RIGHT TO REPLY: Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu Senior Special Assistant to His Excellency Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Print Media.
In response to recent developments and pronouncements made by the Kano State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, I feel compelled to express my deep concerns—not as a political actor, but as a concerned citizen of Kano State—on the direction the current administration seems to be taking.
It is becoming increasingly clear that many of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s actions are not solely driven by a genuine desire to serve the good people of Kano State, but rather appear motivated by political vendetta against his predecessor, His Excellency, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the former APC National Chairman. This relentless pursuit of personal and political rivalry, disguised as governance, does not serve the best interest of Kano citizens.
One must ask: why has Governor Abba Yusuf deliberately avoided investigating his political godfather, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, despite well-known allegations of financial misconduct? At the end of Kwankwaso’s tenure, there were widespread claims—backed by both whistleblowers and documents—of the diversion of billions of Naira in pension funds under the pretext of the Kwankwasiyya and Amana City housing schemes. Properties meant for pensioners were reportedly shared among political associates and aides. Yet, there has been a deafening silence from this administration regarding those matters.
The governor’s selective anti-corruption posture raises serious questions about his sincerity. If he truly seeks transparency and accountability, then he must be willing to investigate all past administrations—Kwankwaso’s and Shekarau’s included—not just that of Dr. Ganduje. Anything short of that reeks of political bias and hypocrisy.
Governor Yusuf’s record as Commissioner of Works under the Kwankwaso administration was far from outstanding, and now, instead of focusing on delivering meaningful development to Kano State, he is expending valuable time and state resources in attacking his predecessor and protecting his mentor.
While we acknowledge the recent disbursement of ₦5 billion in gratuity payments to retired civil servants—bringing the total paid so far to ₦27 billion—this gesture, though commendable, does not erase the fact that the remaining ₦21 billion is still hanging. Moreover, it is important to note that this backlog was inherited from the Ganduje administration, which itself inherited some of these liabilities from the previous governments of Kwankwaso and Shekarau. Why then is Governor Yusuf silent on whether these past administrations fully settled pensioners’ entitlements during their own tenures?
We challenge Governor Yusuf to publicly disclose how much was left unpaid by Kwankwaso and Shekarau. Let the records speak. Governance should not be a game of blame and propaganda—it should be rooted in fairness, transparency, and service to the people.
It is high time that the Governor abandoned the path of political witch-hunting and focused on the real issues: youth unemployment, deteriorating infrastructure, poor healthcare, and insecurity. Kano deserves more than recycled politics and endless finger-pointing.
Let Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf lead with integrity, not partisanship. Let him be fair to all, not loyal to one.
Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu Senior Special Assistant to His Excellency Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Print Media. 21st September 2025.
