Kano Chooses Performance, Not Godfathers
By Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya
With due respect to Engr. Buba Galadima, an elder statesman and long-standing actor in Nigeria’s political arena, his assertion that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf cannot secure a second term without Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is analytically weak, misleading and dismissive of Kano State’s deeply rooted political culture.
There is no dispute that Senator Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is a political heavyweight, a strategic mobiliser, and one of the most consequential figures in Kano’s modern political history. His influence is real and well earned. However, to suggest that Kano’s political future is permanently contingent on the shadow of a single individual, regardless of stature, is to misread both history and democratic behaviour of the people in the State.
It is particularly surprising that this assertion comes from Engr. Galadima himself, who, it should be recalled, benefited directly from Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s benevolence and an inclusive leadership disposition. In the hope of institutional improvement, the Governor appointed him Chairman of the Governing Council of Kano State Polytechnic, notwithstanding the fact that he is not an indigene of Kano State. That gesture was driven by trust, anticipated experience, and an expectation of value addition. Regrettably, the tenure yielded little or no measurable impact, as no notable reform initiative, policy intervention, or developmental programme was either initiated or meaningfully contributed to the institution.
This reality bears repeating because leadership is not validated by loud commentary but by tangible outcomes. As the timeless proverb reminds us, the tree is known by its fruit.
Kano State is not Abuja. It is not Yobe either. It is not any other state. Kano operates on its own historical rhythm, civic memory, and political consciousness. Here, power does not permanently reside with godfathers; it ultimately rests with the electorates, whose loyalty has always been conditional on performance, individual character, trust and a true sense of reliability
The emergence of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau as Governor in 2003 remains a critical reference point. He rose without godfather backing or a class patronage, propelled instead by moral credibility and popular resonance. His re-election validated a simple Kano principle: legitimacy is always derived from the people
Kano voters, time and again, have demonstrated an independent streak that resists permanent political ownership. Even Senator Kwankwaso’s own political return in 2011 underscores this reality. After eight years outside Government House, he was elected not by anointment or endorsement of one individual or a class of people, but by the record. The electorates were able to remember his first tenure urban renewal, educational investment, and assertive governance.
His past performance functioned as political capital. That experience alone should caution against overstating the durability of godfather politics in Kano.
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Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf did not assume office by political charity. He was elected by the people of Kano, across party lines and political interests, defended his mandate through institutional processes, and assumed power with popular legitimacy. Since then, he has begun the inevitable transition from political protégé to an objective governing principle, asserting priorities in education, restoring public trust in leadership, institutional reforms, and recalibrating governance toward social equity.
To frame him as “standing on borrowed feet” ignores a fundamental truth of leadership: governance is iterative, not static. Political authority in Kano is consolidated over time through delivery, not inherited indefinitely through association.
Yes, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso remains influential and deserves every respect. But influence is not ownership, and mentorship is not permanent dependence. Kano’s political tradition has always allowed for maturation, differentiation, and institutional continuity beyond individuals.
I firmly believe that not only will Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf secure a second term, he will govern more effectively in a subsequent tenure, because governance, like leadership itself, matures with experience. Institutional learning, policy refinement, and political confidence deepen over time, particularly in a state as complex as Kano.
Those predicting his political collapse without a godfather underestimate Kano’s political memory. Those questioning his viability misunderstand Kano’s democratic logic. As history has repeatedly shown from Governor Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya to Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, to Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso himself, Kano ultimately rewards performance, not proximity to power.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s decision is best for the state, as the NNPP has been confronted with persistent internal conflicts and crisis arising from leadership disagreements and ongoing legal processes, many of which are presently before the courts for judicial determination.
The growing disenfranchisement among party members has created deep divisions within the party structure, resulting in cracks that appear increasingly irreconcilable and have generated uncertainty at both state and national levels.
This decision is taken in good faith, without any ill will, and with a continued commitment to peace, unity, and the progress of Kano State.
I conclude with the words of the Qur’an and the Hadith:
“Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is our Mawla (Protector). And in Allah let the believers put their trust.” (Surah At-Tawbah, Verse 51).
This reminds us that everything about our lives, has since been written by Allah.
Similarly, a famous Hadith from the advisory of Prophet Muhammad, (ﷺ) which he gave to Ibn Abbas (RA) emphasizes reliance on Allah (Tawakkul) and divine decree. It states that if the entire creation were to gather to help or harm someone, they could only do so with what Allah has already written. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried.
That remains the enduring grammar of Kano politics.
Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya,
Hon. Commissioner of Information and Internal Affairs
25 January 2026
