Kano State’s Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, has challenged assertions that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s prospects for a second term are dependent on the influence of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

In a statement on Saturday, Waiya described the claim by elder statesman Engr. Buba Galadima as “analytically weak, misleading, and dismissive of Kano State’s political culture.”

He acknowledged Senator Kwankwaso’s significance in the state, describing him as a “political heavyweight and strategic mobiliser,” but said it would be incorrect to assume that Kano’s political future hinges on any single individual.

Waiya noted that Governor Yusuf’s rise to office was through popular mandate rather than political patronage.

The commissioner also defended Governor Yusuf’s leadership style, noting that the administration had prioritised education, public trust, institutional reforms, and social equity.

He dismissed suggestions that the governor stood on “borrowed feet” and said that political authority in Kano matures through experience.

“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.

“Since then, he has begun the inevitable transition from political protégé to an objective governing principle, asserting priorities in education, restoring public trust in leadership, institutional reforms, and recalibrating governance toward social equity.

“To frame him as “standing on borrowed feet” ignores a fundamental truth of leadership: governance is iterative, not static. Political authority in Kano is consolidated over time through delivery, not inherited indefinitely through association.

“Yes, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso remains influential and deserves every respect. But influence is not ownership, and mentorship is not permanent dependence. Kano’s political tradition has always allowed for maturation, differentiation, and institutional continuity beyond individuals.

“I firmly believe that not only will Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf secure a second term, he will govern more effectively in a subsequent tenure, because governance, like leadership itself, matures with experience. Institutional learning, policy refinement, and political confidence deepen over time, particularly in a state as complex as Kano.”

According to the commissioner, governance in Kano is consolidated over time through delivery rather than association with political godfathers.

He cited historical examples, including the election of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau in 2003 without godfather backing, and Senator Kwankwaso’s own return to office in 2011, as evidence of the electorate’s independent decision-making.

“The electorate was able to remember his first-tenure urban renewal, educational investment, and assertive governance. His past performance functioned as political capital,” Waiya said.

Waiya addressed internal conflicts within the NNPP, suggesting that Governor Yusuf’s decisions were aimed at preserving party unity and ensuring effective governance amid disputes and ongoing legal proceedings.

Stressing Islamic teachings, He noted the reliance on divine guidance and said this principle remained “the enduring grammar of Kano politics.”Those predicting his political collapse without a godfather underestimate Kano’s political memory.

Those questioning his viability misunderstand Kano’s democratic logic. 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.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s decision is best for the state, as the NNPP has been confronted with persistent internal conflicts and crisis arising from leadership disagreements and ongoing legal processes, many of which are presently before the courts for judicial determination.

The growing disenfranchisement among party members has created deep divisions within the party structure, resulting in cracks that appear increasingly irreconcilable and have generated uncertainty at both state and national levels.

This decision is taken in good faith, without any ill will, and with a continued commitment to peace, unity, and the progress of Kano State. (Guardian)

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