Kano’s political landscape is reeling after Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, handpicked and installed by Rabiu Kwankwaso as the NNPP’s crown jewel, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and aligned publicly with Kwankwaso’s long-time rival, Abdullahi Ganduje.
The Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, described Yusuf’s move as a “betrayal of historic proportions,” ranking it as the third-greatest treachery in history — after Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus and Brutus’s role in the assassination of Julius Caesar.
In a televised interview on Prime Time, Galadima said the defection was motivated solely by personal survival, not the interests of Kano residents. “It is purely his personal interest. Not the interest of Kano people, not the peace of Kano. It is only a matter of survival,” he said. “If he had moved to any other party apart from the APC, I would have understood. But this one is survival, not ideology.”
Galadima recounted the sacrifices made for Yusuf’s rise, emphasizing the personal toll it took on the Kwankwasiyya movement. “If I could shed tears over anything, this one touched me beyond expression. I am over 75, and I do not give in to sentiment easily, but I remember the journeys we made, the sleepless nights, the sacrifices. There was nothing under the sun we did not do for Abba Kabir Yusuf to prevail.”
Highlighting the historical weight of the betrayal, he declared, “This betrayal is the third in the history of the world. The first was Judas against Jesus. The second was Brutus against Caesar. The third is the one announced by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano. It deserves a place in history.”
Galadima also reflected on the role of former President Muhammadu Buhari in Yusuf’s political journey. “The man who took our victory in 2019 and gave it to Ganduje was also the architect of making Abba Kabir Yusuf governor. Buhari put his foot down and said, ‘This boy won the election. Give him his victory.’ That is how God works.”
On accusations that Yusuf had freed himself from Kwankwaso’s influence, Galadima was scathing. “Three months into office, he abandoned Kwankwaso and allowed his media handlers to paint him black. In public, he treats Kwankwaso like a king, but behind the scenes, it is something else. We decided to keep quiet and allow him to announce his departure so that we would gain the sympathy of the people of Kano. And that is exactly what is happening.”
Galadima warned that Yusuf’s political support among Kano voters could evaporate. “If today there is a free and fair election, Abba Kabir Yusuf cannot get five percent of the votes of Kano people,” he said.
Regarding the political debt owed to Kwankwaso, Galadima expressed deep indignation at Yusuf’s alignment with Ganduje. “Kwankwaso nurtured these protégés, and now he sees them one after another abandoning him. It is extremely bitter. We used our resources and risked our lives to secure victory, and he abandoned us to acquire a new master. Ganduje represents everything bad in Nigerian politics.”
He also questioned Yusuf’s loyalty to the NNPP, asserting, “He was only a beneficiary of the NNPP. He was never truly NNPP.” Galadima further alleged that Yusuf distributed N15.8 billion to Ganduje’s councillors and chairmen and arrested those who demanded accountability.
Despite the defection, Galadima expressed confidence in the NNPP’s resilience. “Before him, we had no councillor, no assembly member, no senator, no governor. What stops God from repeating that miracle?”
Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Galadima predicted a challenge to APC dominance. “If President Tinubu won in 2023 and performed well, why is he gathering all governors into his party? They are using EFCC, ICPC, and the judiciary. But nobody can rig the 2027 election. Nigeria is no longer the Nigeria of yesterday. Young people will not allow themselves to be cheated. Anybody who tries will rig out his life.”
Historic Treachery? Galadima Compares Abba Yusuf to Judas, Brutus
