In Nigeria’s volatile and often unpredictable political landscape, few names command the mix of admiration, strategic caution, and persistent relevance quite like Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Chairperson of the Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). As a former two-term Governor of Kano State and a longtime political tactician, Ganduje’s sustained presence and influence continue to inspire loyalty from allies and fear from opponents.
During his tenure as Governor of Kano State from 2015 to 2023, Ganduje implemented bold initiatives in infrastructure, education, and agriculture that reshaped Kano’s development trajectory. Major road interchanges, industrial layouts, and urban renewal projects were completed under his leadership. He also pursued ambitious agricultural reforms, introducing support for irrigation schemes, empowering herders pastoralists through artificial insemination initiatives and developing the Dansoshiya Grazing Reserve with residential units, schools, water supply, veterinary services and security outfit unit. These efforts not only addressed critical needs but also reflected his inclusive approach to governance.
Ganduje’s political style is often misunderstood by his critics. Unlike many who chase the spotlight, he tends to move quietly, strategically, and effectively. His ability to build relationships across political, traditional, and regional lines has earned him the reputation of a silent strategist, one who doesn’t need to shout to be heard. His leadership of the APC during a delicate political period is a testament to his resilience and stabilizing presence, even in turbulent times.
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What many of his detractors fear is not irrelevance but influence. Ganduje retains strong grassroots structures across all 44 local government areas of Kano State. These networks are not new; they are the product of decades of political groundwork and community engagement. His enduring presence in the Northwest APC bloc positions him as a key player in any serious national political calculation, particularly ahead of the 2027 elections. His deep ties to traditional rulers, community elders, and youth-based movements make him indispensable in conversations involving Kano, the Northwest, and the broader North.
Furthermore, his approach to leadership has consistently balanced capacity with loyalty. He has mentored and empowered a generation of politicians, technocrats, and administrators who continue to rise in both state and federal structures. Many of his former commissioners, aides, and political allies now hold strategic positions in Nigeria’s governance framework, continuing his legacy of institution building and political mentorship.
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Today, Ganduje remains deeply engaged in national service through his role as Chairperson of the FAAN Board, contributing to aviation sector reforms and infrastructure planning. His alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda also highlights his ongoing commitment to national development, especially in areas like agriculture, education, and job creation.
As Nigeria edges closer to 2027, it becomes increasingly clear that Ganduje is far from done. His influence is not based on past glory, but on present relevance and future potential. He continues to shape conversations, advise on political strategy, and inspire grassroots movements. In a political era where loyalty, experience, and deep networks are invaluable assets, Ganduje stands as one of the few politicians with the full package.
It is this quiet resilience, this readiness to re-emerge when least expected, that unsettles his opponents. They are not worried about what he once was, but anxious about what he still is and what he can become. His power lies not in noise but in results. Not in empty rhetoric, but in tested political skill. And not in personal ambition alone, but in a track record of public service that continues to grow.
In the end, those who fear Ganduje do so not out of envy, but out of strategic awareness. They recognize his ability to shift the political balance gently, strategically, and with lasting effect. And as history has shown, it is often those who move with subtlety and precision who leave the deepest imprint.
Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje remains relevant not because he demands to be, but because he has earned it.
Umar Idris Shuaibu writes from Kano.
shuaibuumaridris@gmail.com
