We‘ll conduct credible LG polls in Kano soon, says Gov. Yusuf

By Doris Isreal Ijeoma Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano state, on Sunday, assured the people of his readiness to conduct a free, fair and credible local government elections in the state. Mr Yusuf spoke in Kano during a stakeholders’ meeting with the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party. The governor revealed plans to conduct the council polls in compliance with the judgement of the Supreme Court that affirmed financial autonomy to the third tier of government. Mr Yusuf stressed the need for respect for the rule of law and commitment to financial prudence, accountability and transparency in governance at all tiers of government. The governor urged opposition parties to field candidates to test their popularity “because my government will not interfere with the electoral process. “Our administration has allowed the previous LG Executive Councils in the 44 LGAs to complete their tenure despite pressure from within: this is out of respect for the rule of law.” He said preparations by the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) for the conduct of the council polls were in top gear. “We will soon invite you again for selection of our party’s candidates to be fielded to contest for chairman, vice chairman and Councillor in their respective constituencies. “We shall run a peaceful campaign with the believe that the majority of Kano people will vote for NNPP,” he said.

Gov Yusuf Appoints Three Second-Class Emirs in Kano State

By Doris Isreal Ijeoma Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has approved the appointment of three second-class Emirs for the state’s Rano, Gaya and Karaye Emirates. A statement issued by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Mr Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, said the new Emirates is to serve as second with Kano as first-class Emirate. It gave the names of the newly-appointed Emirs as Alhaji Muhammad Mahraz Karaye, Emir of Karaye (who until his appointment was the District Head of Rogo), Alhaji Muhammad Isa Umar, Emir of Rano (who until his appointment, was the District Head of Bunkure) and Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir Gaya, Emir of Gaya (who was the Emir of the defunct Gaya Emirate). While congratulating the newly-appointed Emirs, Governor Yusuf urged them to be custodians of culture, peace and unity of the people of their respective Emirates. It will be recalled that the Governor had on July 16, 2024, signed into law a bill creating three second-class Emirates in the state with Rano covering only Rano, Kibiya and Bunkure Local Government areas, Gaya covering only Gaya, Ajingi and Albasu Local Government areas and Karaye covering only Karaye and Rogo Local Government areas. “The appointments are with immediate effect”, the statement added.

Gov Abba Yusuf: Kano People say, “We’re yet to feel your Joseph”

