THERE is a Yoruba proverb thus: “You cannot shave a man’s head in his absence”. Literally it means, you cannot make a decision that affects someone without their knowledge or consent. The person whose life is affected by the decision or action must be involved, necessarily.
By definition, an aide is an assistant to an important person, particularly a political leader. It is the short form of aide-de-camp. Depending on the position of the principal, the duties of an aide vary greatly. These duties may include assisting with personal care, help with transportation, household tasks, or preparing meals.
In some cases, aides may also assist with medication management, communication, or supporting individuals in accessing community or political activities. But, like the Yoruba’s say, you cannot make a decision that affects the principal without his or her consent. An aide is an attaché whose assignment is at the mercy of his boss. He is not empowered to be audacious.
In the last 24hrs, the social media has been awash with a press statement, written by one Hon. Ibrahim Rabiu, the senior special reporter to the executive governor of Kano state on transportation. The statement, which was written in good English, was issued on behalf of Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the defeated presidential candidate of the NNPP, in the 2025 general elections. And it claimed to carry his authority because it said, Signed, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, May 2025.
It started thus: Fellow Nigerians, I come before you today to address certain political developments that have stirred national attention, particularly regarding my interactions with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). I wish to state clearly and unequivocally that President Tinubu personally reached out to me on multiple occasions, urging me to return to the APC fold.
The statement, written in the format of bullet points, highlighting 20 key points, ended thus: “To President Tinubu and those urging me to return to APC, I say thank you, but my loyalty is to Nigeria, not to political parties that have failed her. I remain committed to the cause of a better, stronger, and united Nigeria”.
However, shortly after the release of the statement, and it’s subsequent generation of multiple reasons, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, took to his official X handle @KwankwasoRM, saying he has since refrained from commenting on contemporary political events, and will continue to do so for the time being.
He said, he had never signed or authorised any statement to be issued on his behalf. “My attention has been drawn to a statement purportedly stating my position on the recurring political realignments. I wish to categorically state that such statements are false, unfounded, and products of political mischief”.
To add might to the denial, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, directed the immediate suspension of the said Ibrahim Rabi’u, from the position of a Senior Special Reporter (SSR) attached to the Ministry of Transportation. The governor also directed the issuance of a query to the suspended aide over his action.
This is unbelievable. I don’t know what is the schedule of duty, for a Senior Special Reporter, but going by the nomenclature, his job will not be far from reporting matters that have to do with driving, or arranging transportation for individuals in the ministry of Transport. He is not even remotely related to the political atmosphere of Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. For God’s sake, how can you play such an imposter?
I don’t know the said Ibrahim Rabi’u. Probably I’ve never met him, but I think, beyond suspension and the issuance of a query, the Governor needs to do something more. He should authorize the review of his mental health status. No aide, in his right senses, would be this callous.
The last time I heard of something this ludicrous, was when a group of people issued a statement, from the local ward of the National Chairman of the ruling APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, claiming to have suspended him. It turned out, like Ibrahim Rabi’u, they were not members of the party, nor members of the ward. They were imposters from the blues. Actions like these are absurd, and can only be carried out by audacious attack dogs.
In the area of medical humanitarian services, I know of an organization called Médecins Sans Frontières – MSF, popularly referred to as, Doctors Without Borders. By definition, they have limitless boundaries in the provision of emergency medical care. But except from this Ibrahim Rabi’u, I have never heard of such a limitless arrangement in the reportorial realm.
In the light of these developments, married men in Kano must be extremely circumspect, otherwise, soon, some imposters may begin the issuance of the statement of divorce against their spouses. And before the situation is remedied, damages that may take time to rectify, have already been done through such absurd behaviour.
- Ibrahim is Publicity Director for the All Progressives Congress (APC).