By Abba Anwar
Take it or leave it, the just concluded by-elections in Bagwai/Shanono and Ghari (Kunchi)/ Tsanyawa, for State Assembly, all in Kano North Senatorial District, where the former National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje CON, the current Deputy Senate President, Barau I. Jibrin, former Minister of State, Housing, Eng Abdullahi T. Gwarzo, former Deputy Gubernatorial Candidate in 2023 guber race, HE Murtala Sule Garo, the current Chairman House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriation, Abubakar Kabir Abubakar (Abba) Bichi and Managing Director of Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, Eng Rabi’u Sulaiman Bichi, among others come from, documents the relevance and political influence of Murtala Sule Garo.
Another face of the argument also, suggests that those who ganged up against Senator Barau from within APC to make sure that the party lose the election (s) especially that of Bagwai /Shanono, being a fresh election due to the death of the then Member in the State Assembly, did not to think of the political repercussions that could follow.
And then the flip side of the argument, hints that, it was the Deputy Senate President himself and other heavyweights, from party leadership, who thought they could handle the fragile atmosphere, but the unexpected (?) happened.
All the above three scenarios are but some people’s understanding of the situation. None of the explanations are from me, as the author of this piece. But let’s see them one by one. For us to sieve fact from lies and reality from fiction. And to finally advice President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to disregard all those with political appointments from the zone, including the elected people who were assigned with some responsibilities up there. The end result is, how the party can bounce back and win future elections.
Before going further let me reiterate my position that, I do not believe it is the pure strength of the ruling New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) that aided in securing the seat of the member State Assembly from the fresh, but by-election of Bagwai/Shanono, with 16,198 votes against APC’s 5,347 votes.
What gave NNPP such votes are bad coordination of APC leadership. Alongside political treachery, in-build sadism within the leadership and followership of APC, monopolistic tendencies of our leaders, either elected, appointed or resigned, coming from the zone. Deceitful coming together of leaders from the zone. Ranging from the tour of the affected local governments, campaign period up to the election period.
For Ghari (Kunchi) / Tsanyawa, the by-election took place in few stations limited to Ghari local government. And even when the election was canceled in 2023, APC was leading. So even NNPP were less hopeful in that area. As the result of the by-election shows that APC got 31,472 votes, while NNPP got 27,931 votes.
The failure of APC to capture Bagwai/Shanono constituency, shouldn’t be seen as a slap on DSP Barau, but a big blow, on the face of whoever is a leader above him from the zone, if there is. As the shameful act trickles down to all elected people from the zone as well as all those with political appointments from the zone. And the party leadership from the zone up to state. As the saying goes, in every rule there is exception, the exception here goes this way. Read on my reader.
No matter what, DSP Barau and Hon Abba Bichi did their best. Though I eavesdrop that, the duo do not see eye-ball to eye-ball in their political chemistry and engagement. That was why when Abba Bichi introduced Barau during the campaign tour in Bagwai /Shanono, many saw deceit and ploy in the entire arrangement and process.
I learned that, the winner of Ghari/Tsanyawa seat, an APC candidate, is Barau’s henchman. There were reportedly manipulations from within APC for the guy to fail. But his advantage was, when the election was canceled earlier in 2023, he was leading ahead. That alone saved his face and that of his Boss.
Those APC people who ploy against APC’s victory, to simply name and shame Barau, can’t they understand that, such failure could also go to the former National Chairman, Dr Ganduje? Those orchestrating this against Barau are the same people agitating that Ganduje is the leader in Kano not Barau. So if we can go by such agitation, then who fails first between Barau and Ganduje? On whose face is the slap first directed at?
To Allah Who Created me from nothing, if sadism, treachery and unnecessary political confrontation continue to take lead in our political relationship, especially among our leaders, APC is going nowhere in Kano. Even if it is leading Africa not Nigeria. Kano is known for its radical political engagement. I suggest President Tinubu should, I can’t say must – being a President – hastily look inward in Kano’s appointments and make necessary modifications.
For example, looking at the Kano North, where APC lost in this by-election, what is the use and relevance of appointments like that of Eng Umar Abdullahi Umar among others? What is the wisdom behind dropping people like Murtala Garo from the zone? What is the wisdom behind the unnecessary face-off between our elected people from the zone? What for?!
I learned how Barau, Abba Bichi and even Nasir Bala Aminu Ja’o’ji, brought some significant handouts for the election. But what really happened? Did those resources match efforts being witnessed before and during the election? What is really happening in Kano APC leadership?
I can happily exonerate Garo for this failure. Why? Because, up to the time of writing this paragraph, he is benched with no reason whatsoever. Benching did not start today, it started when Dr Ganduje was the National Chairman of the party. So what are we saying? What our leaders fail to understand is, the survival of the party and system, is more than individual survival.
Few months to this by-election period, meaningful discussions were in top gear with Garo on how to work for the victory of the party, but when the real process started and his physical presence was not there, I said to myself, problem in the offing. Not only that he was sidelined in the process, his political articulation was flagrantly discarded. I am privy to the role he played from behind the screen, for securing Ghari/Tsanyawa, still.
While I’m still maintaining my position for Gawuna/Garo or in a frontside-backside switchover and Barau being elevated to higher position up there, Barau/Garo recent reconciliatory move is needed and appreciable. And should be extended to other quarters.
Each and every leader has his rights and his wrongs. So why can’t they work together in harmony? In some of my recent write-ups I acknowledged the good working relationship that started manifesting between Barau and Garo. Why can’t others follow suit? To me Jagora this, Jagora that, is meaningless, irrelevant, indifference and above all, a political treachery.
It is left for President Tinubu to, as a matter of urgency, bring back the past glory of Kano APC. Failure to do that, will not only spell doom for his 2027 chances in Kano, but to the party as a whole. It is therefore left for Mr President to make the APC or mar.
Anwar writes from Kano
Sunday, 17th August, 2025
