) from N80.55 trillion recorded in June 2025.
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‎The office said external debt also rose by N3.35 trillion (4.7 percent) from N71.85 trillion in the same period.
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‎According to the DMO, the federal government accounted for N152.77 trillion of the total debt stock, comprising N86.99 trillion in domestic debt and N65.77 trillion in external debt.
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‎On the other hand, states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) accounted for the remaining N14.01 trillion — N4.59 trillion in domestic debt and N9.42 trillion in external debt.
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‎In dollar terms, the agency said Nigeria’s total public debt stood at $120.93 billion as of June 30, 2026 — up from $99.66 billion recorded in June 2025.
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‎The DMO said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) official exchange rate of N1,379 per dollar as of June 30 was used to convert the external debt to naira.
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