All politics is local and the impact on the economy affects individuals personally. So, like the rest of Nigeria, the people of Kano say they are hurting. The catchphrase on the streets of kano now is, “Governor Yusuf Abba, we are yet to feel your Joseph” Nigeria’s democracy is unravelling very fast. Unfortunately, this is happening at the market square in a global village where citizen journalism has left no stone unturned. The royal rumble in Kano and the river of trouble, red with human blood, flowing freely on the streets of Port Harcourt are two poster images that tell all onlookers that all may not be well with the largest democracy in Africa. While the madness in Rivers State may be a needless fight that has been nurtured to become a monstrous brawl may be, because someone in the corridor of power has a vested interest, the same cannot be said about the festering inferno in the ancestral home of Malam Ibrahim Dabo which must be put out fast before it engulfs the entire metropolis. As it is common knowledge today, Muhammadu Sanusi II dan Chiroman Kano Aminu dan Muhammadu Sanusi I dan Abdullahi Bayero (2014-2020) and Aminu dan Ado dan Abdullahi Bayero (2020–2024), both protagonists in the current tussle for the emirship of Kano, are all grandchildren of Abdulahi Bayero, the eighth Emir of Kano (1926-1953) and a grandchild of Ibrahim Dabo, the first Emir and founder of the Dabo Dynasty. The reign of Fulani rulers of Kano has enjoyed relative peace and growth over the years. This continued until the late 1970s and early 80s when the late Governor of Kano state, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi attempted to balkanize the Emirate Council into five, namely; Gaya, Karaye, Bichi, Rano and Kano. Of course, he paid dearly for it as it caused him his re-election. Being not one known to be restrained by the huge moral demands of his office, former Governor Abdulahi Ganduje embarked on a repeat of this controversial exercise when he split the Council into five same Emirates and went a step further to depose the fourteenth emir of kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II in 2019. Governor Abba Yusuf, like his predecessor Sabo Bakin Zuwo in 1983, has also gone ahead to reverse all that Governor Ganduje did by reverting to the single emirate structure, deposing Alhaji Aminu Bayero and re-instating Muhammadu Sanusi II. Now the dye is caste and there is bedlam in Kano. The clan of Abdulahi Bayero, the Kano populace, the State Government and institutions of the Federal Government have locked horns in an Olympian duel with potentials for massive upset of the peace. Unfortunately, the prospect of an early resolution of the conflict is now being progressively encumbered by the same judiciary that should lead that charge, as courts at various levels give orders and counter orders and judgements without adequate recourse to established cases. Every politics is local and the impact on the economy affects individuals personally. So, like the rest of Nigeria, the people of Kano say they are hurting. The catchphrase on the streets of Kano now is, “Governor Yusuf Abba, we are yet to see your Joseph.” This is an apparent reference to both the Quranic and Biblical reference to the suffering of Prophet Joseph (Annabi Yusuf) before ascending to the position of leadership over his people and the redeemer of Egypt and the surrounding nations from the seven-year famine. Located at the North Western part of Nigeria, Kano, with a GDP of $13.6billion, is the commercial capital of northern Nigeria and the country’s second largest economy after Lagos with a GDP of USD 29 billion as of 2020. Kano, unlike most states in Nigeria is essentially a one city state with Kano city contributing most of the attributes that define the state. Growing at 3.06%, the population of Kano metropolis is estimated at 4.35million as of 2023, while the state population is put at 16.25m. With 415,598 Kano State had the highest Registered Live Births in the country in 2019. The huge population size, coupled with a GDP that is almost the size of the population makes Kano to rank as the 35th state in terms of GDP per capita. Kano also ranks poorly at the 12th position in terms of business environment, being able to list only 1,829,843 enterprises, compared with 3,345,948 in Lagos and 2,133,096 in Rivers states. About 72 per cent of the population of Kano state or 7.1 million people are actively engaged in economic activities and generating $978 GDP per capita. As it is the case with most states in northern Nigeria, most indices of underdevelopment are still looking up. For instance, it is painfully a valid assertion that poverty in Nigeria is essentially a northern phenomenon. As of 2019, 55.1 percent of Kano live below the poverty line. Whereas only 4.5 per cent of the population of Lagos state fall within this bracket. Indeed, apart from Kaduna state with 43.5 per cent more than half of the population of all the states in north western and north eastern Nigeria live below poverty line with Sokoto leading the pack at 87.73 per cent. These figures worsened due to the abysmal economic record during eight years of the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency. Take out of school population as an example, with a national estimate of about 20 million, accounts for 989,234 children out of school. Added to this is the current cost of living crisis precipitated by wrong policy choices, timing and implementation by the Tinubu Presidency. In an effort to spur investment and raise output, Tinubu has enacted measures since entering office in May of last year, including cutting back on gasoline and energy subsidies and twice depreciating the naira. Which, according to him, are measures required to set Nigeria up for sustained growth. However, President Tinubu’s goal of six percent annual economic growth is far too ambitious compared with the economy’s current growth rate, and the changes have increased inflation to a

