Pressure mounts on Kano Deputy Gov. to resign amid political rift, movement counters

The Kwankwasiyya Movement has strongly condemned the call for Kano State Deputy Governor Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo to resign, describing it as unwarranted and a threat to democratic stability.

The criticism follows remarks by the State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, who suggested during a radio interview that Gwarzo should step down if he can no longer politically align with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

This comes after Governor Yusuf’s recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), while the deputy governor remains loyal to the Kwankwasiyya movement led by former governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

In a statement on Thursday, the Kwankwasiyya Media Team spokesperson, Hon. Habibu Saleh Mailemo, asserted that the deputy governor’s mandate derives from the electorate and a joint ticket, not from individual discretion.

The movement warned that such calls risk deepening political divisions and distracting the administration from governance.

Commissioner Waiya argued that political divergence at the top could undermine trust and effective governance.

He stated that if the deputy governor is uncomfortable with the governor’s new political direction, he should resign honorably as some commissioners have done.

Waiya also suggested that political ambition might be influencing Gwarzo’s stance.

The Kwankwasiyya statement emphasized the importance of internal cohesion, mutual respect, and constitutional principles, urging officials to focus on service delivery and the interests of Kano’s people.

As of now, Deputy Governor Gwarzo has not publicly responded to the commissioner’s comments.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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