By Salisu Uba Kofar-Wambai
Kano politics is unique, unmatched and unparalleled in all its ramifications. The uniqueness begins from its genres of political communication. The encapsulation of comedy, funny utterances and other rhetorics in the body politic define Kano politics since the First Republic. One can authoritatively posit that the Kano political propaganda through name-calling and other techniques cannot be found anywhere in the world.
The other philosophy and unequalled precept that distinguish its politics is radicalism and politics of ideology. It is the home of Malam Aminu Kano, the renowned masses emancipator and the leader of Nigeria’s democracy of doctrine and dogmas. The ideology taught by the past generation of Kano politicians is always passed from generation to generation. This will explain why, no matter the circumstances, our governors must work harder than other governors of Nigeria to win the electorate’s support. Every governor is struggling to wipe the history of their predecessor in projects executions even when the politics of corruption and deception take centre stage nationwide. Many didn’t know this secret of Kano distinct way of politics. It is our talisman.
However, you can’t superimpose a candidate in Kano politics no matter who you think can control and influence public opinions. There are easy swings in loyalty; therefore, it is the electorate that decides their fate. The maxim of collecting any candidate’s money and vote your choice on election days is attributed to Malam Aminu Kano. It is still very relevant in Kano politics.
Looking at the two camps of Kano political heavyweights today will be an interesting analysis. APC, as a ruling party, is a powerful force to reckon with. It has encompassed renowned politicians like Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, Senator Kabiru Gaya and what have you. The party has become an escaping ground of many seasoned politicians who cannot stand Engr. Rabiu Kwankwaso’s kind of power grip in the PDP.
Although these sets of politicians are not relevant to the APC’s camp, they’re not happy with the way, and manner Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s government is run, especially the land matters and prioritization of projects that only serve the interest of the governor to earn his mighty 10 per cent. Let alone how the APC chairman and his cronies run the party as if they’re military dictators. There is nothing like internal democracy. And the chairman’s utterances have become a source of worry and grief to those party followers who want to see the sustenance of the party’s success come 2023.
Now that the struggle for 2023 has started and the politicians have already beat the drum, APC faces a threat and an uphill task on who will take after Ganduje. One can easily fathom and decipher from the hottest exchange of politicians how tough the politics will be.
So far, the top contenders are the deputy governor, Nasiru Gawuna, who remains mute, and the commissioner for local government affairs, who’s considered to be Ganduje, and his wife’s anointed son, who is doing all the talks for the deputy governor. The seconder is Kano North senator and chairman senate committee of appropriations, Barau I. Jibril.
However, the recent outburst by Dr Hafsa Ganduje alias Goggo, the governor’s wife, who let the cat out of the bag, bluntly showed the governor’s support. So it lies with the deputy governor’s camp even though the commissioner of the information spun her statements where he said: she wasn’t understood, her utterances were twisted. The other contenders are AA Zaura and Barrister Inuwa Waya.
It seems the governor is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. It is an undeniable fact that Senator Barau is the man of the moment. His political machinery is increasingly gathering momentum, and he’s believed to be the man who can challenge PDP Kwankwasiyya political movement in popularity and funds wise. But the governor seems not to be with him. And Gawuna has no political and economic wherewithal to fight for the Kano seat. Nobody will argue this. So, if the governor mistakes the gubernatorial candidate, it is at his own risk, for his sworn enemies may likely grip on to power, and he knows the consequences.
However, the meeting of Shekarau, Gaya, Barau and some reps like Shaaban Sharada and Abdulkadir Jobe says a lot. They all felt that they were relegated and marginalized to mere party members during the recently conducted local government party executives positions elections and the upcoming Saturday state executive party positions contest. It is a clear pointer that the party is facing severe intraparty wranglings. And such tussles can quickly become an undertaker of the ruling party.
As the opposition party, PDP is facing its kind of internal disputes between the Kwankwasiyya political movement and the Aminu Wali’s camp, former minister of foreign affairs, one of the remaining PDP founding fathers and member of the PDP board of trustees. There have intense struggles with who will control the party at the state level. Wali’s camp is accusing Kwankwaso of total domination of the party and blaming him of anti-party activity during the 2019 general elections when Atiku Abubakar contested for presidency. On the other hand, Kwankwasiyya is equally boasting their number of supporters, the popularity of their grand leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, the former Kano state governor.
As things keep on twisting by day, we wait to see how far the gum will be shot into the air.
Salisu Uba Kofar-Wambai wrote from Kano. He can be contacted via salisunews@gmail.com.
