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Senator Barau and Endorsement (s) Palaver : An Assessment

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By Abba Anwar

Recent events concerning endorsement of the Deputy Senate President, Distinguished Senator Barau I Jibrin, CFR, by the former Chairmen of local governments in Kano state, for the position of a governor, is not only attractive, the endorsement is a picture depicting what to come and what not to come.

Though some Chairmen came out immediately, to dissociate selves from the endorsement story, I still believe that, those who were with the DSP at the endorsement table, have every tight to make their own political choices. Yes political choice is a right ascribe to all citizens by laws, rules and regulations governing political behaviors of the citizenry.

Take it or leave it, such endorsements, including the one from the part of the former Commissioners, who served under the former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CON, were not in place by nature or accident. Yes some of the Commissioners came out to dismiss, the endorsement, as did by some former Chairmen.

The thing is, Barau, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna and Murtala Sule Garo, among others, have every right to contest for any position, come 2027 political rainy season. Even those who may have interest and waiting for the time and situation, to become deciding factors (raba gardama), they too, have an equal right to contest alongside Barau, Gawuna and Garo.

The debate about will it be Barau or Gawuna or Garo or any other person, is dependent upon examined chances, opportunities and rightful political behavior of the major actors. While a SWOT analysis can provide clearer platform for good assessment, individual belief in the real project, can also strengthen the entire process.

By SWOT analysis I mean, both the leadership and followership within the realm of All Progressives Congress (APC) and other non-APC people, including mere voters, those who only appear to cast vote during elections, but do not belong to any political party, demand to gauge and weigh individual preference concerning Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT), then the real picture of who is likely to win or lose and election will emerge.

For example, one cannot still take away credits like attachment to grassroot, link with all segments of the party, deeply entrenched state visibility, frankness in all matters, display of clear direction to all people he relates with, real and genuine Tawakkul (giving everything to Allah), kalamu waheed (keeping his words), if you like and remembering his people under sun under rain, from Garo.

For Barau, you cannot take away from him qualities like, deep knowledge of national politics, more knowledgeable about worldview, carrying many things on his head, to the point that many see him as an always – busy-leader, who quickly forgets those around him, because he plans for their better tomorrow, very productive representative whose primary constituency is always in his chest and an a dear leader with an infrastructural-mind. You see structures everywhere courtesy him.

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As for Gawuna, my reader and I, cannot take away from him qualities like, very charismatic, gorgeous, whose political gorgeousness takes him closer to people, particularly urban dwellers, receptive and accomodative appearance, from the first look at him, smily face, signifying open mind and simple.

My assessment of these gentlemen is how people see them. While I will not say a word on their shortcomings, because some could be subjective positions from people’s view, mine is just to give advice to the party, both leaders and followers and the endorsement process.

Lest I forget, left to me, Barau will be more productive when fixed in higher position there. Is just a matter of lobbying. If at all, we have good lobbyists from Kano, now. Any position above his current position. Or similar, with more impact. Mention any position that comes to your mind. This is my understanding of his self development. But one shouldn’t be shielded from his political choice. Yes agreed, he can be fix in all positions.

From the look of things, Gawuna – Garo ticket may not hold millions of litters of water. Hence, not a switchover of the duo’s ticket, but a provision of level playing ground, where each one of them has equal right and opportunity to contest for the gubernatorial seat. Whoever emerges at the intra – party election, can get the full support of the other. This, to me, is doable. Still Gawuna and Garo should have access and right to their freewill.

At the same time, those who appear to be cowards, politically, like Inuwa Waya, should be re-invited to rejoin the party and the race. At least for the life saving intervention of their political survival and strategy. Even if Waya is patiently waiting for any opportunity for returning match against those who alleged to have deceived him in the past, I think he should be patient enough to slug it out from within. He alone, for his political survival, is entitled to his democratic choice.

Kano’s gubernatorial race come 2027, may not witness anything close to an upcoming of a dark horse or dark horses in the race. Unless if a dark horse is abruptly coming from the other side of the table. I may be right or wrong. I also stand to be corrected.

For all aspirants, kindly remind yourselves the simple, bitter and indisputable truth that, resources alone are not always determining factor for political victory. What depicts this polical historicity are the cases of the period of the first civilian governor of old Kano state, Muhammad Abubakar Rimi. Followed by Malam Ibrahim Shekarau’s period.

