January 23, (THEWILL) – The verdict of the Supreme Court which affirmed Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) as the duly elected Executive Governor of Kano State may have come and gone but echoes of the landmark judgement continue to linger in many spheres of the lives of the people of the state.
The historic verdict delivered by Justice John Okoro on Friday, January 12, 2024, was preceded by massive tension, speculations and prayers observed in congregations and individually, especially by members of the ruling party, the NNPP.
The Apex Court’s judgement had, however, doused the tension, ended the speculations and signified that Allah (SWT) had answered the prayers of supporters of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the NNPP, as well as those who prayed Allah to “give us the best for Kano State.”
It was now time to await the triumphant arrival in Kano of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, popularly known as “Abba Gida-Gida” across the state, which was scheduled to occur on Sunday, January 14, 2024.
Governor Yusuf was at the Supreme premises in Abuja where he witnessed the judgment that validated his election, after which he left the FCT and stopped over in Kaduna till Sunday when his long convoy drove through the crowd-filled roads en route to the ancient city of Kano.
In what was described as a ‘glorious homecoming,’ commercial activities in both states of Kano and Kaduna were grounded, as the mammoth crowd literally painted the streets red with their trademark Kwankwasiyya insignia – the red cap.
The elated Governor stood in his open-roof car as the motorcade drove at snail speed through the streets to acknowledge cheers from his supporters in celebration of the Court verdict.
The jubilant supporters and well-wishers received the Governor at Kwanar Dangora, Kano State, amid drumming, singing and dances, from where they escorted him to Filin Mahaha in the Kano metropolis where he addressed the mammoth crowd.
It was noteworthy that the Governor’s convoy spent about twelve hours to reach the venue from Kaduna where he set out, because of the tumultuous number of people that turned out across the two states to catch a glimpse of the People’s Governor, as he is fondly called.
Addressing the crowd after he arrived at the venue, Governor Yusuf commended both President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for not interfering in his Appeal case brought before the Supreme Court.
“I thank President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for demonstrating their positions as true democrats.
“They have shown that as beneficiaries of the people’s votes, they would allow and support the judiciary to perform its role optimally without interference.
“Thank you, President Bola Tinubu, Thank you, Vice President Kashim Shettima for doing the needful and saving democracy in Kano State and Nigeria. We, the people of Kano State, are grateful to you,” the Governor said amid thunderous ovations.
He also thanked the Supreme Court justices “for standing on the path of truth and the law to entrench justice in the country.”
He noted that even though attempts were made to steal his mandate, God and the justices of the Supreme Court stood firm in restoring his mandate.
“The Supreme Court gave their judgment and we came out victorious, and that will continue to be our story by the grace of God.
“We have always believed in the judiciary as an institution, we will continue to believe in the judiciary.
“We thank God for what the Supreme Court did. We remain grateful to President Tinubu. We are also grateful to the judiciary,” Governor Yusuf said.
He then told the crowd that his administration would step up measures to check thuggery and other criminal activities in the state.
He also disclosed that the Government would take decisive steps to address the problems of drug abuse and sales of illicit drugs in the state.
The Governor warned that his administration would not condone a situation where drug abuse would waste the lives of the people of the state, especially the youths.
Similarly, he said, the State Government would not allow thuggery and other crimes to thrive in the state because such acts, the governor noted, were disturbing the peace as well as endangering the safety of lives and property of the people.
“From tomorrow, Monday, January 15, we will embark on measures to check drug abuse, sales of illicit drugs, thuggery and other forms of crimes, so as to ensure a drug-free, safe and secure Kano,” he said.
Yusuf thanked the people of the state, especially the youths, for the rousing welcome they accorded him and for their support and prayers for him and his Deputy, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, throughout the period they were in court “to defend the mandate you gave us.”
“By the grace of Allah, we will reciprocate this gesture as we will continue to roll out more dividends of democracy for you, especially in the areas of education, healthcare, empowerment and infrastructure development,” he said.
He also thanked the NNPP national leader and the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, for “the able leadership he has been rendering to us.”
Earlier, the Deputy Governor, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, thanked the NNPP supporters for their massive turnout to receive Governor Yusuf back from the victory trip.
He also commended them for waiting all day to receive the Governor, which he said testified to the love, confidence and support they had for him and his administration.
He assured the crowd that with the validation of the Governor’s electoral victory by the Supreme Court, the NNPP administration was now reloaded and recharged to continue providing the dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
Such dividends, the Deputy Governor said, included the provision of infrastructure, healthcare, quality education, water supply and empowerment for the overall development of the state.
Analysts described the reception as the biggest political gathering ever witnessed in Kano State or anywhere in the country, as it attracted people both from the state and other states of the federation, who sponsored their transportation, feeding and accommodation in order to be part of the historic event.
It has also been observed that activities that had been grounded in virtually all sectors in the state prior to the Apex Court judgement have now picked up, with people going about their normal businesses unhindered.
Meanwhile, the celebrations for the Supreme Court victory of the people’s Governor have continued in many parts of the state, especially the state capital, where the NNPP and Kwankwasiyya faithful have been partying all day, and in some places, all night.
“We can’t stop celebrating this landmark judgement now because it is hard-earned. It came to us after sleepless nights of sustained prayers to Allah (SWT), the tension and the uncertainties we went through for several months,” the Kwankwasiyya disciples were overheard saying.
Such non-stop jubilations will continue to remind the people of the state about the historic victory of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf for as long as they last, while the Governor continues to provide credible and selfless leadership to the people of the state as encapsulated in the Kwankwasiyya ideology.
Thus the unprecedented roadshow and the ensuing massive reception for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf will continue to be remembered for a long time by the people of Kano State and Nigeria.
About the Author
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
