The Digest:
Following his resignation from the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has dismissed his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Sunusi Surajo, a prominent member of the Kwankwasiyya movement. Surajo was replaced by a former aide to ex-Governor and APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, signaling a significant political realignment. The governor’s defection has triggered mass resignations of local government chairmen and legislators loyal to him, but has also fractured the Kwankwasiyya structure, with the Deputy Governor and several commissioners choosing to remain with NNPP leader Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Key Points:
- The dismissal is a direct move to weaken the influence of the Kwankwasiyya faction within the state administration.
- Appointing a Ganduje ally aims to build bridges with the APC's entrenched structure in Kano ahead of the governor's expected defection.
- The reshuffle deepens the internal rift, potentially creating parallel governance structures and political instability in the state.
- This action is a tactical step in consolidating the governor's new political base and severing old loyalties.
- The move exemplifies the high-stakes patronage and personnel changes that accompany major political cross-carpeting in Nigeria.
Governor Yusuf’s personnel changes mark a decisive step in his political transition, further entrenching the divide within Kano's ruling class.
Sources: Channels Television
