Kano: Waiya Rejects Galadima’s Claim On Yusuf’s Re-election Prospects

The Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, has issued a press statement challenging remarks by elder statesman Engr. Buba Galadima said that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf cannot win a second term without the political backing of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

In the statement dated 25 January 2026, Waiya described Galadima’s assertion as “analytically weak, misleading and dismissive of Kano State’s deeply rooted political culture.” He acknowledged Kwankwaso as a respected political heavyweight but said Kano’s democratic tradition is not permanently dependent on any single individual.

“There is no dispute that Senator Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is 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 is to misread both history and the democratic behaviour of the people in the state,” Waiya said.

Waiya said he was surprised the claim came from Galadima, noting the elder statesman had previously benefited from Governor Yusuf’s inclusive leadership. “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. Regrettably, the tenure yielded little or no measurable impact,” he added.

The Commissioner stressed that leadership is validated by tangible outcomes rather than commentary. “As the timeless proverb reminds us, the tree is known by its fruit,” he said, underlining the need for performance-based legitimacy in Kano politics.

Highlighting Kano’s distinct political culture, Waiya argued that power ultimately rests with the voters. “Kano operates on its own historical rhythm, civic memory and political consciousness. Here, power does not permanently reside with godfathers; it rests with the electorate, whose loyalty has always been conditional on performance, character, trust and reliability,” he explained.

Waiya cited precedent to support his view, pointing to Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau’s emergence as governor in 2003 without godfather backing. “His re-election validated a simple Kano principle: legitimacy is always derived from the people,” he said.

He also recalled Kwankwaso’s return to politics in 2011, noting it was based on his record rather than anointment. “His past performance functioned as political capital. That experience alone should caution against overstating the durability of godfather politics in Kano,” Waiya said.

On Governor Yusuf’s mandate, Waiya emphasised it was earned through popular legitimacy. “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,” he said, adding that Yusuf has moved from protégé to principled leader, prioritising education, institutional reform and social equity.

Responding to claims that Yusuf is “standing on borrowed feet,” Waiya countered that governance in Kano is consolidated through delivery. “Political authority in Kano is consolidated over time through delivery, not inherited indefinitely through association,” he said.

While acknowledging Kwankwaso’s enduring influence, Waiya stressed that mentorship does not equate to permanent dependence. “Influence is not ownership, and mentorship is not permanent dependence. Kano’s political tradition has always allowed for maturation and continuity beyond individuals,” he noted.

Expressing confidence in Yusuf’s future, Waiya declared: “I firmly believe that not only will Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf secure a second term, but he will also govern more effectively in a subsequent tenure, because governance, like leadership itself, matures with experience.”

He warned that those predicting Yusuf’s collapse without a godfather underestimate Kano’s political memory. “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,” Waiya said.

The Commissioner also addressed internal challenges within the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), saying persistent conflicts and legal disputes have created divisions. “The growing disenfranchisement among party members has created deep divisions within the party structure, resulting in cracks that appear increasingly irreconcilable,” Waiya explained.

He concluded by saying Yusuf’s decisions are taken in good faith, with a commitment to peace and progress. Quoting the Qur’an, Waiya reminded citizens: “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.” He also cited a Hadith emphasising reliance on divine decree, stating that “the pens have been lifted and the pages have dried.”

“This,” Waiya concluded, “remains the enduring grammar of Kano politics.”