​By Halima Isyaku Dantsoho

​I read with a mix of amusement and concern the defense of Hon. Murtala Sule Garo by Hadi Abdullahi Muhammad, which attempts to frame the valid scrutiny of a public figure as a mere product of “internal power struggles.” While it is convenient to label every criticism a “media trial,” we must confront the reality that leadership is a sacred trust, not a reward for street mobilization. To suggest that Garo is the ideal choice for Deputy Governor—particularly in the wake of the recent political shift that saw Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf move to the APC—is to ignore the very “storm” the author claims to see. The vacancy in the Deputy Governor’s office exists because Kano is attempting to move past a season of distraction following the resignation of the former occupant; why then would the state replace a controversy with a liability? We are talking about a man who remains entangled in significant litigation regarding his past tenure as Commissioner, and to elevate such an individual to the second-highest office in the state would be like putting out a fire with petrol. It would lock the administration into a permanent state of legal defense, ensuring that the coming years are spent in courtrooms rather than on the construction of a better Kano.
​The author praises Garo as a “Commander” of the grassroots, yet in a state as economically vital as ours, “mobilization” is not a substitute for administrative integrity. The “grassroots” of which he speaks—the traders, farmers, and youths—are the primary victims when public funds are allegedly mismanaged at the local government level. True loyalty to the base is shown through transparent governance and the systemic protection of public wealth, not through the strategic distribution of startup tools during an election cycle. If the APC national leadership and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are truly committed to a “Renewed Hope” agenda, they must recognize that elevating a figure with such unresolved legal narratives contradicts the very integrity the party must represent in this new era. Perfection may not be the standard, but accountability is. Fairness does not mean ignoring a mountain of evidence in favor of political popularity; it means letting the courts decide a man’s fate before he is granted the prestige of high office. Kano has moved forward into a new political era, and it is time our leadership choices reflected a future built on stability rather than a return to the controversies of the past.

​Halima Isyaku Dantsoho is a freelance Journalist based in Kano.

My recent article titled “Ibrahim Little: The Man Fit for the Job” has opened the eyes of many young men and women, particularly those in the Gen Z category, to the personality and potential of Alhaji Ibrahim Ali Amin. He is a man of calibre and a true embodiment of competence for the enormous responsibility of leading Kano, the commercial hub of Northern Nigeria.

The quest for a credible alternative in Kano’s political space began last year when my political mentor and principal declared his intention to contest for the governorship. The name Ibrahim Ali Amin Little has, however, been a household name in Kano politics since the year 2000.

He is involved in politics not for material gain, but out of a genuine passion for investing in the lives of the people. As a businessman with a proven track record, he brings a different perspective to governance. Since 1999, most of Kano’s governors have emerged from the civil service sphere. Despite Kano’s status as a commercial centre, the state has witnessed a form of economic stagnation, largely due to insufficient emphasis on business-driven policies and economic innovation.

When I speak of an “alternative,” I refer to an independent-minded individual who is well-versed in administration and economic management.

Kano cannot be entrusted to someone who lacks a deep understanding of its economic realities. Since 1999, governance in the state has largely revolved around a single model road construction and the awarding of contracts, often without corresponding long-term economic impact.

True governance goes beyond infrastructure. It involves prioritising education by employing competent teachers, strengthening the healthcare sector especially primary healthcare centres with adequate and qualified medical personnel, and creating sustainable systems that improve the quality of life for citizens. These are the real indicators of governance. The question, however, remains: where does Kano stand in all of this?

Unfortunately, very few aspirants are addressing these critical issues except Ibrahim Little. As one of his closest aides, I can confidently say that his priorities are clear and people-oriented. His daily engagements revolve around questions such as: How can we identify and nurture talent? How can Kano become a true industrial hub? How can we establish an independent power supply for the state? And how can we revitalise and boost agricultural productivity?

These are not just talking points for him, they are guiding principles. His interest lies in the development of Kano, not in personal gain or the accumulation of state resources.

At this critical moment, Ibrahim Ali Amin Little stands as the alternative Kano needs.

Adnan Mukhtar
Is a Doctoral Candidate at Northwest University, Kano

Kano is the political hotbed of Northern Nigeria where politics is usually played with vigour, passion, speed and drama, and where you find no dull moments.

In Kano, political activities pick up immediately after an election, and continue to flourish till the next election.

Among such major political developments are the defections cum realignments of three gladiators – leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and former Deputy Governor of the state, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, who recently defected from the NNPP to the ADC, and another former Deputy Governor of the state,Dr.Nasiru Gawuna, who left the APC and moved to the ADC. These movements are described as the latest political tsunami sweeping across the ancient commercial state.

Most outstanding of such political events is the recent resignation of the Deputy Governor of the state, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, following an impeachment notice served on him by the State House of Assembly.

Comrade Gwarzo’s resignation instantly gave birth to a flurry of schemings, intrigues and jostling for the vacant position across the entire political spectrum.

Among the notables reportedly jostling for the number two position is Hon. Murtala Sule Garo, a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs under the Ganduje administration, former Chairman of Kabo Local Government, and the running mate of the APC governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections.

Others are Ismail Jibril Falgore, the incumbent Speaker of the State House of Assembly, and Salihu Sagir Takai, a former Commissioner in the then Ibrahim Shekarau administration.

Political analysts and many stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) believe that Hon. Murtala Sule Garo is the most qualified and suitable among the three contenders in view of his impeccable records both as a former Commissioner for Local Government, Local Government Chairman, as well as his grassroots political standing.

They also posit that Garo’s position as the running mate of the APC governorship candidate in the 2023 elections further gives him an edge over the other contenders, as his selection to fair in the joint ticket testified to his wide acceptance and his electoral value.

The analysts further submit that Hon. Garo as the next Deputy Governor of Kano State will add value to the APC administration in the state in view of his vast experience in politics and public service.

According to them, Garo will also bring to the Abba Kabir Yusuf administration and the APC a solid and well-oiled political structure that would boost their electoral fortunes in the 2027 general elections.

Meanwhile, sources close to the APC hierarchy have revealed that Hon. Murtala Sule Garo is the favoured candidate for the Deputy Governorship position, and that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf may tip him to fill the vacant position.

According to multiple sources, Governor Yusuf may have chosen Garo for the post, “and God willing Garo will soon be the next Deputy Governor of Kano State”.

The sources said the choice of Garo is in the spirit of inclusiveness, consensus and political sagacity to move the state forward.