IN the ever-turning wheel of Nigerian politics, few things are as predictable as the sudden emergence of faceless civil society groups always conveniently timed, always politically motivated, and always funded by those who dread the dawn of accountability.
The recent protest and press statement by a group calling itself the ‘Forum of Kano Civil Society Organisations Against Corruption’ is a glaring example of this theatre of deception.
While cloaking themselves in the garb of activism, their true intentions are no secret: to distract, defame, and derail the good work being done by the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and to slander innocent public servants like Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim Rogo.
Let the truth be made abundantly clear: no anti-corruption agency neither the EFCC nor the ICPC has publicly indicted or found Abdullahi Rogo guilty of any wrongdoing. There is no judgment, no official report, and no evidence to support the wild claims that ₦6.5 billion was diverted under his watch.
What exists is nothing more than politically charged hearsay, recycled by rented voices who serve no cause other than that of their disgraced political sponsors.
It is both hypocritical and insulting to the intelligence of the Kano people that this so-called forum has found its voice now, while remaining thunderously silent during the dark years of the Ganduje administration.
Under Ganduje’s watch, corruption was not a rumour it was a reality televised. Nigerians have not forgotten the now infamous video of him allegedly collecting bundles of dollar notes, stuffed hurriedly into his flowing baban riga.
Yet, none of these actors who today pretend to be defenders of justice lifted a finger or raised a placard when the state was being bled dry, one contract and one land allocation at a time.
Today, they shamelessly accuse the government of misappropriation and fraudulent projects—yet all the facts point to something else entirely. The so-called scandals are complete fabrications built on malicious intent. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, true to his oath, has vowed never to disappoint the electorate. That is what responsible leadership looks like, not the silence and complicity of the past.
The allegation of diverting food palliatives is equally laughable. Unlike in the past, where public goods were routinely diverted into private stores and resold to the poor, the current administration has insisted on transparency by involving traditional institutions, religious leaders, and community-based groups in distribution.
If isolated abuses occurred, the government has shown the willingness to act decisively. What these so-called civil society actors demand is not justice they demand political theatre that serves the interests of their paymasters.
It is also deeply suspicious that these accusers have remained invisible behind vague identities. No transparency, no verifiable leadership, no known track record of service to the people. What civil society group worth its name issues strong allegations without credible data, without reference to legal processes, and without subjecting itself to public scrutiny? This is not civil society it is civil sabotage.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf came into office with a singular goal: to repair what Ganduje destroyed. Within a short time, the Yusuf administration has re-opened technical colleges, invested in public healthcare, cleaned up government procurement, and revived public infrastructure.
These are verifiable facts. For every false scandal pushed by Ganduje’s proxies, the people of Kano can point to a real achievement. That is the difference.
It is unfortunate that some elements would rather see Kano burn than see it succeed under a leader they do not control. But their plan will fail. The people are not fools. They know who served and who stole. They remember the dollar videos. They remember the ghost projects. They remember the lies.
To the EFCC and ICPC, we say: continue your work with fairness, not fear. Go after facts, not fabricated headlines. And to these faceless groups who scream corruption without evidence: if you have proof, take it to court. If not, step aside and allow the people’s government to work.
Truth does not need to shout to be heard. And in this case, truth stands firmly with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim Rogo, men whose records of service continue to speak louder than the noise of sponsored chaos.
- Abdulkarim Yakubu, writes from Kano.