By Bashir Bello & Ibrahim Hassan
KANO — Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State, yesterday, made recent appointments to consolidate his footholds in Kano forward of the 2027 polls, as his estranged mentor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, vowed that the governor will remorse leaving the New Nigeria Folks’s Social gathering, NNPP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC.
This occurred on a day, fast previous governor of Kano, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, declared his readiness to reconcile with Kwankwaso.
Kwankwaso, the NNPP presidential candidate in 2023 and chief of the Kwankwasiyya motion, had kicked in opposition to Yusuf’s defection, which he described as a betrayal of the best order, saying the governor and his political associates will finally remorse their choice to depart the NNPP.
He mentioned in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service yesterday that Governor Yusuf’s choice to depart the NNPP got here as a shock to many Nigerians, including that he personally discovered it tough to come back to phrases with the event.
Based on him, the circumstances surrounding the governor’s exit seem unreal and complicated.
“Many individuals have approached me saying they consider what occurred was a part of some association between me and him, or between me and people round him.
“Even I, on a number of events, discovered it arduous to consider that occasions have unfolded the best way they did,” Kwankwaso mentioned.
The previous Kano State governor expressed confidence that point will reveal the implications of the choice, insisting that Governor Yusuf and people who adopted him will come to remorse abandoning the NNPP.
Kwankwaso mentioned he was deeply dissatisfied that the governor “handed over the mandate of the NNPP members and the individuals of Kano to the Gandujiyya political camp” with none robust justification.
He mentioned additional: “After I lie down, I mirror and ask myself: what actually occurred? Who was at fault? Was it me? Was it the social gathering? Have been social gathering members at fault? However I’ve not been capable of finding a solution.”
The NNPP chief mentioned all the explanations the governor personally gave him or despatched others to relay to him for defecting had been points that would have been resolved via dialogue and cooperation.
He additionally dismissed claims of inside disaster inside the NNPP, which Governor Yusuf cited as one of many causes for leaving the social gathering, insisting that no political social gathering is totally freed from grievances.
“I can guarantee you, to the very best of my information, there isn’t any social gathering extra peaceable and steady than the NNPP. And if there’s any, allow them to maintain their nationwide conference and candidate choice processes, then you will notice disputes,” Kwankwaso mentioned.
Commenting on those that have left the NNPP however nonetheless declare allegiance to the Kwankwasiyya ideology, he described the scenario as a transparent case of selecting between mild and darkness.
“Mild and darkness have already been outlined in Kano. If you wish to observe Kwankwasiyya, who requested you to depart Kwankwasiyya? Keep the place Kwankwasiyya is and observe it there,” he mentioned.
Kwankwaso additional mentioned the style the previous Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, acquired Governor Yusuf into the APC and publicly raised his hand was a transparent indication that “he has already misplaced the election.
“If Ganduje really had the facility to boost somebody’s hand to victory, he would have achieved so in 2019. If he had that energy, he would have achieved so in 2023.”
The NNPP chief pressured that he’s sure Governor Yusuf and his associates will face severe political challenges within the APC and that, “even when he doesn’t return, he’ll remorse it.”
Kwankwaso additionally spoke on the way forward for the Kwankwasiyya motion, saying Kano nonetheless belonged to the NNPP and that efforts have already begun to construct alliances to rescue Nigeria from its present scenario.
I’m open to reconciliation with Kwankwaso — Ganduje
Nonetheless, Ganduje has mentioned he isn’t ruling out the potential of reconciling with Kwankwaso.
Talking in an interview with BBC on Yusuf’s defection, Ganduje mentioned, as a Muslim, he can’t shut the door in opposition to reconciliation, describing Kwankwaso as a brother and long-time political affiliate.
He mentioned: “As a Muslim, there isn’t any individual you’d say you don’t need to reconcile with, it’s politics. So, we hope that sooner or later, we are able to reconcile with him fully as a result of now we have been in politics collectively and we’re brothers.
