“Abba Kabir Yusuf First” — Garo’s gesture that drew applause

By Umar Idris Shuaibu, Kano
Sometimes, leadership is revealed not through a major speech or a dramatic decision, but in a brief moment that happens almost unnoticed.

Such a moment occurred recently during a courtesy visit by a group of social media influencers to the Kano State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo.

As the visitors spoke about the Deputy Governor and his role in the administration, the name of the Executive Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, was inadvertently left out of the acknowledgement.

Garo quickly intervened.

“No, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf first,” he calmly reminded them.

It was a brief correction, but it immediately changed the tone of the moment. The Governor’s name was restored to its proper place before the conversation continued, drawing applause from those present.

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There was no elaborate explanation and no attempt by the Deputy Governor to turn the moment into a personal display. His intervention appeared instinctive, as a simple reminder that in his understanding of the administration, the principal comes before the deputy.

A small feature, a bigger message
In government, the relationship between a principal and a deputy is often tested not only by major political decisions but also by the smaller moments when loyalty and institutional discipline are demonstrated.

Garo’s response offered a glimpse into how he appears to understand his position within the administration.

Rather than allowing attention to settle on him, he redirected it to the Governor whose mandate he serves. The gesture suggested an awareness that the office of Deputy Governor derives its political and constitutional context from the administration led by the Governor.

It was perhaps this simplicity that made the moment striking.

There was no script, no prepared statement and no ceremony surrounding the correction. It came naturally, in the middle of an ordinary interaction.

Loyalty beyond the room
Leadership often involves speaking for a principal when the principal is present. A different kind of discipline is required when the principal is absent.

By insisting that Governor Yusuf’s name be mentioned first, Garo demonstrated a form of loyalty that does not necessarily require an audience.

It was a reminder that political partnership is not only about sharing platforms or appearing together at official functions. It can also be reflected in how one speaks about the person with whom one shares responsibility for governance.

For an administration, such moments can carry significance. Trust between the Governor and Deputy Governor is essential to the smooth running of government, particularly where responsibilities require the deputy to represent the principal at public engagements.

Beyond a passing moment
Of course, a single exchange cannot define an entire political relationship or establish a complete record of leadership.

But small moments can sometimes reveal attitudes that formal speeches do not.

For Garo, the brief correction appeared to communicate a straightforward principle: the principal must remain the principal, even when he is not in the room.

And perhaps that was why the applause that followed was not merely for the words themselves, but for the meaning many in the room attached to them.

In the end, it was only a few words.

But sometimes, a few words are enough to show where a person believes his loyalty belongs.