The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kano State, Alhaji Ibrahim Al-Ameen Little, has declared that the incumbent governor of the state, Abba Kabir Yusuf, and other candidates contesting the 2027 governorship election on the platforms of various political parties are no match for him in terms of political experience, grassroots mobilisation and political pedigree.

Al-Ameen made the declaration while addressing journalists during the unveiling of his running mate for the 2027 governorship election, where he also outlined his plans to revive Kano’s industrial sector, create employment opportunities, tackle drug abuse and youth migration, and reposition the state as a major commercial centre.

The ADC candidate said his political experience and history of participating in Kano politics gave him an advantage over his opponents, insisting that he had been involved in political mobilisation and party-building long before some of the current contenders emerged on the political scene.

According to Al-Ameen, many of the politicians seeking to become governor of Kano in 2027 were mentored or supported by prominent political figures who helped them rise to their present positions, whereas he claimed to have built his political career through years of direct participation and mobilisation.

“Without saying I am immodest, it is only myself and two or three people that I nurtured in the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party who emerged as its governorship candidates in 2003, before the victory was snatched from me and handed over to someone,” Al-Ameen said.

The ADC governorship candidate argued that his political history, experience and understanding of Kano’s political landscape placed him in a different category from the other contenders, adding that he was confident of his ability to mobilise voters across the state.

Al-Ameen also unveiled an ambitious plan to revive industries in Kano, saying his administration, if elected, would move the state away from its current dependence on trading and make it a major production hub.

He said Kano could no longer afford to remain primarily a consumer state, arguing that the state’s large population, commercial history and entrepreneurial culture should be harnessed to develop manufacturing and other productive sectors.

“We will not be a conduit pipe. Kano will regain itself as the commercial nerve centre of Africa,” Al-Ameen said.

He said his administration would focus on creating an environment capable of attracting investment, reviving moribund industries and encouraging local production, adding that the ultimate objective would be to create wealth and sustainable employment for residents.

“We will create more millionaires in the state, not beggars,” he said.

The ADC candidate lamented what he described as Kano’s increasing dependence on products manufactured outside the state, saying the situation had weakened the state’s industrial base.

Al-Ameen said Kano residents currently travel to Lagos and the South-East to purchase products that could be manufactured locally, arguing that the state should develop its own production capacity.

“Currently, we are traders, not producers. We buy products from Lagos and the South-East. Even Indomie, we are not doing it. We are only building stores,” he said.

He promised that an ADC-led administration would prioritise industrialisation and local production, with the aim of turning Kano into a manufacturing and commercial powerhouse.

Al-Ameen also promised to introduce programmes aimed at supporting vulnerable members of society, particularly orphans and young people, if elected governor.

He said his administration would provide support for orphans while also establishing mentorship programmes designed to guide young people and help them develop skills and opportunities for the future.

“We are going to help orphans. We are also going to help in mentoring,” he said.

The candidate also promised to intensify environmental sanitation and fumigation across the state, linking the programme to the fight against malaria and other preventable diseases.

“We will be fumigating. It is a shame malaria is still killing Nigerians,” Al-Ameen said.

The ADC candidate further promised to tackle the factors driving young people out of Kano and Nigeria in search of opportunities abroad.

He said his administration would focus on creating economic opportunities and employment within the state to discourage young people from embarking on dangerous or uncertain journeys in search of a better life.

“We will stop youth migration to other countries,” he said.

Al-Ameen also identified drug abuse as a major social challenge requiring urgent government intervention. He said Kano needed a dedicated institutional response to the problem, particularly because of what he described as the widespread consumption of illicit drugs in the state.

“We will establish a ministry to stop drug abuse, as we are the state that people consume drugs the most all over the world,” he said.

On the longstanding controversy surrounding the Kano Emirate, Al-Ameen said an administration under his leadership would address the issue of the two competing emirates.

“We are going to address the issue of two Emirs,” he said, without providing further details on the specific mechanism his administration would adopt to resolve the dispute.

The emirate controversy has remained one of the major political and traditional issues in Kano, with competing claims and rival royal institutions becoming a significant source of political tension in the state.

Al-Ameen also promised to take a tough position against the alleged misuse of public resources, saying his administration would not tolerate the diversion of public funds.

“We will stop looting public funds in the state treasuries,” he said.

He further pledged to end what he described as the payment of allowances to former governors, saying such benefits would be discontinued immediately upon his assumption of office.

“I will stop allowances of governors when they leave office the day I am sworn in,” Al-Ameen said.

The ADC candidate also used the occasion to reaffirm his claim to the governorship ticket of the party ahead of the 2027 election.

“I am the valid governorship candidate in Kano, and I am here to present my deputy governorship flag bearer,” he said.

Al-Ameen expressed confidence that an ADC victory in 2027 would usher in what he described as a new phase of development and economic transformation for Kano State.

“If I am elected, Kano will get development,” he said.

At the event, Al-Ameen formally unveiled Abdulkadir Shehu Bari as his deputy governorship candidate for the 2027 election.

Bari, while speaking at the event, expressed satisfaction with the decision to select him as Al-Ameen’s running mate and thanked the candidate for the confidence reposed in him.

The newly unveiled deputy candidate pledged to work with Al-Ameen and support the campaign’s programme for the development and transformation of Kano State.