In the preparation for the 2027 general elections, a lot of bizarre and extraordinary things have happened, particularly the Kano political saga. From the decamping of Governor Kabir Abba Yusuf from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Gawuna to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), to their meeting with Kwankwaso, these are unexpected shifts that even experts find difficult to forecast.
However, my attention is not on decamping or reconciling with old enemies. My main concern is whether citizens are learning from these maneuvers, strategically designed by politicians to serve their personal interests or whether citizens still remain in darkness, unable to understand that many of these struggles for leadership are not in the public interest, as Professor Kamilu Sani Fagge noted.
As a young journalist, I believe it is part of our responsibility not only to act as watchdogs of society but also to guide people towards understanding issues. This piece seeks to shed light on the lessons we, as citizens, should learn in order to become more cautious and aware of political strategies and maneuvers, using Kano state as an example, especially where the rift between godfather and godson has created new political dimensions.
From the 2019 to 2023 Kano gubernatorial elections, a lot of grudges emerged. The support shown by the people of Kano was very historic. Many people donated their resources just to ensure that Yusuf was voted into office as governor of Kano state. I witnessed individuals who even sacrificed their pocket money to support voters.
However, during the 2023 elections, the same tensions resurfaced.
When Yusuf won the election, the courts continued to receive petitions against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and political parties. Many people were injured, particularly during the inconclusive election in Gama ward, Kano. All these reflected the strong attachment many people had towards Yusuf’s victory. Citizens gathered in large numbers to offer two raka’at (nafila) prayers before the apex court delivered its judgment.
If we recall, cows and rams were slaughtered during that period as part of prayers for Yusuf’s success at the apex court. Eventually, Yusuf triumphed.
Beyond the court case, there was also the emirship tussle. This conflict was also influenced by politics, and as a result, the respected emirate institution appears to have lost some of its value in the eyes of the public all because of political interests.
Surprisingly today, Abba Kabir Yusuf has distanced himself from Kwankwaso and aligned with former governor Abdullahi Ganduje while Gawuna, who were once closely connected with Ganduje now moved towards Kwankwaso, who was previously seen as a rival. If you look at their past actions and expressions, it would seem impossible for them to be in the same camp but the story has changed because of interest.
This situation raises serious questions:
Is this the Kwankwaso and Ganduje we once knew? Is this the same Yusuf whom Kwankwaso spent years building?Is this Gawuna who, alongside his ally Murtala Sule Garo, was deeply involved during the tense election moments in Gama?
These questions require deep reflection.
For citizens, the lesson is clear. We must not be easily swayed by politicians or carried away by political emotions. Instead, we should carefully observe and question their actions. We should ask whether these actions truly serve the public interest.
If we answer honestly and the answer is no, then we must accept that many of these political moves are no longer about the people, but about power and personal interest.
For Governor Yusuf, who claimed that his move to the APC was to ensure that Kano state benefits from federal government initiatives and programmes, it has been about a month, yet Kano state has not clearly seen what this decamping has brought to the table from the federal government.
Finally, it is crucial and imperative for the people of Kano state to think deeply and see whether the rift between these political figures yields positive results for Kano. It is also common how people blindly create tension among themselves because of politics, fighting their friends and sometimes even causing injuries.
The Abdullahi Umar Ganduje – Abba Kabir Yusuf – Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna – Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso situation is a great lesson that every citizen should hold on to: these politicians operate within the same circle. All the struggles they ask us to engage in during elections should be approached with caution, because even among themselves they remain connected, they do not fight a do-or-die kind of politics. Their interest first; it’s for this I call on fellow citizens to consider their peace first at any election and during the 2027 elections.
