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Asiwaju/Osinbajo And The Abrogation Of Acerbic Animosity

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By Bala Ibrahim.

The names Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are easily the most repeatedly pronounced names in Nigeria today. And the reason is simple; he is a famous politician, philanthropist, business mogul and now the Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC. But there seems to be another reason why his names are repeatedly resonating- his readiness to reverse animosity in politics, by letting go of resentment and the thoughts of revenge. Yes, Asiwaju is reinventing the philosophy of “politics without bitterness”, the nostalgic political campaign slogan of late Waziri Ibrahim, the famous Kanuri man from Borno State, and the Presidential candidate of one of the political parties that participated in the 1979 presidential election – the Great Nigerian People’s Party, GNPP.

Like late Waziri Ibrahim, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is contesting for the highest political office in Nigeria, at a time when the air space of the country is filled with palpable hatred among political parties, and mistrust among politicians and their supporters all over. To say the current scenario, or this type of feeling of deep anxiety and dread are unhealthy to the system, is certainly an understatement.

But the people are not the ones to blame solely for such apprehensive feeling. The liability lies with the leaders, who accede to the mischief and devilry of those championing the cause of such mistrust between the parties and candidates. Their absolute aim of heightening tension in the polity is to ultimately, God forbid, cause chaos, riots and anarchy.

Such situations if poorly handled, may result in military intervention or even civil war. Some of these agents of doom are campaigning under ethnic and sectional sentiments. Nigeria had gone through such terrible path in the past. But methinks, the attitude of Asiwaju Tinubu is towards reversing, or changing that viewpoint.

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When, in the build up to the Presidential primaries, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo indicated interest to contest for the same position with the Asiwaju, despite the fact that he knows the life long ambition of the Asiwaju is to be the President of Nigeria, many, including yours truly, thought it was only going to be a political hoax. But the Vice President stayed put in the race, and went on campaigning with authoritative effervescence. After weeks of hot and high-wire intrigues and horse-trading, Asiwaju Tinubu defeated the Vice President, who came a distant third with 235 votes, while he polled 1,271 votes.

The general feeling among analysts is that the Vice President had committed a political sacrilege, by contesting against the life ambition of his political Godfather. As a consequence, it was also thought that the Asiwaju would not forgive the Vice President and Professor of Law, Yemi Osinbajo. But to shame those with such negative thought, and prove to people that he has come to abrogate acerbic animosity in politics, the Asiwaju has done the reverse. He has forgiven him.

In announcing the forgiveness, Tinubu said, “I have nothing against him. I have been to his house after the primaries. I have seen him on the day of the goodwill message to the retreat organised by the President. And a man who forgives—a man who asks for forgiveness from Allah, fully deserves forgiveness. If you cannot give forgiveness, how are you asking from Allah? To me, it is over”- Asiwaju

Similar clemency was extended to the President of the Senate, Sen. Ahmad Lawan by the Asiwaju. In appreciation, Lawan, who said he contested with the belief that he had the popularity and experience to lead the country, pledged absolute support to the Asiwaju, saying he has the optimism that APC would emerge victorious in the 2023 presidential poll with Tinubu as it’s candidate.

Attempts have also been made to set the Asiwaju against the minister of state, labour, Festus Keyamo(SAN), by suggesting that Keyamo had sued the Asiwaju in 1999, for the allegation of forging his school certificates. Keyamo was quick to deny the allegation, saying he only sued the Lagos State house of assembly for clearing the Asiwaju, who was then the governor of the state, on allegations of certificate forgery. Indeed the assembly investigated him, but cleared him of all wrongdoing. Again, in his determination to abrogate acerbic animosity in politics, the Asiwaju has not only ignored the call to hold Festus Keyamo with malice, but went ahead to appoint him as his Presidential campaign spokesperson.

The national chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu is one person adversaries are working hard to build an ill will wall against, or sour his relationship with the Asiwaju. Since the primaries that produced the Asiwaju as the Presidential candidate of the APC, detractors have been up and doing, on how to harm the working relationship between the duo, but to their chagrin, the Asiwaju is ceaselessly holding the chairman in esteem. In fact, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu is the deputy chairman 1 of the Asiwaju Presidential campaign team.

Nothing more can demonstrate the philosophy of politics without bitterness, and attempt to abrogate acerbic animosity in politics.

Politics

Why Nura Manu Soro should be APC candidate in Bauchi State come 2027

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Honourable Nura Manu Soro

 

 

Sani Adnan

As Planning Is Essential for a Political Campaign, Nura, if given the opportunity, will ensures that the party’s campaign activities are structured, resources are used efficiently, and every effort supports the central objective of winning voter trust and turnout.

