BUHARI AND KANO POLITICS

The Kano political terrain right from 2003 when General Muhammadu Buhari joined politics then, the political atmosphere in kano completely changed. Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was the then Governor of the State and when the Sak syndrome came into force, he lost control of the politics of the state and became very unpopular and the unpopularity became worst when he decided to support his Political Father, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

 

There was complete revolt of the people of Kano on his favoured presidential candidate. And when polls were cast then, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo got less than the required prerequisite percentage in kano.

 

By 2007, when General Muhammadu Buhari contested the presidential election again with late Mallam Umaru Musa ‘Yaradua, he still got over 1,400,000 votes in that election while Late ‘Yar Addua got less than the prerequisite percentage from Kano State. Still General Muhammadu Buhari had the upper hands in these two presidential elections contested under the then All Nigerian People’s Party, ANPP. When there was misunderstanding between the party and the presidential flag bearer due to the issue of unity government under Umaru ‘Yaradua, General Muhammadu Buhari opted out of the party and formed Congress For Progressive Change (CPC) and contested the 2011 presidential election in that party.

 

These were the official results of that presidential election in kano state as we are talking of Kano state politics alone:

 

Muhammadu Buhari CPC 1,624,543 votes.

Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau ANPP 526,310 votes.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan PDP 440,665 votes.

Muhammadu Rubadau ACN 42,355 votes.

 

With the above presidential election figures of the prominent presidential candidates who then controls the politics of Kano? I am sure all right thinking people will say Muhammadu Buhari.

 

After the amalgamation of the three defunct parties of ANPP, ACN some part of APGA and CPC to formed APC in 31st July,2014 and then the coming in of nPDP after the registration of the new party. In the APC, in last quarter of the year 2014, to be specific in December, the party held presidential primaries where five prominent presidential aspirants participated and these were the results of such primaries as follows:

Muhammadu Buhari 3,340 votes

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso 974 votes

Atiku Abubakar 954 votes

Rochas Okorocha 400 votes

Sam Nda Izaiaya 10 votes

 

People should remember that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was then the Governor of Kano state and as such he had every resources at his disposal to use to get the ticket but couldn’t get, he used monetary incentives to buy votes but the delegates refused to vote for him.

 

In the 2015 presidential election where Muhammadu Buhari and President then, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan were the flag bearers of APC and PDP respectively, we had the following results in kano since, we are talking of Kano politics:

 

Muhammadu Buhari 1,903,999 votes.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan 215,799 votes.

 

From the above quoted figures, it clearly showed that Muhammadu Buhari was in total control of Kano politics.

To summarise my analysis, we can see that Muhammadu Buhari in 2003 got over 1,200,000 votes while his opponent couldn’t get prerequisite percentage, in 2007 he got over 1,400,000 votes while his opponent couldn’t come near him at all,in 2011 he got 1,624,543 votes while his near opponent Shekarau in kano got 526,310 and in 2015 he got 1,903,999 votes while his near opponent Goodluck Ebele Jonathan got 215,799 votes.

 

These are the authentic results of elections in the past. So to argue with me that Kwankwaso will bring Kano to PDP is a complete mirage knowing fully well the political terrain in kano. Those PDP people in the south are completely ignorant of the politics of Kano and they are being tossed all round by the so called red cap revolutionists, they should better think well, Kano politics is fully in the hands of Mr president and we, the true Buharists, are well adequately ready to defend our votes come 2019 presidential election.

 

Progress Ever, No Retreat Whatsoever.

 

 

Musa Umar Gwarzo.

APC Director, Research, Planning & Documentation, Kano State.