Kwankwasiyya Legacy And Abba Kabir’s Administration In Kano, By Idris Dagumawa
Succession is one of the vital pillars that holds a man’s legacy in politics, politicians rise and fall because of the respective good or bad heritage they have inherited. Loyalty is the key in the achievement of one’s prominent agenda, so a leader with a good successor to carry on the good work left over is what the good citizens of Kano state need. The political lifestyle of Kano citizens is an advanced one because we have the highest number of voters as well as youth engagement in politics. Sen. Kwankwaso, in my view, is one of the best things that has happened to Kano state because of the excellent record of the development trajectory he left when he governed from 1999-2003 and 2011-2015. Unfortunately, his successors, misused the position and abused the power of the office to cause terrible suffering to the citizens of Kano state. The current Governor, Abba Kabir is one of the closest associates of Sen. Kwankwaso. He has proven himself competent to be the heir of Sen. Kwankwaso’s mandate since he won the 2019’s election, stolen by Ganduje and repeated the feat in 2023.
Abba Kabir has always regarded Sen. Kwankwaso as his mentor even before engaging in politics. They had been in the civil service together earlier in their careers. Abba Kabir has seen and followed all of Kwankwaso’s achievements in the public service and subsequently in politics. Abba Kabir has a hidden talent which was revealed when he emerged the PDP gubernatorial candidate in the 2019 election to the surprise of many. He worked hard and earned the respect of the people. We should not forget that when it comes to democracy, capability matters and the Governor has shown he has it. He organised a successful campaign mobilizing voters with effective field workers in all the 44 local governments in the state. He held local government Caucuses, to the Lafiya Jari, kwankwasiyya, Kano Proper, Yan Akwatu and many more groups. The strong inclusion of youth in politics, from the state party executives, to local governments, ward levels, and the 2023 campaign organizing committees. Around eighty percent (80%) of House of Assembly members are youths, respective government political appointments, i.e. Commissioners, Managing Directors, Special Advisors, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants, Senior Specials Reporters, Specials Reporters, and Personal Assistants. So, when you say Kwankwasiyya the next thing that comes to mind are youth, one of the popular slogans of Sen. Kwankwaso’s stage slogan is “Ina Matasa”.
Read Also:
Kano state before NNPP came to power was at the brink of collapse, no qualitative education, poor infrastructures, illegal selling of state properties, example like Eid Ground, Hasiya Bayero Pediatric Hospital, Secondary Schools around Kano Metropolitan. There was also a backlog of payments of pensions and gratuities as well as death benefits for deceased public servants. Insecurity was very high with an explosion of thuggery, stabbing and phone snatching. The good people of Kano became aware of the need to cast the bad apples from power. That is the reason of supporting and voting for Sen. Kwankwaso’s party, with a hope of the continuation of the good work done by Sen. Kwankwaso in his previous administrations.
Abba Kabir’s administration is so far, the exact replica or more improved version of Sen. Kwankwaso’s previous administrations. There has been a resumption of free feeding in schools’ programs (Ta Tsotse), free uniforms, construction of townships access roads, improvements in the two state owned universities, provision of undergraduate and postgraduate degree scholarships, infrastructural development, girl’s child education, establishment of twenty-seven (27) intuitions which include hospitality, sport, rehabilitation schools, and many more. Our able governor when came to power on May 29th 2023, worked tirelessly to improve to betterment of his citizens. In less than ten days in office, he made sure our traffic signs and street light are up and running, street lights in a city with larger population like Kano is vital because, we have been battling insecurities like phone snatching which lack of lights at night contributed to unfortunate event, God so kind Abba Kabir made sure he remedied the problem by revitalizing the Kano Reformatory Institute in Kiru and engaging the rehabilitated persons into the Nigerian Police Force as constabularies. He also revoked the sale of government properties sold illegally by the last administration like the Hasiya Bayero Pediatric Hospital. He fully reported on the achievements of his first hundred (100) days in office. They include the continuation of Kano Hydraulic Power Plant at Challawa Dam, the distribution of food palliatives to help in the current hunger and economic crises in the state, distribution of free education materials, payment of registration fees to Bayero University Kano Students, reduction of fifty percent (50%) of registration fee to all state own high Institution for Kano indigenes now pay less than ten thousand naira (N1000) for registration. Settlement of outstanding tuition fees for Kano indigenes at various Private Universities across the nation, scholarship for one thousand and one (1001) graduates for postgraduate studies at oversees universities and it is paid in full. Settlement of Desk and Gratuity Benefits, which is stagnant because of settlement for years.
All of Sen. Kwankwaso’s political times, Abba Kabir was there and he has been learning from day one. So, there is no better candidate suitable to restore Kano state to its former state other than him. Abba Kabir understands the concept of leadership, he doesn’t succumb to fear, he won 2019 General Election and was denied his mandate because of irregularities that occurred at the time, revealing the flaws in our electoral system. He never gave up but continued pushing and won again in the 2023 General Election, which is being challenged unfairly in court. Win or lose, we still are going to stand on our mandate to serve and protect the good people of Kano State. Kwankwasiyya empire is built on a progressive ideology, to help the youth, so as to make a brighter future. Opportunity is not when you settle for what is left over, it is about taking what we want at the right moment in time.
God bless Kano State!
Idris Sani Dagumawa GNSE is the Deputy Youth Leader of NNPP in Wudil LG Kano State
