Governor Yusuf’s Re-election Not Dependent On Any Godfather — Kano Gov’t

The Kano State Government has dismissed claims attributed to elder statesman, Engr. Buba Galadima, that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf cannot secure a second term in office without the support of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, describing the assertion as misleading and a misreading of Kano’s political history.

In a statement issued to journalists on Sunday in Abuja, the State’s Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Waiya, said the comment undermined the democratic consciousness of the people of Kano State and wrongly portrayed the state as permanently dependent on political godfatherism.

While acknowledging Senator Kwankwaso’s stature as a major political figure in Kano and Nigeria, Waiya stressed that no individual, regardless of influence, holds permanent ownership of Kano’s political destiny.

“Kano operates on its own historical rhythm, civic memory and political consciousness. Power in the state ultimately rests with the electorate, whose loyalty has always been conditional on performance, character, trust and credibility,” the commissioner said.

Waiya expressed surprise that the remarks came from Engr. Galadima, noting that he benefited from Governor Yusuf’s inclusive leadership when he was appointed chairman of the Governing Council of Kano State Polytechnic, despite not being an indigene of the state.

According to him, the appointment was made in good faith and based on expectations of experience and value addition, but yielded little or no measurable impact, as no notable reforms or developmental initiatives were recorded during Galadima’s tenure.

The commissioner emphasised that leadership should be assessed by tangible outcomes rather than public commentary, adding that Kano voters have historically resisted permanent political ownership.

He recalled the emergence of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau as governor of the State in 2003 without any godfather backing, attributing his rise and re-election to moral credibility and popular appeal.

He also referenced Senator Kwankwaso’s political comeback in 2011, noting that it was driven by his past performance in office rather than political anointment.

“Performance, not proximity to power, remains the enduring principle of Kano politics,” he said.

He noted that Governor Yusuf assumed office through a popular mandate, defended through due legal processes, and has since asserted himself as an independent governing authority through policies focused on education, institutional reforms, social equity and the restoration of public trust.

“To frame the governor as standing on borrowed feet ignores the reality that governance is iterative. Political authority in Kano is consolidated through delivery, not inherited indefinitely through association,” he added.

Expressing confidence in the governor’s political future, Waiya said Yusuf would not only secure a second term but would also govern more effectively with increased experience, as leadership matures over time.

He further explained that recent political decisions taken by the governor were influenced by internal crises within the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), including leadership disputes and ongoing court cases that have weakened party cohesion.

“These decisions were taken in good faith, without ill will, and with a firm commitment to peace, unity and the progress of Kano State,” the commissioner said.

Waiya concluded by citing verses from the Qur’an and a Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) on reliance on Allah and divine decree, describing them as the “enduring grammar of Kano politics.”