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Kano State deputy governor, Comrade Abdulsalam Gwarzo, and several officials believed to be loyal to the Kwankwasiyya political movement, were conspicuously absent on Saturday as Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf made his first major public appearance following his resignation from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), underscoring the deepening political crisis in the state.
The occasion was the flag-off of the distribution of motorcycles to social media promoters at the Open Arena of the Government House, Kano. The event attracted top government functionaries and political associates of the governor, but also highlighted visible cracks within the administration.
Among those present were the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Ismail Falgore; the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Farouq; a former deputy governor of the State and chairman of the Governing Council of Northwest University, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, as well as several commissioners.
Commissioners in attendance included Yusuf Labaran (Health), Alhaji Umar Doguwa (Water Resources), Comrade Ibrahim Waiya (Information), and Dr. Danjuma Mahmoud (Agriculture).
However, the absence of the deputy governor coincided with the absence of other commissioners widely perceived to be loyal to the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement and former governor of the State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Those absent included the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Yusuf Kofar Mata; Commissioner for Sports, Mustapha Kwankwaso; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children and the Physically Challenged, Amina HOD; Commissioner for Tourism, Aisha Saji; Commissioner for Internal Security, AVM Ibrahim Umaru (rtd); and the Head of Service, Abdullahi Musa.
In a related development, resignations have continued to trail Governor Yusuf’s exit from the NNPP. A former Special Adviser on Political Matters, Sunusi Sirajo, announced his resignation in a video circulated on social media, citing his loyalty to Senator Kwankwaso and describing the governor’s defection as a betrayal. He claimed his resignation letter was earlier rejected by government officials.
Other appointees who reportedly resigned included the Provost of the Anti-Corruption Institute, Sumaila Abdullahi Esq; the Managing Director of Kano Zoo, Sadiq Kura Mohammad; and the Senior Special Assistant on Intergovernmental and Foreign Affairs, Abdullahi Ahmad Namama.
In a swift response, the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature, announced the appointment of Mustapha Hamza Buhari as the new Special Adviser on Political Matters
