By Hon. Muhammad Sanusi Kiru
(Former Commissioner for Education, Kano State)
The recent discourse regarding the composition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) transition committees in Kano State—specifically the grievances shared concerning the placement of the current Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya—is a narrative that is as baseless as it is professionally hollow. To suggest that the appointment of Malam Muhammad Garba as Chairman of the Information Committee, with Waiya as a member, is an “oversight” or an “affront” is to display a profound ignorance of both administrative decorum and the rich history of the journalism profession in Nigeria. It is not a new phenomenon for an individual to be called upon to serve their state by contributing their best expertise, and it should be viewed as an honor rather than a slight to work alongside veterans of the industry.
In any structured society, democracy thrives on respect for veteran experience and professional hierarchy. One must ask: is Ibrahim Waiya truly being compared to Muhammad Garba in terms of professional pedigree? Between 1999 and 2023, Malam Muhammad Garba built a resume that remains a gold standard in media management. He served with distinction as the Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Kano State, rose to become the Chairman of the NUJ Kano Chapter, and eventually ascended to the pinnacle of the profession as the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and President of the West African Journalists Association. This was followed by eight years of dedicated service as the Honorable Commissioner for Information from 2015 to 2023. No one, regardless of political differences, can boldly claim that Muhammad Garba is not one of the most competent authorities in media management in Kano State today. Competence is not a title bestowed by a current appointment; it is earned through decades of cognate working experience.
Beyond the professional argument lies the undeniable political reality. These committees were not constituted in a vacuum; they were formed with the explicit consent and approval of the Executive Governor, His Excellency, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf. For any appointee or their supporters to publicly challenge these structures is a blatant act of insubordination against the Governor’s authority. It is fundamentally contradictory to claim loyalty to a Principal while simultaneously attacking the strategic alliances and administrative decisions he has authorized. To this end, I strongly urge the Honorable Commissioner for Information to publicly distance himself from the ongoing media attacks on this decision. Silence in the face of such loyalty-testing rhetoric only serves to fuel unnecessary tension within the administration.
We are currently witnessing a historic political realignment in Kano. With the movement of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and his cabinet into the APC, the need for a broad-based, inclusive handshake with all stakeholders is paramount. It is no longer “business as usual.” The Governor’s vision requires embracing seasoned political associates and professionals from all folds to build a formidable party. If certain individuals are uncomfortable with this inclusive approach, they must prepare themselves for a landscape where government and party positions will be increasingly open to reconstitution. Loyalty to the Governor’s vision must supersede individual ego. The integrity of our political progress depends on recognizing that the mission is far greater than any single office holder.