Though during Rimi one could argue that, there was refined political ideology, as a driving force for democratic culture, democracy and political behavior for all the then political parties. But during Shakarau, political ideology was utterly absent compared to Rimi’s time. But there was a movement, called Guguwar Buhari or at best Buhariyya movement. In all the two scenarios nowhere, resources alone gave victory.

Politics goes with time, happenings, breaking situations, political development, existing structures, level of engagement and genuine realities at play. So 2027 will definitely not come with fresh polical ideology and Guguwar Buhari. But, and but, there could be a more fresher development that can take the centrestage.

Endorsement, endorsement and endorsement. I have no problem with any form of endorsement. But proponents of endorsement should be wise enough to play their cards in a way that they will not be swindled. I mean endorsement to any individual must be vigilant, strategic and cautious.

Come to think of these scenarios. Barau- Baffa Dan Agundi ticket, Garo-Zaura ticket, Gawuna-Garo ticket. A food for thought to all.

While Kano is bigger than imposition of candidates, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not a new entrant into political struggle and fight for sustainable democracy, if Kano APC will not and is not ready to work together, it is very simple for Tinubu to uproot them from the stage and replace them with any choice he deems fit.

My take. Where Garo can make a no-nonsense Governor, where discipline reigns, Gawuna can make a modern Governor, where charisma reigns and Barau can make a clever Governor whose attachment to all can be not strong and temporary, with sound knowledge of national politics.

Anwar writes from Kano
Thursday, 4th December, 2027

Politics

From Grassroots To NASS:Hon Haruna Kabiru Wakili Answers Fagge’s 2027 Call

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The people of Fagge Local Government Area have praised the efforts, patriotism, and support shown by one of the area’s young men across different aspects of life, despite not holding any political office.

Hon. Kabiru Haruna Wakili has become prominent in Fagge for his service to the community. He is a politician who builds youth development from the grassroots by supporting self-reliance skills and access to education.

Because of his drive and passion to keep supporting the people, the community in Fagge is backing his political journey. They believe that if given the opportunity, he will further develop the area.

Wakili is well known in the political struggle. He has stood on his own, once led a political party, and contested for the House of Representatives in the last election.

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Hon. Kabiru Haruna Wakili is now a member of the APC. He has a strong relationship and good rapport with politicians and the wider community in Fagge, right from the grassroots. That is why, as the 2027 elections approach, many believe he deserves their support.

Youths and elders, men and women in Fagge are urging APC delegates in the primaries to field credible people who stand with the community. They have strong confidence in Hon. Wakili for this election season.

The people of Fagge say Hon. Kabiru Haruna Wakili is with them and involved in their affairs. They believe that if he gets the mandate, he will not distance himself from them, unlike some past representatives who often ignored the needs of their constituents.

Following repeated calls from the people of Fagge, Hon. Haruna Kabiru Wakili has responded that, by God’s grace, he will contest for the House of Representatives under the APC.

He appealed to party members, elders, leaders, and executives of the APC in Fagge, both men and women, to give him their cooperation and support to secure victory.

Hon. Wakili also called on party stakeholders to confirm him as the consensus candidate, since it was the people of Fagge who asked him to run.

He added that even if it comes to a primary election, he is confident the people of Fagge will back him to clinch the APC ticket, and in the 2027 general election they will turn out to vote for him.

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How Abdurrahman Mainasara Salga Built ADC Into A Political Force In Dala

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There are many people with noble intentions who genuinely desire the progress of society. Every day, they strive to serve and support their communities in various aspects of life with their personal resources, without holding any official position or title.

This is driven by patriotism, compassion, and the desire to see people especially the less privileged and upcoming youth — live a life of ease without hardship.

Many people can attest to the kind of community support and development efforts carried out by some individuals.

Ambassador Abdulrahman Mansur Mainasara Salga is one of the well-known figures in Dala Local Government Area and Kano State at large, recognized for his good character, generosity, and commitment to community development.

Because of his generosity and kindness to the people, many have encouraged him to join politics. They believe it would give him more confidence and opportunity to advance his goal of continuing to support the public. This is what motivated him to venture into politics.

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He is a politician who believes in doing what is right. That is why he advocates for everything to be placed on the path of truth and justice. In the 2023 elections, he contested for the Federal House of Representatives seat in Dala Local Government. It is well known how he stood firm in ensuring fairness and justice within the party under which he contested, especially during the primary elections.