Emirship Tussle: Why I Ordered Bayero’s Arrest – Gov Yusuf Opens Up

Governor Abba Yusuf has explained his reasons for ordering the arrest of the deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero, an action that led to the court awarding ₦10 million in damages to the monarch. The Governor, through his spokesman Sunusi Bature, stated that he ordered Bayero’s arrest because Bayero returned two days after his dethronement to reclaim the palace, causing unrest in the state. In response to the article ‘A Rendezvous with Recklessness and Executive Rascality’ by Bala Ibrahim, Bature defended Governor Yusuf against claims of recklessness and executive misconduct. The Federal High Court in Kano recently ordered the state government to pay Bayero the sum of ₦10 million for violating his fundamental rights, personal liberty, and freedom of movement. In a court session led by Justice Simon Amobeda, the court cited Sections 35(1) and 41(1) of the 1999 Constitution. It was ruled that Yusuf’s decision to order Bayero’s arrest without lawful justification was unjust. This decision led to Bayero being put under house arrest due to the fear of being arrested. Exploiting the ruling as an opportunity, Bala Ibrahim derided and lambasted the governor for his alleged power abuse and reckless decision-making, notably the demolition of structures and the issuance of Bayero’s arrest warrant, resulting in compensation being granted to all affected parties by the court. However, the governor’s spokesperson said: “Does Bala Ibrahim actually understand the workings of government and governance? “I do not want to go into judicial pronouncements, but the point I want to make clear is that the issue of Kano Emirship is straightforward with the repeal of the Kano Emirate Law (2019) and enactment of Kano Emirate Law (2024), which gave Governor Yusuf the power to abolish the five emirates and return Kano to its glorious and historic position of one emirate. “This is the wish of the people of Kano state. “The reappointment of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II did not also come to anyone as a surprise, because his dethronement and consequent banishment by Abdullahi Ganduje and his co-travellers was done out of malice. “Now, calling for the arrest of dethroned Emir Aminu Bayero was only done for public good as his entrance into Kano, shortly after his dethronement posed a serious security threat which is being managed up till today. “Governor Abba Yusuf remains the Chief Security Officer of Kano state, and no sane leader would fold his arms and watch Kano snowballs into a state of anarchy without taking action.” The governor also defended the demolition of buildings, stating it was aimed at reclaiming public property illegally acquired by former Governor Ganduje, his associates, and family. He emphasized the exercise’s necessity to prevent individuals from misappropriating public funds and resources. Despite criticism from figures like Bala Ibrahim, the governor reaffirmed his commitment to Kano state’s welfare and socio-economic advancement.

Enemies Of Kano Distracted Gov Yusuf For One Year – Kwankwaso

Leader of Kwankwasiyya movement and the Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has accused the opposition in Kano of distracting government for one year. Kwankwaso reacted to the development during the occasion of the declaration of the State of Emergency on education in Kano State. He said, “Let me start by congratulating him on this historic day, the day the governor is declaring a State of Emergency on education. For those who are aware that the governor has been working from day one you can see his footprints everywhere across the state. “Despite the fact that the governor was distracted for about one year. Immediately after election, enemies of the State took him to Court – Tribunal, Appeal Court to Supreme Court. We have seen what happened even when they knew that there is no need to go to any Court or tribunal. Everybody knew that he won his election. “Even the enemies were saying that they wanted to take it by force because they believe they have a government. Despite all that, the governor has been working and obstacles after obstacles, we don’t know what is happening and what has happened in this state but the governor is moving. “In fact that reminds me of our situation during my second term when two months after my swearing in as governor, we had Boko Haram attacks in mosques, attacks in markets, police stations, schools and everywhere we were focused and ensured that we were not distracted.”

Governor Yusuf Orders Arrest Of Deposed Emir Of Kano

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of of Kano State has ordered the immediate arrest of the former Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero. In a statement, which Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, his spokesperson, issued on his behalf, Yusuf accused Ado Bayero of creating tension in the state. “The former Emir was smuggled into Kano city last night in an attempt to forcefully return to the palace two days after being deposed by the Governor.” “”The Governor, it was confirmed that the new Emir, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, arrived at the palace in the company of the Governor, the Deputy Governor, the Speaker of the State Assembly, and other top government functionaries at about 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, 25th May 2024. “As the Chief Security Officer of the state, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has directed the Commissioner of Police to arrest the deposed Emir with immediate effect for disturbing public peace and attempting to destroy the relative peace the state enjoys.”