By Murtala Uba Mohammed PhD

Kano’s recent ranking as the number one city for safely raising a family has sparked widespread debate across social media, prompting renewed conversations about the city’s image and reputation. Many people, especially those who frequently encounter negative news about Kano, question whether the city truly deserves such recognition.

Indeed, Kano is often portrayed as a hotspot for crime, theft, political hooliganism, and social unrest. The outspoken nature of its people has also made the city less appealing to some observers. Yet, Kano is not just another city; it is a civilization in its own right, historically deep, socially vibrant, economically resilient, and culturally influential.

The high number of reported crimes in Kano should not automatically be used to label it as unsafe or undesirable. Rather, such visibility is partly a consequence of its large population, cosmopolitan character, and strong media presence. Compared to many cities in northern Nigeria and even across the wider Sahel region, Kano remains one of the most socially and economically active urban centres, naturally attracting greater public attention.

Kano has long served as a safe haven for migrants, traders, workers, and entrepreneurs from across Nigeria and neighbouring countries. Ironically, many of the high-profile criminal incidents reported in the city involve non-indigenes residing in Kano. The viral case of the woman (whose origin is Zamfara State) allegedly killed by a Chinese national in Jan Bulo, the incident involving a woman from Sokoto and her husband in Naibawa, or the more recent killing of a trader in Sheka allegedly linked to an individual from rural Katsina State, all reflect the city’s openness and diversity rather than a uniquely “Kano” problem.

If anything, Kano’s ranking speaks to the resilience, adaptability, and dynamism of the city. Great cities, especially mega and emerging mega cities like Kano, naturally experience social shocks and pressures. Yet, despite these challenges, they continue to stand strong, recover, reinvent themselves, and outlive waves of criticism and negativity.

People may say many things about Kano, but very few can truly resist Kano. The city possesses a magnetic force rooted in its history, commerce, culture, and human energy. Kano is like a beautiful flowering lady — hardly does a healthy young or old man pass by without turning to admire her beauty.

Continue to shine, Kano, our dearest Kano. Hold the flag high, keep rising, and continue to inspire generations.Misliki ka alfin.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has emerged as the winner of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary election, securing a commanding majority of the votes cast, according to official results announced by the party.

Mr Abubakar polled 1,846,370 votes out of a total of 2,527,977 votes cast, defeating his two main challengers: former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi and businessman Mohammed Hayatudeen.

Mr Amaechi finished a distant second with 504,117 votes, while Mr Hayatudeen came third with 177,120 votes.

However, the primary election was immediately mired in controversy, as both Mr Amaechi and Mr Hayatudeen rejected the outcome, alleging widespread electoral malpractice. The two candidates had earlier condemned the process even before the final results were announced.

The result positions Mr Abubakar as the ADC’s flag bearer for the upcoming presidential election, though the dispute over the credibility of the primary could foreshadow legal or internal party challenges in the days ahead.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Rabiu Kwankwaso, the influential leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, is set  select former Kano State deputy governor Aminu Abdussalam as the consensus governorship candidate for the National Democratic Council (NDC) in the upcoming state election, multiple sources confirm.

The choice, which followed days of closed-door consultations, sidelines a prominent contender and has sparked internal debate over the party’s electoral strategy in the fiercely contested state.

Abdussalam, who resigned as deputy governor in March after the Kano State House of Assembly issued an impeachment notice, was chosen for what insiders describe as his “uncommon commitment and sacrifice” to the movement.

Initially, Nasiru Gawuna — the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the 2023 election — was widely seen as a strong frontrunner for the ticket. But Kwankwaso ultimately backed Abdussalam on Wednesday, according to sources familiar with the deliberations.

Kwankwaso offered Gawuna either the deputy governorship slot or the Kano Central Senatorial ticket as an alternative, sources said. Gawuna declined both.

“He told Kwankwaso that he joined the Kwankwasiyya movement unconditionally and would not leave simply because he didn’t get the top slot,” one source told DAILY NIGERIAN.

The delay in announcing Abdussalam reflected mounting pressure from influential figures who argued that Gawuna offered a stronger path to defeating incumbent Governor Abba Yusuf.

Pro-Gawuna insiders pointed to zoning as the deciding factor. Yusuf, like Gawuna, hails from Kano Central — the zone that typically delivers the largest vote share.

“First, Gawuna is very popular in Kano Central, where the majority of votes come from,” an anonymous insider said. “Since Abba is from Kano Central and is serving his first term, the best solution is to field a candidate from the same zone so the zone may not feel shortchanged.”

The source drew a parallel to the NDC’s national strategy of zoning the presidency to the South while a southern president serves his first term.

Abdussalam’s supporters, however, prevailed by emphasizing loyalty over electoral math, arguing that the former deputy governor’s sacrifices for the movement could not be overlooked.

Formal announcement of Abdussalam as the consensus candidate is expected imminently, barring any last-minute reversal.