Everyone knows that Amb. Abdulrahman Mainasara has been at the forefront of serving the ADC since he joined. He made the party gain acceptance in Dala Local Government Area long before other political heavyweights in Kano joined the party, which has now become the major opposition party in the country.

The people of Dala Local Government are witnesses to how Hon. Abdulrahman Mainasara Salga devoted his time to building the ADC. He ensured it was accepted and established a strong foothold in Dala — a local government that serves as the political hub of Kano State. He served the party, opened offices for it, and mobilized support, in addition to his efforts in addressing community needs.

Indeed, the current political momentum in Dala, especially within the ADC, echoes the efforts of Ambassador Abdulrahman Salga Mainasara. He is seen by people in the area as the backbone of the party’s acceptance, and the most qualified to be put forward for the Federal House of Representatives seat in the local government. He is the only person who stood and nurtured the party to the level it has reached today.

Politicians and political observers have noted how many people are now joining the party. Many of them came in solely with the ambition to contest elections. For this reason, they are calling on party leaders and elders, such as Kwankwasiyya leader Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and other ADC stakeholders, to carefully consider fielding individuals who truly have the people’s development at heart during the primaries.

Consequently, in Dala Local Government, no one is seen by the community as more suitable, deserving, and credible to be fielded as the ADC candidate for the Federal House of Representatives than Ambassador Abdulrahman Mansur Mainasara Salga. He is the man who stood to ensure the party’s growth while also supporting community development. All the people of Dala would trust him in the 2027 elections.

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Kano Deputy Governorship, My Reiterated Position : My Challenge Against Riffraff

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By Abba Anwar

It very clear to my readers, that I kept quite at the initial stage of the heated debate hovering around our political development in Kano. When Deputy Governor His Excellency, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, resigned from his position few days back.

I kept quite not because I had nothing to contribute to the debate. I was only observing genuine and fake commentators. Those who talk directly from their clean hearts. And those who say one thing before point A and change tone under the same issue before point B.

Before reiterating my position, which was already in the public domain, “Why Hues, Cries Against Garo,” authored April 5th, 2026, let me say this, with all sincerity of purpose, while referring my readers back to what I wrote before now. All the write-ups are still available and can be searched.

What is that I want to say? I am an ardent advocate for unity and cooperation among leaders and followers of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano state. On this particular issue of unity, I am more concerned with Kano than Nigeria as a whole.

Secondly I don’t hide my political feelings all along. My defence are my write-ups. For the simple reason that, I write frequently for His Excellency, Deputy Senate President, Barau I Jibrin, CFR, that doesn’t mean I cannot write something and praise His Excellency, Deputy Gubernatorial Candidate, under APC, in 2023 election, Murtala Sule Garo.

It is double standard if I cannot tell Barau how I respect Garo. And vice versa. Nowhere in the past, when I support any form of divisions among our political leaders. I always called for unity, internal cohesion and coming together for a united front and purpose.

Yes I write more and more for Barau than Garo, but that does not mean I cannot express my political feelings or reasoning, that may not likely be palatable for Barau.

On 5th October, 2024, please go and search, I wrote “Barau’s Political Gamble : Ignoring His Supporters for Kwankwasiyya and NNPP Defectors.” In it I said, “Senator Barau, despite his admirable record of representation and infrastructure projects, seems distracted by these unnecessary political maneuvers. The time spent wooing disloyal members of rival parties would be better utilized in strengthening his political base. He should focus on empowering those who have supported him from the start, especially the youth and grassroots leaders who have been instrumental in his rise.”

As I said the above for Barau, I said this for Garo, in my write – up captioned, “Garo’s Bitter Truth and Kano’s Development,” dated January 5th, 2025, “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 Garo, with all my good write – ups for Barau, I still found it desirable to wrote something and commend Hon Abubakar Kabir Bichi, member representing Bichi federal constituency, at the House of Representatives. Bichi too, is seen by many as a die-hard political opponent for Barau. Go and search my piece titled, “Fateful Triangle : Kano APC’s Stronghold, Kano North,” dated 5th May, 2025.

I don’t hide my political leaning to anybody. Let people know that, with all modesty, I am just above collecting resources from so so person and write bad thing against another person in this race for Deputy Governorship in Kano. I cannot collect any inducement from opponents to write bad about Hon Kabiru Alasan Rurum, or Hon Rabi’u Sulaiman Bichi or HE Garo or Right Honourable Speaker, State House of Assembly, Hon Falgore.

