Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has said that it was Allah, not politicians or individuals, who made him governor, stressing that his loyalty remains firmly with Kano State above any person or political interest.
The governor stated this on Saturday while presenting motorcycles to his social media handlers, amid controversies surrounding his reported defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“In 2023, it was God who gave me power, not anybody else, and I still thank and appreciate Him as the ultimate decider of what happens next,” Yusuf said.
He described discussions about the 2027 general elections as premature and a distraction from pressing governance challenges confronting the state, noting that the future remains solely in God’s hands.
“No one has certainty of tomorrow, let alone 2027. We should allow the future to unfold. If we retain our positions, that is fine; if not, it is the will of Allah,” the governor stated.
Yusuf said his immediate focus was ensuring peace, security, and stability across Kano State, adding that governance, rather than political calculations, remained his priority.
Read Also:
Why Gobirawa’s Centuries-Old Agrarian Life is at Risk in Kano
Governor Yusuf Leaves NNPP, Says Decision Guided by Kano’s Interest
Ganduje Marks Daughter’s Academic Milestone at King’s College London
“We have to get it right by ensuring full peace and security before talking about anything else. That is my major concern now,” he said.
The governor further stressed that Kano State must always come first, insisting that no individual was bigger than the state.
“To me, Kano comes first, not loyalty to anybody. Everyone should know that no one is bigger than Kano; we must all remain loyal to Kano,” Yusuf declared.
The development followed weeks of intense political speculation over the governor’s future, which eventually culminated on Friday when Governor Yusuf, through his spokesman, officially announced his decision to leave the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). The statement, released after prolonged defection rumours, confirmed the governor’s exit from the party, bringing to an end weeks of uncertainty surrounding his next political move.
Also speaking at the event, a former Deputy Governor of Kano State, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, spoke on the origin of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, saying it was not created by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
“Myself and five others created the Kwankwasiyya Movement and even gave it the red cap symbol, not Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso,” Abubakar said.
He explained that the movement was formed at a time when its founders were politically marginalised, noting that they collectively built its identity and structure.
“Dr. Yunusa Adamu Dangwani, Engr. Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, myself, and others constructed the acronym of Kwankwasiyya when the going was tough and we were somewhat sidelined,” he said.
Abubakar added that the group rallied round Kwankwaso during difficult political periods in Kano State.
“At that time, we gave every support to Kwankwaso to survive the political tsunamis directed at him by political heavyweights in Kano, and that was how the movement was created,” he said.
The former deputy governor criticised Kwankwaso for what he described as a failure to acknowledge the contributions of those who stood by him.
“That behaviour drove all those loyal to him away, leaving him alone,” Abubakar said.
He compared the situation with the leadership style of the late Mallam Aminu Kano.
“We thought Kwankwaso would act like the late Mallam Aminu Kano, who always acknowledged that others created NEPU, PRP and the Sawaba Movement, giving them credit at every opportunity. Alas, that was not the case,” he added.