Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has refuted claims of a rift with his long-time political mentor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement.
Addressing journalists in Kano, Yusuf dismissed rumors that Kwankwaso exerts excessive influence over his administration, calling the reports “baseless.”
Speculations had circulated within the Kwankwasiyya movement and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) that Kwankwaso was effectively running a “third term by proxy” through Yusuf’s administration. Allegations recently made by Aliyu Sani Madakin-Gini, a House of Representatives member from Dala Federal Constituency, suggested that disputes over a drugs contract and a state scholarship scheme were at the root of a supposed tension between Yusuf and Kwankwaso.
Responding to these claims, Yusuf emphasized his continued loyalty to Kwankwaso, recounting their 40-year history of working together. “There is no truth in the rumors of a misunderstanding between us,” he stated. “I have served by his side for decades, and we have never had a rift. To now suggest that I am somehow chained by Kwankwaso is simply unfair.”
Yusuf added that he had personally discussed the rumors with Kwankwaso, expressing surprise that people expected him to oppose the man who has been his mentor. “Do people expect me to insult the man who stood by me?” he asked.
The rumors have been bolstered by a faction within the NNPP called “Abba Tsaya da Kafarka,” which translates to “Abba, stand on your own.” This group has encouraged Yusuf to operate independently of Kwankwaso’s influence. However, Yusuf denounced this message as an insult to his loyalty, saying, “This ‘stand on your own’ slogan is the greatest insult I have faced as governor. It implies that I should repay good with bad.”
In response to the “Abba Tsaya da Kafarka” campaign, the NNPP’s state leadership recently suspended Secretary to the State Government Abdullahi Baffa Bichi and Commissioner of Transportation Muhammad Diggol for alleged involvement in the movement. Both officials denied the accusations and are currently under investigation.
Two House of Representatives members, Madakin Gini and Alhassan Rurum, have also distanced themselves from the Kwankwasiyya movement, urging Yusuf to assert his independence. Yusuf condemned the actions of these defectors, reminding critics of Kwankwaso’s foundational role in his administration’s progress. “It’s as if people do not understand the role Kwankwaso has played,” he remarked.
Addressing the media, Yusuf criticized reports suggesting he had ignored multiple calls from Kwankwaso, calling such statements fabricated. “If not for my respect for journalists, I would have taken the person who wrote that to court,” he said, affirming, “there is no rift.”
Yusuf concluded by urging supporters to abandon the divisive slogan, stating, “I don’t want to hear ‘stand on your own’ in Kano State or anywhere in Nigeria. We were raised to respect elders, not to insult them.”