“There isn’t a doubt about that. We’re pleased with this and we’re excited. He (the governor) can be glad that he has come.
“The social gathering management are all momentary. As a result of by the top of February, the social gathering management will probably be determined from the ward, native authorities, state, zone to the nationwide stage. When the time comes, we are going to see how all events could have their individuals in it (represented within the composition).
“Earlier than, we had our variations however now we’re collectively. Now we have buried our variations. The duty earlier than us now’s carry concerning the growth of Kano State, obtain success on this social gathering.
“If he succeeds, we succeed. If we succeed, he succeeds. If we fail, he fails. You see, we should assist the federal government succeed as a result of if it succeeds, we succeed.”
Sharing formulation
On an alleged 60% – 40% sharing formulation alleged to be issued to the governor, Ganduje mentioned: “It’s the nationwide social gathering that comes out with this type of association however till now, we don’t have something of such or acquired any written proof of such association. However all this is not going to trigger any bother.”
Gov Yusuf makes recent appointments
In the meantime, Governor Yusuf has authorised a recent spherical of appointments and promotions aimed toward strengthening governance and bettering service supply throughout essential sectors of the state.
The approvals had been introduced in an announcement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature, yesterday.
Amongst these appointed is Abdulkadir Balarabe Kankarofi, who was named Particular Adviser on Humanitarian Affairs within the Workplace of the Government Governor. He was beforehand the Senior Particular Assistant on Protocol to the governor.
Additionally appointed is Hajia Aisha Tamburawa as Particular Adviser to the Governor on Constructive Propaganda. Till her new position, she served as a Supervisory Councillor in Dawakin Kudu Native Authorities Space.
Within the water sector, Engr. Mukhtar Yusuf was promoted to Managing Director of the Water Sources Engineering and Development Company, WRECA, having beforehand served because the company’s Deputy Managing Director. Zakari Usman Balan was appointed as the brand new Deputy Managing Director of WRECA.
Governor Yusuf additionally authorised the appointment of Dr. Mukhtar Bello Maisudan as Government Secretary of Kano State Scholarship Board. Dr. Maisudan is a senior lecturer at Bayero College, Kano.
Equally, Engr. Abba Kankarofi was promoted to Managing Director of the Kano Street and Upkeep Company, KARMA, from his former place as deputy managing director.
In one other appointment, Musayyib Kawu Ungoggo was named Managing Director of the Kano Zoological Backyard.
Ungoggo had beforehand served in a number of political capacities, together with as a councillor and senior particular reporter.
The governor charged the newly appointed and promoted officers to justify the arrogance reposed in them via dedication, transparency and dedication to the individuals of Kano State.
He reiterated that his administration stays targeted on strengthening establishments and delivering people-oriented governance consistent with the targets of the Kano First Agenda.
Kwankwaso’s pedigree
Kwankwaso stays some of the influential politicians in Northern Nigeria, notably as a result of his robust attraction amongst younger individuals.
Observers be aware that for the reason that period of Malam Aminu Kano, no different Northern politician has efficiently constructed a named political ideology with such a loyal mass following as Kwankwaso.
Kwankwaso is the chief of the Kwankwasiyya political motion, whose followers are recognized for carrying crimson caps.
After finishing his tenure as governor, Kwankwaso supported his deputy, Ganduje, as his successor. Nonetheless, they quickly fell out and parted methods.
This led Kwankwaso to subject Abba Yusuf in opposition to Ganduje through the 2019 governorship election, which Yusuf misplaced after a controversial supplementary election in Gama Native Authorities Space.
Kwankwaso once more sponsored Yusuf within the subsequent 2023 election, the place he defeated Nasiri Gawuna, the candidate of Ganduje, to turn out to be Kano State governor.
Governor Abba Yusuf formally defected to APC on Monday, January 26, 2026, following his resignation from the NNPP on Friday, January 23. His exit got here lower than three years after successful the Kano governorship election on the platform of the NNPP.
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