Steps He May Take in Building a Political Campaign Plan

Professionals and other relevant stakeholders will be widely consulted where strategic views will be carefully collated and embedded in his vision, mission, and values, analyzing voter demographics needs and setting measurable campaign goals, among others.

*An Inclusive Campaign Foundation*
Nura Manu’s campaign foundation cover party core values, valuable insights, and specific objectives such as turnout targets, fundraising benchmarks, and win margins against major opposition elements.

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*Who May Serve As Key Members of His Campaign Team*
In order to guarantee and seamless victory, Nura Manu Soro has assembled array of professional politicians, technocrats with essential roles include the campaign manager, communications lead, digital strategist, field organizer, and finance director, supported by a structured volunteer network of versatile young men and women from all walks of life.

Nura Manu Soro Represent a Strong Campaign Message That’s Important At The Moment

Nura Manu Soro is sine qua non with a strong message which will naturally connects the APC candidate to voter concerns, builds credibility, and provides consistency across campaign speeches, political advertisements, and digital platforms.

Nura Manu Soro Represent The Role a Slogan (Tafiyar Matasa Sabon Jini) Play in Campaign

A slogan captures the campaign’s vision in a short, memorable phrase, supported by talking points that reinforce the message across all outreach. Persons like him with towering intellect, global exposure and academic distinction, who understand how power truly operates, will play politics which might reveals realities that libraries, laboratories and lecture halls couldn’t fully expose. ‘NMS’ as I fondly called him, is a master strategist who excelled in engineering negotiations, manoeuvres, interests, alliances and contradictions that quietly shape greater outcomes at different fora.

In conclusion, NMS will utilise social media to expands reach, engages different voter segments, and provides real-time interaction. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X, among many others to target different demographics effectively.

Sani Adnan, wrote from Alkaleri in Bauchi State, Nigeria.

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Beyond the Verdict: How NNPP Loss Vindicates Governor Yusuf’s Political Foresight

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By: Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa

A defining political moment unfolded in Lagos as loyalists of NNPP founder, Boniface Aniebonam, converged at his Apapa office in celebration of a decisive court victory that has reshaped the party’s leadership structure. The ruling of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, which directed INEC to recognise the Agbo Major led National Working Committee, effectively nullified the claims of the faction aligned with Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiyya Movement, setting the stage for what many now regard as a turning point in the NNPP’s internal power dynamics.

The celebration was not merely symbolic but deeply political. Songs, dancing and thanksgiving echoed through the venue, signaling what many within the camp see as the final collapse of the rival structure. In their view, the ruling has drawn a clear line under the prolonged leadership tussle, affirming ownership and restoring the party to its original custodians.

While the Kwankwasiyya faction has dismissed the judgment and signaled its intention to appeal, the optics of the Lagos celebration suggest a deeper reality. It portrays a movement that is steadily losing institutional footing. What was once projected as a dominant bloc within the NNPP now appears increasingly isolated and weakened by legal setbacks and internal contradictions.

Within this unfolding scenario, the earlier decision of Abba Kabir Yusuf to exit the NNPP now stands out as not just strategic but profoundly prophetic. At a time when many still believed the crisis could be contained, the governor had already read the signs of a looming structural breakdown. His defection to the All Progressives Congress was a calculated move to shield Kano from the instability that has now fully consumed the party.

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Since the entrance of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso into the NNPP in late 2022, the party has been embroiled in persistent internal wranglings. What should have been a smooth political expansion quickly degenerated into disputes, counter claims and a cycle of litigations across multiple courts. These legal battles not only fractured the party’s leadership but created an environment too volatile for any serious governance to thrive.

For a sitting government, such instability is more than a political inconvenience. It is a direct threat to focus, peace of mind and administrative efficiency. Governor Yusuf clearly understood that a state like Kano could not afford to be governed from within a party constantly entangled in courtrooms. Governance requires clarity, stability and direction, conditions that had become increasingly absent within the NNPP.

The events of today have validated that judgment. The celebrations by Aniebonam’s loyalists underscore the extent to which the party structure has shifted away from the Kwankwaso bloc. In stark terms, the former political stronghold has been reduced to a shadow of its past influence within the party.

Indeed, a harsh but unavoidable metaphor now defines the situation. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso appears politically like a wandering herdsman without shepherds, disconnected from a recognised structure and navigating an uncertain terrain without institutional backing. The court’s affirmation of a rival leadership has effectively placed him in a position where his relevance within the NNPP is severely diminished.

In practical terms, this leaves him perilously close to being politically homeless, a figure without a firmly recognised platform and with a future clouded by legal and structural dislocations. His refusal to align with Governor Yusuf in the strategic move to the APC now appears in hindsight as a significant political miscalculation, one that may carry lasting consequences for his political journey.

