THE Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, has publicly called on the Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, to resign from office if he can no longer align politically with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
News Point Nigeria reports that Waiya made the call during a live programme on Muhasa Radio, while responding to questions surrounding reports that the deputy governor has chosen to remain loyal to the Kwankwasiyya political movement led by former Kano State governor and NNPP national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, despite Governor Yusuf’s recent political realignment.
According to the commissioner, political divergence at the highest level of government could weaken trust, cohesion, and effective governance, particularly given the deputy governor’s dual role as the state’s Commissioner for Higher Education.
“What we are hoping for, just as we saw with some commissioners who felt uncomfortable with the new political direction and resigned, is that the deputy governor should also take an honourable step if he is no longer on the same political path with the governor,” Waiya said.
He argued that governance thrives on unity of purpose and shared ideology, warning that mistrust could arise if a senior government official remains in office while pursuing a different political direction.
“If you sit in an Executive Council meeting where people are discussing how to build Kano and there is suspicion about where such discussions may end up, then there is a problem. Governance is about trust,” the commissioner added.
Waiya further suggested that political ambition may be influencing the deputy governor’s stance, noting that Kano’s political space is highly competitive and often shaped by personal aspirations.
“Many people have ambitions, including the ambition to become governor. There is nothing wrong with having ambition. However, when personal interests begin to conflict with the direction of government, the most honourable option is to step aside and pursue those goals independently,” he said.
While stressing that the final decision rests solely with the deputy governor, Waiya maintained that remaining in office under such circumstances is a personal choice that comes with moral and political implications.
“It is his decision. If he believes he can continue to work with the governor under the present circumstances, then that is fine. But if I were in that position, I would have left the office and faced my political journey clearly and openly,” he stated.
The commissioner also emphasised that the Yusuf administration remains firmly committed to what he described as the ‘Kano First’ agenda, insisting that loyalty to the state’s development objectives must supersede personal ambition or factional allegiance.
“Our focus is Kano. Anyone serving in this administration must put the interests of the state first, above personal or factional considerations,” Waiya said.
