Kano Govt Tackles Galadima Over Kwankwaso Remark

The Kano State Government has rejected claims by elder statesman, Buba Galadima, that Governor Abba Yusuf cannot win re-election in 2027 without the backing of former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

In a statement on Sunday, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, described the assertion as misleading, insisting that Kano’s political landscape is defined by popular legitimacy, not godfatherism.

Waiya acknowledged Kwankwaso’s influence as a political figure but dismissed the notion that Kano’s future is tied to a single individual.

The commissioner said, “There is no dispute that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is a political heavyweight.

“However, to suggest that Kano’s political destiny is permanently tied to one individual is to misread both history and the democratic behaviour of the people.”

The commissioner stressed that Governor Yusuf’s mandate was earned through the will of the people and defended through institutional processes, not political favours.

He said, “Governor Yusuf was elected by the people and did not rely on political charity. Since assuming office, he has focused on education, institutional reforms, and social equity.”

Citing Kano’s electoral history, the statement pointed to the rise of Ibrahim Shekarau in 2003 and Kwankwaso’s political comeback in 2011 as proof that voters in the state are independent-minded and reward performance over allegiance.

Waiya expressed disappointment that the remarks came from Galadima, whom Governor Yusuf had appointed Chairman of the Governing Council of Kano State Polytechnic, despite not being an indigene.

“That appointment was made in good faith but yielded little or no measurable impact during his tenure,” he said.

The commissioner also defended Governor Yusuf’s recent defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), citing internal crises and prolonged legal battles.

“The decision to leave NNPP was taken in good faith, in the interest of peace, unity, and the progress of Kano State,” Waiya noted.

He emphasised that political mentorship does not equate to permanent political dependence, stating that Kano’s leadership culture is built on delivery, not deference.

Waiya speaking with a philosophical tone, invoking Islamic teachings, “In Kano politics, as in life, destiny is determined by Allah. That is the enduring grammar that guides our politics.”