By Tijjani Muhammad Musa
HOTPEN – When I once wrote that Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is a political master strategist, after patiently living through Kwankwaso’s 2 terms reign as the former’s Deputy Governor and eventually emerging as Kano State Governor, there were many who ignored me as merely talking.
Then his checkmating the Kwankwasiyya’s ambition to install Abba Gida-gida as governor through the inconclusive tussle was another master stroke the outgoing Governor was able to execute, thereby denying his opponents a victory they had tirelessly worked for, seen, even touched, but could not consummate.
And now fielding Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna as his successor to Africa House, I am even more convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that the man is indeed worth his every weight in gold if not as anything, but as a politician extra-ordinaire, not withstanding a few stumbles here and there.
With this latest move, I want to comfortably forecast that the case of who is to become the next Governor of Kano State come 2023 could be said to be settled. Except of course, no one should dare to venture into Allaah SWT’s reserved Prerogative. He Gives to whom He Wills power, when, where, why and how.
Many who initially feared that Hon. Murtala Sule Garo erstwhile Kano State Commissioner for Local Government could be picked as successor to the Kano State power throne due to the wife of the Governor Prof. Hafsat Umar Ganduje popularly known as Gwaggo’s exerting influence on the Kano political terrain has been finally laid to rest.
Frankly speaking, many political analysts never thought Ganduje could come out tops with his choice of a successor over and above his darling and dear wife’s choice of who becomes the next Kano State Governor. And being able to do that was quite a surprise to many. That’s the man whose intelligence one could underrate at his or her own peril.
Some were even saying “Allah Sarki Gawuna tunda Gwaggo bata yinsa da wahala Gwamnatin Kano ta sai shi a matsayin magazine Ganduje.” But Alhamdulillah, the choice is Allaah’s and not anybody else. Now Kano has him as the anointed and preferred government candidate for the APC Governorship position.
Grassroots support, experience, patience, perseverance and much more are some of the aces Dr. Nasiru Gawuna hold up his sleeves. He will be a hard nut to crack, a very difficult opponent for any to beat, whether in their party or outside it. Most especially, now that the Supreme Court of Nigeria has given victory to the Ganduje faction over the Shekarau and G7 faction in the State APC leadership crisis.
But then it is not over till it is over. Could there be an upset in the likes of Aminu Dabo, Abdulsalam Abdulkarim Zaura (AA Zaura), Sha’aban Ibrahim Sharada to mention a few, all of APC after a possible primaries? Then of course there other contenders who are vying for the same prestigious Kano State Governor’s seat in other parties to look at.
Mentions must be made of the likes of Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya, Engineer Muazu Magaji, Barrister Inuwa Waya, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, Salihu Sagir Takai, Salihu Tanko Yakasai among several others who are all eyeing the Kano State number one citizen’s position.
The stage is all set for an interesting run. May we live to see who wins.
