By Dr. Saifullahi Shehu Imam
The political landscape of Kano, ever dynamic, influential and consequential has entered a defining moment. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s decision to align with the All Progressives Congress (APC), anchored on the powerful declaration “Putting Kano First for the Good of All,” is far more than a political realignment. It is a bold statement of priorities, a calculated act of leadership, and a clear signal that governance, not partisan rigidity, will guide the future of Kano State. Critics will be quick to cry foul, branding it as opportunism. But leadership demands that we look beyond labels and emotions, and instead interrogate outcomes.
Kano, as the economic nerve centre of northern Nigeria, stands at a crossroads. The challenges are real and urgent: revitalizing commerce and industry, tackling youth unemployment, rebuilding critical infrastructure, improving security and expanding access to quality education and healthcare. These challenges cannot be met by isolation or political friction; they require cooperation, access, and influence at the highest levels of national decision making.
Governor Yusuf’s resolve to put Kano first reflects a practical understanding of Nigeria’s federal structure. In such a system, meaningful development thrives where state and federal governments work in harmony. When alignment exists, projects move faster, funding flows more smoothly, and policy coordination becomes effective. By choosing synergy over strain, the governor has removed an avoidable bottleneck to progress. This is not capitulation, it is strategic foresight that ensures that Kano’s voice is amplified in the corridors of power, not muffled by political dissonance.
Equally important is the governor’s emphasis on “the Good of All.” This phrase must not be overlooked. It speaks directly to the everyday realities of Kano’s people: the traders in our markets seeking a stable economy, the teacher grappling with overcrowded classrooms, the healthcare worker striving with limited resources, and the graduate searching for dignified employment. Governance must ultimately be measured by its impact on these lives, not by party posturing.
Political energy spent on constant confrontation is energy diverted from solving real problems. It is understandable that some citizens may initially struggle with the shift. Change, especially in politics, often provokes uncertainty. But history consistently rewards leaders who take difficult decisions in the interest of the greater good. The ultimate loyalty of any governor is not to party structures, but to the people who entrusted him with their mandate.
If this decision accelerates the delivery of roads, schools, hospitals, security, and jobs, then it stands justified by its results. In essence, Governor Yusuf has not abandoned his principle; he has elevated it. He has chosen the principle of effective governance over comfortable stagnation, cooperation over confrontation, and results over rhetoric. Putting Kano First is a declaration that development will no longer wait for perfect political conditions, it will be pursued through intelligent alignment and purposeful action. The responsibility now shifts to execution.
The governor must translate this political capital into visible, measurable progress. Likewise, the APC must ensure that this homecoming yields tangible federal presence and support in Kano. If both sides rise to the occasion, this moment will be remembered not as a political switch, but as a decisive turning point in Kano’s development trajectory. For the people of Kano, this is not a time for cynicism but for constructive expectation. This move represents a bold gamble on efficiency, inclusion, and progress. And if rightly harnessed, it could usher in a new era where governance truly serves the many, not the few. That ambition alone deserves our support and our keen expectation of the results to come.
Kano First. For the Good of All. Dr. Saifullahi Shehu Imam can be reached via: saifaz2005@gmail.com