BY IBRAHIM SALIHU – Following reported calls in certain circles for the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, to resign from office, the popular Kwankwasiyya Movement has stepped in to describe the move as “unnecessary and unacceptable”.
This is as the Movement cautioned that pressurizing Comrade Gwarzo to quit his position for refusing to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) with Governor Abba Kabir Yusufnor Yusuf, could readily backfire and undermine political harmony within the state.
Frowning at recent comments by the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, that the Deputy Governor should step down, a statement signed by Spokesperson of the Kwankwasiyya Media Team, Hon. Habibu Saleh Mailemo, said the call was inappropriate and may lead to intentional disruption, as well as weaken cooperation and stability within the State’s political system.
The statement issued on Thursday in Kano said, “We have read with concern reports in the media indicating that the Kano State Government, through the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, called on the Deputy Governor to resign. We consider this call unwarranted and unfortunate.”
Further arguing that the Deputy governor was elected on a joint ticket with Governor Yusuf and therefore derived his mandate directly from the electorate, the Movement said: “The Deputy Governor was elected on a joint ticket and has a constitutional mandate from the people of Kano State. His position is not subject to the discretion of any individual.”
The statement also noted that the current administration emerged from a broad political process involving various stakeholders and urged government officials to prioritise unity and stability over temporary personal political gains.
While urging the Kano State Government to focus on governance and service delivery rather than internal disagreements, the Kwankwasiyya Movement stated thus: “We believe that the strength of any democratic government lies in internal cohesion, mutual respect and adherence to constitutional principles.
“All parties should remain committed to peace, dialogue and democratic values. The interest of Kano people should remain paramount.”
The Movement, which reinforced its support for Comrade Gwarzo, urged political actors to avoid actions that could create tension within the government and the North West State, saying: “We remain committed to constructive engagement and the collective goal of ensuring effective governance and development in Kano State”.
Forefront News recalled that recently the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, asked the Deputy Governor to resign his position if he can no longer align politically with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Waiya, who was responding to questions on Comrade Gwarzo’s reported decision to stay loyal to the Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso-led Kwankwasiyya political movement despite Governor Yusuf’s recent political realignment, argued that political divergence at the highest level of government could undermine trust and effective governance.
The Commissioner said with his sensitive role as Commissioner for Higher Education, “What we are hoping for, just as we saw with some commissioners who felt uncomfortable and resigned, is that the deputy governor should also take an honourable step if he is no longer on the same political path with the governor.”
Noting that governance requires cohesion and shared ideology, Waiya warned that mistrust could arise if a senior official remained in government while pursuing a different political direction, adding: “If you sit in an Executive Council meeting where people are discussing how to build Kano and there is suspicion about where such discussions may end up, then there is a problem. Governance is about trust.”
Further canvassing that political ambition could be influencing the Deputy Governor’s position, the Commissioner said Kano politics remains highly competitive, hinting thus: “Many people have aspirations, including to become governor. There is nothing wrong with ambition, but if interests begin to conflict with the direction of government, the most honourable option is to step aside and pursue those goals independently.”
However, he acknowledged that the decision ultimately rests with the deputy governor, saying the decision to remain in office is a personal choice. “It is his decision. If he believes he can continue to work with the governor under the present circumstances, then that is fine. But if I were in that position, I would have left and faced my political journey clearly,” he said.
Additionally, the Commissioner, while maintaining that loyalty to the State’s development objectives must be placed before personal or factional interests, said the Governor Yusuf’s administration remains focused and would not renege on its “Kano First” agenda going forward.
