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Who Holds the Walls of Kano?-Abdulganiyu Rufai

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6 months ago

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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.

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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.

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Court Restrains Anti-Corruption Commission, Others from interfering in MAAUN’s Affairs

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8 hours ago

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December 13, 2025

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A Kano High Court has granted an interim injunction restraining the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) and four other parties from interfering in the internal and external affairs of Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (AAUN), Kano.

Justice Sanusi Ado Ma’aji of the High court of Kano Judicial Division issued the order, while ruling on a motion of ex parte filed by the management of the university.

The respondents in the suit are the Kano State Government, PCACC, Kano State House of Assembly and the state’s Attorney-General and concerned parents of the institution.

Justice Ma’aji in the court order dated December 11, 2025, restrained the respondents or any other person acting on their behalf from inviting officials of the institution or interfering in the administrative and academic activities of the intuition, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

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The court also directed all the parties to maintain status quo in relation to the matter between the applicant and the first respondent, pending the determination of the originating summons.

Speaking after the ruling, MAAUN’s counsel Zahraddeen M. Bello, said that the court’s decision reaffirmed the rule of law and the need for due process, saying the university will continue to operate within the confines of law, while the case is pending.

However, the court granted leave to the applicant to serve court processes on the fifth respondent at its office located at No. 224 Sabo Bakin Zuwo, Kano.

The matter was adjourned to December 29, 2025 and the order was given under the hand and seal of the presiding judge and was duly endorsed by the Principal Registrar of the court.

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Jigawa Trains Local Government Chairmen on 2025 Tax Reform Act

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8 hours ago

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December 13, 2025

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The Jigawa Joint Task Committee has commenced a two-day capacity-building training for local government chairmen and policymakers. The two-day capacity program focused on the new Nigeria Tax Reform Act (NTA) 2025, which is scheduled to take effect nationwide on January 1, 2026.

The training gathered a contingent of state and local revenue stakeholders, including all 27 local government chairmen of Jigawa State, led by the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), revenue officers, and key policy and tax experts.

The core objective of the session was multifaceted: to enhance understanding of the NTA 2025 and its specific implications for local government administration, strengthen collaboration between state and local tiers for revenue harmonization and joint administration, and improve the technical capacity of local government leaders in deploying modern revenue processes and digital systems.

During the event, the Executive Chairman of the Jigawa Internal Revenue Service (JIRS), Dr. Nasir Sabo Idris, commended the state government’s leadership for its commitment to fiscal autonomy.

“I wish to acknowledge the immense support of His Excellency, Governor Malam Umar Namadi, FCA,” Dr. Idris said.

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According to Dr. Idris, Jigawa Governor’s commitment to revenue generation has been unwavering, ensuring a consistent improvement in the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Dr. Idris pointed out that the upcoming launch of JigiTax, a wholly digital platform designed to streamline and modernize revenue collection across Jigawa State, is underway.

He said the move is seen as a direct response to strengthening transparency and blocking revenue leakages.

On his part, the Jigawa State Commissioner for Local Government, Ibrahim Graba Hannun-Giwa, whose address was delivered by the Director of Research, Malam Samaila Yusuf, said:

“The Ministry of Local Government is doing all it takes to continue supporting the visionary policies of Governor Namadi and driving policies that will shore up the revenue base of our local governments,” Malam Yusuf stated, emphasizing a unified approach to fiscal strength.

The dividends of the collaborative efforts were highlighted by the ALGON Chairman, who also serves as the Chairman of Dutse Local Government.

Speaking to newsmen, he asserted that the state’s disciplined approach had fundamentally altered the financial landscape at the grassroots level.

“With the commitment shown by Governor Namadi and the diligent efforts of the Jigawa Joint Revenue Committee, no local government in Jigawa now seeks intervention,” the ALGON Chairman declared.

He said, “Revenue loopholes are being systematically blocked, and improved compliance by different stakeholders, including markets and motor parks remitting their taxes, has significantly boosted our revenue drive.”

He further confirmed that the local governments had already undertaken a series of awareness trainings for all relevant stakeholders to ensure a seamless transition to the NTA 2025.

Barrister Aliyu Abdullahi said the in a paper presentation titled “State and Local Government in the Law,” by a legal practitioner. The paper specifically called for the legislative institutionalization of the Jigawa Joint Revenue Committee by the State House of Assembly. This institutional backing, the practitioner argued, would solidify the collaborative framework for revenue harmonization and ensure its longevity beyond the current administration.

 

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Former President Obasanjo Endorses Turaki’s Faction of PDP

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14 hours ago

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December 13, 2025

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo hosted the national working committee (NWC) of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

The PDP faction visited the former president on Saturday, and Kabiru Turaki led the delegation.

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Those among the delegation are: Muazu Aliyu, former Niger governor; Jonah Jang, former governor of Plateau; Adolphus Wabara, former senate president, and many more.

Interacting with the delegation, Obasanjo commended the faction’s effort, adding that its members should “soldier on”.

The former president also urged the faction to remain steadfast in instilling discipline in the party, adding that:

“anybody who wants to belong to a political party must adhere strictly to its rules and regulations”.

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