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I cannot do that. And at the same time, I cannot write any bad thing and give to other opponents to write someone’s name. I don’t do that! Man, I am above that! When I believe in something, I dont hide.

LET ME PUT MY CHALLENGE FORWARD, WHOEVER KNOWS THAT SO SO PERSON GAVE ME SOMETHING AND I WROTE A SINGLE LINE EVEN, OR A PARAGRAPH, OR A COMPLETE ARTICLE AND GAVE IT TO ANOTHER PERSON’S OPPONENT TO PUT A PEN NAME, NOT MY NAME, AND USE IT AGAINST SOMEONE, WHOEVER KNOWS THIS AND KEEPS QUITE MAY ALLAH CURSE HIS LIFE COMPLETELY. LET HIM COME FORWARD WITH HIS EVIDENCE PLEASE AND MAKE IT PUBLIC. AND IF I DID THAT AND NOW SAID I DIDN’T DO, MAY ALLAH, OUR CREATOR, CURSE MY LIFE COMPLETELY TOO!!! AND WHOEVER GAVE ME A PENNY TO DO THAT AND KEEPS QUITE, MAY ALLAH CURSE HIM TOO!!!

Whenever I write something, I own it, no matter what. Let me give an example here, yes I worked under His Excellency, former Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CON, as his Chief Press Secretary, for six good years, but few months back during Tsanyawa /Kunchi and Bagwai/Shanono by-elections, after the declaration of the results by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), what I saw was nothing to write home about. Not impressive at all.

I immediately picked my pen and wrote an article, captioned, “Kano By-election : The Beginning of an End Era,” dated 17th August, 2025, in it, I called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, that he should review his political appointees who came from there, Kano North and immediately remove those who cannot perform as his good Ambassadors. I gave an example with the son of my boss, Engineer Abba Ganduje. I didn’t use any other name. I wrote it, I owned it and it was published and widely circulated. Please go and check.

The piece partly says, “To Allah Who Created me from nothing, if sadism, treachery and unnecessary political confrontation continue to take lead in our political relationship, especially among our leaders, APC is going nowhere in Kano. Even if it is leading Africa not Nigeria. Kano is known for its radical political engagement. I suggest President Tinubu should, I can’t say must – being a President – hastily look inward in Kano’s appointments and make necessary modifications.

For example, looking at the Kano North, where APC lost in this by-election, what is the use and relevance of appointments like that of Eng Umar Abdullahi Umar (Abba Ganduje) among other irrelevant appointments? What is the wisdom behind dropping people like Murtala Garo from the zone? What is the wisdom behind the unnecessary face-off between our elected people from the zone? What for?!”

When I wrote another article, where I blamed APC leadership in Kano for distraction and destruction, who gave me penny? And whose name was there as the author? The piece is titled, “Kano APC in Discombobulation : As Ploys Against DSP Barau Thickens,” dated December 15th, 2025. So I am beyond that, with all sense of modesty.

My position for Deputy Governorship, as I said very clearly in my recent write-up, captioned, “Why Hues, Cries Against Garo,” dated April, 5th, 2026, is Garo. I spoke out my reasons for his choice. My reader can kindly go and search.

In it I said, “And the way I see it, Garo is not desperate about it. He isn’t so desperate to become a Deputy Governor. My view, I stand to be corrected. As it is now, former Governors and former Deputy Governors, are still benefiting from him, from many standpoints.

Garo, unlike former Deputy Governor and Gubernatorial candidate under the platform of APC in 2023 election, His Excellency Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, who after he lost 2023 election was appointed, Chairman Governing Board, Bayero University, Kano and Chairman Board of Directors of Mortgage Bank, exited from APC recently to African Democratic Congress (ADC), in search of more political breathing space, Garo remains in the party without any appointment, whatsoever.

All along, nowhere was it reported that Garo was castigating the party at either state or national level. Now a vacancy arises, and the space is naturally available without any effort from anybody. Who then is in the best position to be compensated? If not Garo, who?”

When the write – up was published, Barau didn’t rise an eyebrow about it. In fact I sent him the links of all the online platforms that published the piece. The same way as, whenever I wrote something about Barau, Garo was one of the first people I send my write-ups to. Even for once, Garo never complained about it. And he didn’t change mood when we meet. I still believe misunderstanding between Barau and Garo or between Barau and Abban Bichi or between Garo and former State Party Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, or between any other leader or their followers, is not necessary please. All the leaders need each other. They believe it or not.

Anwar writes from Kano
Friday 17th April, 2026

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