Ex–Kano Deputy Governor Reopens Kwankwasiyya Origins Debate as Yusuf Declares Loyalty to Kano
A former Deputy Governor of Kano State, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, on Saturday in Kano reignited controversy over the origins of the Kwankwasiyya Movement by claiming he and five others created it during a period of political isolation, as Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf publicly asserted his independence and placed Kano’s stability above personal or partisan loyalty.
Speaking in Kano, Prof. Abubakar disclosed that the Kwankwasiyya Movement was conceived by him and a small group of loyalists during a turbulent period in Kano politics, insisting that the idea and its identity did not originate from the movement’s most visible figure, former governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
The revelation, according to Abubakar, was aimed at setting the historical record straight and highlighting the contributions of early supporters who rallied behind Kwankwaso when his political future was uncertain.
“Myself and five others created the Kwankwasiyya Movement and even gave it a red cap symbol, not Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso,” Abubakar said.
He explained that the acronym was developed when the group felt marginalised within the political structure of the state. “Dr Yunusa Adamu Dangwani, Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, myself, and others constructed the acronym of Kwankwasiyya when the going was tough and we were somewhat sidelined,” he stated.
According to Abubakar, the movement was formed as a survival strategy to protect Kwankwaso from intense political pressure at the time. “At that time, we gave every support to Rabiu Kwankwaso to survive the political tsunami directed at him by the political bigwigs in Kano, and that was how we created the movement,” he added.
However, the former deputy governor expressed disappointment over what he described as Kwankwaso’s failure to acknowledge the roles played by those who stood by him during that period. He said this attitude eventually fractured the inner circle that once sustained the movement.
“That bad behaviour drove all those loyal to him away, leaving him alone. We thought Kwankwaso would act like the late Mallam Aminu Kano, who always acknowledged that others created NEPU, PRP, and the Sawaba movements, giving them credit at every opportunity, but alas, that was not the case with Kwankwaso,” Abubakar noted.
The comments came on the same day Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf made his first public remarks since resigning his membership of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, using the occasion to distance himself from personality-driven politics and reaffirm his faith-based view of leadership.
While presenting motorcycles to his social media handlers on Saturday, Yusuf attributed his political rise solely to divine will, playing down speculation about future electoral contests.
“In 2023, it was God who gave me power, not anybody else, and I still thank and appreciate Him as the only one who will allow me to continue in 2027,” the governor said.
He cautioned against early political calculations, adding, “Even all the talk about 2027 is a misplaced priority, because who knows whether he will make it to tomorrow, let alone 2027.”
Yusuf stressed that governance, security and stability in Kano State remain his immediate focus, not political loyalties or succession debates. “We have to get it right to have our full peace and security before talking about anything, and that is my major concern now, not anything else,” he said.
Reinforcing his stance, the governor declared, “Let me remind everybody that, to me, Kano comes first, not loyalty to anybody. Everyone should know that no one is bigger than Kano. We shall all be loyal to Kano.”
Together, the remarks from Abubakar and Yusuf reflect widening conversations within Kano’s political landscape about power, loyalty and the true foundations of dominant political movements in the state.