The contrast could not be clearer. While Kano under Abba Kabir Yusuf has secured stability within a broader national framework, the NNPP remains trapped in cycles of litigation and internal strife. The governor’s decision ensured that his administration would not be distracted by endless legal battles, thereby preserving the focus required to deliver democratic dividends to the teeming people of Kano.

In the final analysis, politics rewards those who can read the future before it arrives and act before circumstances impose their will. Power is never sustained by sentiment but by structure, clarity and timing. What is unfolding within the NNPP is a reminder that when a political house becomes divided against itself, its strongest voices can quickly fade into irrelevance. In contrast, leadership that prioritises stability over attachment secures not just survival but continuity. In this moment, the lesson is clear that history does not remember hesitation, it remembers decision.

Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, is the Spokesperson to Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State

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DSP Barau and APC Unity in Kano

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By Abba Anwar

Democracy, in my candid opinion, is not only a game of numbers, as numbers could be falsified, twisted, deliberately avoided and deceiving, it is also a process of fair arrangement, fence-mending, thinking-ahead, conceding overturned events and strategy jogging, all within a sane and stable environment.

To push my take, closer to readers’ comprehension, let me, first and foremost, acknowledge the genuine involvement of His Excellency, the Deputy Senate President, Barau I Jibrin, CFR, immediately when the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, joined All Progressives Congress (APC).

His contributions and commitment to the new union, new normal, as some may put it, explain his intent for building stronger, more peaceful, ambitious and strategic political platform devoid of crisis and cluelessness ahead of 2027 election period. The deeper commitment is manifested in almost all his recent visibility in the affairs of the party.

It was he, to the chagrin of all, who announced, publicly, that he jettisoned his long held ambition, of becoming number one citizen in the state. That happened during the welcome celebration of the Governor, to APC fold. There and then, he endorsed and called for genuine support, of Governor Yusuf ahead of 2027. Senator’s endorsement, was, in my understanding, out of volition and deep sense of responsibility.

After his unexpected withdrawal from the race, the former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CON, made similar pronouncement on behalf of all those contesting for gubernatorial seat in the state. Assuring Governor Yusuf that, all those contesting for the exalted seat, had also withdrawn.

I think after commending Ganduje for that, we should profoundly appreciate and thumb-up for the aspirants. His Excellency Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna and His Excellency Murtala Sule Garo. The duo also exhibited decorum and absolute loyalty in the scheme of things. No doubt about this. So also would-be-aspirants, remained low-key and enduring. As low-key as they were, no one could accurately spot individuals here.

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My personal conviction, tells me that, APC heavyweights, did that, just to properly and unarguably, present the party, APC, to the Governor, as a comfort zone. Where his ambition for second tenure could well be secured seamlessly.

As a matter of fact, APC tries hard to make the Governor feel comfortable for the development of the state. Which is at stake. Hence the debut of the slogan “Kano First.”

Looking at the wards and local governments congresses, that took place recently, one can, but, believe with me, when I appreciate that Governor Yusuf is reciprocating well. Just look at how the government handles process, procedures and outcomes. Even the sharing formula of party’s executives, between the Governor and old APC members. Yes, the Governor is moving at his own pace, but to me, the situation is neither disturbing nor alarming. Each leader has his own way of discharging responsibilities.

All cards are now on the table. As the ball is in the court of the Governor. His understanding of the political arithmetic, as he merges with APC, is paramount and part of the necessary prerequisite for victory, in the face of all. Supporters, non-supporters and so-called neutral entities.

While DSP, alongside other critical stakeholders cooperate with the Governor for injecting life to good governance, it is not out of place, to also mention that, the DSP is becoming the engine room for unity in the party.

All his actions that followed the golden pronouncement, signify honest and genuine support for the status-quo. Few days before the formal pronouncement, it was he, who empowered and reinforced local governments officials in 13 local governments under his constituency, Kano North, with means of transport. Mobility worth commendation.

He gave a similar gesture to party leaders at all levels, long before now. Particularly in his constituency. But that was not limited to Kano North alone. His magnanimous intervention to party leaders, even at that time, across the state, was everything to write home about.

It is indeed dignifying to note that, Distinguished Senator knows clearly that, as it is democratic to support any idea, process and democratic styles, but within the confines of dignity, respect, law and order, it is also democratic to oppose any action or inaction, but within the confines of the identified situations.

The many politicians I spoke with, from Governor Yusuf’s side, on how the Deputy Senate President plays his cards, they passed an impressive judgment on him. They all acknowledged and appreciated his genuine commitment to the cause and his open-minded approach to the progress of the party and the government in the state.

I understand one good thing about him, I mean, out of many good things, he believes, Governor’s survival and victory, is APC’s. Adieu DSP, Adieu!

Anwar writes from Kano
Tuesday, 24th February, 2026

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