Indications have emerged how the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, led a resurgence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State after the party’s defeat in 2023 general election.
It was gathered that the deputy Senate president deliberately targeted and sustained engagements with high profile New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) members in the state, which eventually led to the recent set of defections into the APC in the state.
Recall that Senator Kawu Sumaila, Representatives Kabiru Rurum (Rano/Kibiya/Bunkure) and Abdullahi Sani Rogo (Karaye/Rogo), and former Secretary to Kano State Government, Dr Baffa Bichi, recent joined the APC from the NNPP.
Others defectors are former House of Representatives members Badamasi Ayuba (Danbatta/Makoda) and Sha’aban Sharada (Kano Municipal); former state lawmaker Zubairu Hamza Masu; and two former commissioners in the NNPP government, Muhammad Diggol and Abbas Sani Abbas.
APC had lost Kano, a state reputed for its high population and formidable voting strength, to the ruling NNPP in that election.
While NNPP won the governorship and presidential elections, the deputy Senate president was able to emerge victorious in Kano North, his senatorial seat.
It was learnt that shortly after the 2023 election, APC stakeholders were concerned over the party’s fate in the state because of the massive grassroot appeal of the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya movement led by 2023 presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
A source, who spoke with LEADERSHIP Friday on condition of anonymity, said
Barau, being the party leader, swung into action by wooing many notable NNPP chieftains at the grassroots and expanding the scope of his empowerment programmes, while urging support for the Tinubu administration for more dividends of democracy to be attracted to the state.
“His efforts paid off. Many opposition members started defecting to the party, holding on to the promise to guarantee effective harmonisation and a sense of belonging. In a short time, the growing influence of the Deputy Senate President put the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement on edge ahead of 2027 politics.”
The party leader said save for Barau’s strategic interventions, Kano APC’s chance of survival would have remained slim in the state it governed for eight years.
The source however said Barau’s harmonious relationship with the national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the state chairman, and other leaders, was essential to keeping the party’s soul together in the state.
An APC chieftain, Abdulmajid Danbilki, said Barau has succeeded in taming the NNPP in Kano, adding that it explains why its leaders’ quest to switch camps to the APC.
“Senator Barau is the only politician from the North capable of challenging Kwankwaso and the NNPP. He has consistently confronted them through various interventions and policies.
Danbilki described Barau as a man of high political rating, saying: “IIf anyone picks a candidate for the Kano governorship seat in 2027 other than Barau, we will not win.
“No one can deliver Kano like Senator Barau. He is a grassroots politician who understands the intricacies of politics at all levels. The entire northern Nigeria is proud of him,” he added.
Since he became the number five citizen, the Deputy Senate President has expanded his intervention programmes to the 44 local government areas. The 70 beneficiaries of his foreign scholarship scheme are from the three senatorial districts.
Another 300 graduates were recently selected from the three senatorial zones for domestic postgraduate scholarships.
Barau had facilitated the defection of the Coalition of Atiku Support Groups in the 19 Northern States during the 2023 general election. The feat earned commendation from Ganduje, who thanked him for encouraging people from other political parties to join APC.
”We have seen that distinguished Senator Barau is going beyond Kano. He is liberating those people, especially those who are committed to democracy. He is convincing them to join our party, not only from Kano State, but also in the northern part of this country, and the whole country. So, the distinguished Senator Barau is a real general. We assure you, Allah will order your steps,” Ganduje had said.
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