By: Abdullahi Inuwa
A pointed political question is echoing across Kano’s power corridors: must Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf cross over to the APC to secure electoral victory and unlock federal dividends? For the spokesperson to the governor, Sanusi Bature, the answer lies not in sentiment, but in history.
Bature’s argument is blunt. Kano, he says, has paid a steep price for years spent on the opposition benches. From the days of Shehu Shagari, through Olusegun Obasanjo’s era, to the administrations of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, Kano often found itself out of sync with the centre—sometimes openly, sometimes internally. The result, he suggests, was a recurring pattern: political isolation, weaker bargaining power, and missed opportunities.
At the heart of the debate is Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, whose electoral survival and governance agenda now sit at a strategic crossroads. Supporters of a possible defection argue that alignment with the ruling All Progressives Congress could translate into smoother access to federal resources, faster approvals for projects, and stronger political backing ahead of the next polls.
In Kano’s fiercely competitive political terrain, power is not just about popularity—it is about leverage. Pro-APC voices insist that being “inside the room” matters more than shouting from the corridor. They point to states that enjoy centre–state harmony, where roads, rail, and social programmes flow with fewer bottlenecks.
Yet, critics warn of the cost. Defection, they argue, risks alienating loyal supporters and diluting the governor’s reformist image. Kano’s electorate, politically sophisticated and historically assertive, may punish what it perceives as political expediency over principle.
Still, the arithmetic of Nigerian politics is unforgiving. As Sanusi Bature’s remarks suggest, history is being deployed as evidence—a reminder that opposition, however principled, often struggles to convert goodwill into concrete gains.
As the next election approaches, Kano watches closely. Whether Governor Abba K. Yusuf stays the course or charts a new path, one truth remains: in Nigeria’s power politics, alignment can be as decisive as ambition.
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