Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, including the Deputy Senate President, Barau I. Jibrin; former governorship candidate, Salihu Sagir Takai; and Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, have reportedly thrown their weight behind Kabiru Alhassan Rurum as one of the leading contenders for the position of deputy governor of Kano State.
The endorsement followed a stakeholders’ meeting held on Sunday night, during which three nominees were selected to fill the vacant deputy governorship position following the resignation of Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo.
The meeting was convened in line with a directive reportedly issued by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who asked party stakeholders to forward three names for consideration.
The stakeholders, however, clarified that contrary to reports in circulation, some of the information about the meeting was “fabricated,” insisting that the directive was strictly followed.
They said the governor directed that “three names be proposed and submitted to him, from which one may be considered as the next Deputy Governor.”
The three nominees are Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, former Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly and member of the House of Representatives; Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, former Secretary to the State Government and Managing Director of the Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority; and Murtala Sule Garo, former local government chairman and commissioner.
Rurum’s nomination was moved by the immediate past APC state secretary, Ibrahim Zakari Sarina, and seconded by the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Mariya Mahmud Bunkure.
For Bichi, the motion was moved by the former APC chairman in the state, Abdullahi Abbas, and seconded by the deputy state chairman, Salisu Maje Ahmad Gwangwazo.
Garo was nominated by Alhassan Ado Doguwa and seconded by Labaran Abdul Madari.
During the meeting, Takai and former Secretary to the State Government, Usman Alhaji, argued that Kano South should be given consideration for the position, saying the zone has been excluded from both the governorship and deputy governorship positions since 1992.
They noted that Kano South, with 16 local government areas and a population of over seven million people, “deserves consideration.”
The stakeholders also witnessed strong political alignments, with Rurum reportedly enjoying the backing of top figures including Barau I. Jibrin, Mariya Mahmud Bunkure, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, Ibrahim Zakari Sarina, Sha’aban Sharada, Bashir Garba Lado, Yahuza Ado Yan Kaba, and other prominent stakeholders.
Similarly, Murtala Garo was said to have the support of Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Abubakar Bichi, Sani Bala, Hamisu Chidari, Abdullahi M. Gwarzo, Abdullahi Rogo, Yusuf Badau, Abdulsalam Zaura, and others.
The stakeholders said the list of nominees had been forwarded and now awaits the final decision of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
