By Musa Abubakar
His Excellency Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Governor of Kano State has proven himself a successful showman, one that put his skills to use and hoodwinked us in Kano State to the point when we once deluded ourselves that he was the real deal. With the benefit of hindsight and the much we have seen of the calamitous months he has been in office, we now know that there have certainly been some errors of judgment on the part of the citizens of our state.
The first signs were unmistakable but the false euphoria of having a new kid on the block had clouded our perception when Abba Yusuf first assumed office. His priority at that time was to embark on a spree of spurious demolition of structures under the guise of correcting some perceived failings of his predecessor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. That misadvised venture of tearing down critical infrastructure and causing untold economic losses almost threw the state into crisis as the political, sectarian and ethnic undertone of the demolition became known.
We were wrong in voting for Abba Yusuf and we were wrong to have construed the irrational actions of his earlier months in office as a demonstration of zeal to please the people. What we had thought was naivety on his part has now been proven to be a sociopathic tendency that the state’s people must now have to reign in lest they endure four meaningless years of Abba Yusuf in office.
His lack of vision in this regard was recently headlined with him inaugurating, not one, but two judicial panels. The panels are to probe cases of political violence and misappropriation of public assets during the administration of his predecessor. Abba Yusuf also ordered the panels to look into cases of missing persons in the state, from 2015 to 2023. That period was when Abdullahi Ganduje was the governor.
Abba Yusuf further caused concerns for his commitment to the good of our dear state by orchestrating the waste of resources by having the Kano State Government file criminal charges at the State High Court against Ganduje over alleged bribery. The vendetta upon which this charge is based is evident in the callous manner in which he dragged his predecessor’s family – wife and son – into the fray.
It is instructive to note Ganduje’s response to the court charge in which he clearly stated that only the Federal Government can try him for the kind of crimes Yusuf is alleging. Even more profound is the statesmanly manner in which Ganduje schooled his successor to concentrate on delivering governance to the state.
For context, Ganduje further stated that the bribery allegation was an ‘unfortunate and sorry attempt’ to shift attention from the fact that there was nothing on the ground in the state that the governor could use to justify the huge allocations he has been receiving in almost one year of being office.
He said, “In their desperate attempt to malign me and my family, they either forgot or probably cannot conduct themselves by the dictates of the law. They failed to take judicial notice of the recent pronouncement of the Federal High Court in Kano, which ruled that the so-called offence I am being accused of is a federal offence that can only be prosecuted by the Attorney General of the Federation and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“Rather than join issues with my traducers in Kano over the trumped-up charges levelled against me, I would implore them to redirect their energies towards easing the plights of our people in Kano. They still have the opportunity to revert to my blueprint for the sustainable growth and development of Kano State. It is not yet late in the day for them to emulate my developmental strides. They can still salvage the situation as my tenure was devoid of any wrongdoing.”
With what we know of our political schemings in Kano state, I daresay Ganduje is being too gentlemanly, too much of a statesman. Else, he should have told Abba Yusuf in clear terms that the tail is wagging the dog in his administration. The former governor should have been frontal in telling Abba Yusuf in clear terms to stop running errands for Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso and allow the interest of the electorates to determine the direction of the state.
The logic for expecting Ganduje to make such a call is based on the principle of fairness. Abba Yusuf ought to make the investigation of the past thorough. He should do this by extending the probe to 2011-2015, which would cover the period his puppeteer – Kwankwaso was governor and he (Abba Yusuf) was Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport (some of my compatriots in Kano state say it should be extended to 1999 -2011).
For us in Kano, we know the terror that the supporters of Abba Yusuf’s puppeteer put us through with their Kwakwansiya movement so any talks of probing political violence should start from their camp and the incidents of missing persons can be situated within the threats that known loyalists of the governor have made. Some of our people have become so cowed by the persistent threat of violence from the Yusuf/Kwankwaso camp that they no longer make interventions in the sorry state of affairs under the incumbent government.
But some of us will not stop speaking out. This abandonment of governance due to a lack of vision and viable programme for Kano State has to stop because I believe Yusuf was not elected to superintend a campaign of witch hunt. He should set down to work for the people of Kano state, who deserve good governance even more now that the economic and cost of living crisis calls for state leadership with substance to offer. This is because as the economic situation becomes even more dire we have been asking ourselves the question “When Will Abba Resume Work As Governor of Kano State?”
For instance, the governor campaigned with the promise of improving education, healthcare, the economy and the environment but none of those things have come to fruition. The state has not fared better educationally under his watch with the state’s out-of-school children now at a record high in under one year. He promised to approve the recruitment of additional competent medical personnel to provide medical services at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of health care but the last time such took place was the recruitment of medical doctors in 2021 under his predecessor. The state sits atop an ecological disaster as impoverished citizens are forced to cut down trees for fuel thereby putting paid to Yusuf’s promise of protecting the environment.
As basic as these issues are, these are the things that are of interest to the citizens and not the errand their state governor is abusing the state’s commonwealth to run for a man whose interest is at the centre in Abuja. We want our funds to be committed to things that benefit us and not to score-settling. What is the essence of filing bribery charges against Ganduje at the State High Court when a 100-level law student can easily confirm would be thrown out over the court’s lack of jurisdiction?
We, therefore, earnestly want to know when our governor will stop playing at the galley, take the bull by the horns and resume his duties, which includes doing the things he was elected to do as opposed to digging up a past he helped make.
Abubakar is a retired educationist and wrote this piece from Kofar Mata, Kano.
Water has defiedt he people in kano who have resorted to arbitrarily digging of boreholes and with the epileptic power supply in kano it now makes it impossible to access waterfor domestic use
Somebody will just wake up from sleep and start writing nonsense. People in Kano have started feeling the good things Abba is doing, if you APC and Ganduje supporters don’t like what he is doing, go your way
Ganduje, ‘gentlemanly’, ‘statesmanly’ ? I wonder if this writer is referring to the same Ganduje, the immediate past Governor of Kano State. It is absolutely unbelievably disturbing for any rational resident of Kano to begin to even forget the catastrophe that was the hallmark of that administration. And to think that this is coming from a supposedly ‘educated’ person is insane.
With such ‘educated’ people in the State, any politician can visit any disaster on his people and be justified and individuals like Abubakar, a supposedly so-called educationist, will wield their pens to support such.
We live in interesting times.
It’s obvious you did not voted for Abba Yusuf but rather you’re are doctoring narratives for your corrupt boss and party. No reasonable person will say there is
no developmental programs and projects happening in Kano.
Your excuse of an article couldn’t reveal your lexical incompetence any further. No wonder we’ve became the bane of ridicule even amongst peer tribes. At any given time, a society where the likes of you, in spite of sheer daylight ineptitude, can still put jagons to paper- is doomed.
As for the gullible “article content” you & I are now sure it isn’t worth my time or any learned person for that matter.
PS: Go back to school.
This is nonsense and so called write-up it doesn’t make any sense. We are not in any way regretting for voting man of the people and government for the masses. You are just wasting your time and energy go and continue to advertise the corword and cruel people of APC and co. but is for AMANA KWANKWASIYYA free education for the masses
It’s very clear that this write up was borne out of hatred for the good people of Kano and the Kano State government.
Now I understand why educated illiterates are more dangerous than stack illiterates. How on earth will a sane person who knows and understands the atrocities of the past APC regime in Kano write such ridiculous false narrative.
if you’re an indigene of Kano then definitely your ancestors must be sending countless curses on you for being an enemy within
READER DISCRETION NEEDED: I assume the writer is pure anti-Kwankwasiyya and a pure supporter of bribery and corruption.
The demolishing of illegally built structures on illegally acquired land was one of the first actions of Gov Abba Kabir Yusuf. The Ganduje administration converted public properties for personal use. Schools, sacred places of worship, and cemeteries were sold to families and friends. These structures have to go, the land belongs to the public and will continue to serve in the public interest.
The atrocities committed by the Ganduje administration is like a hydra headed monster, his administration was characterized by impunity. This is simply why Gov Yusuf constituted a committee to investigate the Ganduje administration. His likes could only be shielded by a corrupt system or hiding behind legal technicalities, but all should know that he has a lot to answer. “The wheels of justice may turn slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine, catching the guilty, no matter how long it takes.”
The only blueprint the Ganduje administration ever had was the Kwankwasiyya blueprint, which he hastily abandoned for his own selfishly crafted blueprint. A blueprint that only serves him, his family and a chosen few.
On the issue of political thuggery, everyone knows who leads the pack. Those who lack the support of the people resort to all ways and means. It started right from the inconclusive saga, and eclipsed at the supreme court judgment. Thuggery is enshrined in their DNA, down from the lowest to the highest echelon of their political structure.
In life everyone needs a helper and benefactor to reach his dreams, it was the Kwankwasiyya structure that was instrumental towards making Ganduje Governor of Kano State, he bit the fingers that fed him. “How does one find allure in repaying kindness with ingratitude and turning against those who offered assistance”. Gov Yusuf will continue to work with his boss towards making Kano a better place for all.
In less than a year the success achieved by Governors Yusuf administration is most impressive. Hitherto abandoned health facilities have been renovated to world class facilities, such as Hasiya Bayero paediatric hospitals, Sir Mohammadu Sanusi Hospital, Bela hospital just to mention a few.
Education has been a top priority of this administration, as at now schools are being renovated across the state and scholarship are being paid for both local and international students.
Infrastructure: Governor Yusuf has embarked on an ambitious infrastructure development , roads are being constructed in both rural and urban areas across the state , streetlights are being installed etc.
Poverty Alleviation: The Governor has demonstrated a strong commitment to poverty alleviation initiatives, particularly during challenging times such as Ramadan. Ongoing efforts such as Ramadan feeding programs and distribution of food palliatives in all 44 local governments underscore his dedication to easing the suffering of vulnerable populations.
Welfare of Senior Citizens: Governor Yusuf’s administration has prioritized the welfare of senior citizens, addressing longstanding issues such as outstanding gratuities and arrears, a noble endeavor the Ganduje Administration left unattended. Governor Yusuf’s first year in office has marked a turning point for Kano. By prioritizing transparency, accountability, and the well-being of all citizens, he has laid the foundation for a more prosperous and equitable city. With continued focus on these core principles, Kano is poised to reclaim its rightful place as a beacon of hope and opportunity for generations to come.