AHMAD TIJJANI ABDUL
The epic ruling of the apex court that reinstated ‘Abban Kanawa’ the incumbent governor of Kano state saw the city ruptured in wild celebrations, culminating in a 145km roadshow by the man of the moment from Abuja, Kaduna into the ancient city.
The heroic return of the victorious Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf into the ancient commercial city of Kano, two days after he was reinstated by the Supreme Court was reminiscent of a wartime hero returning to a homeland after a major military expedition, and conquests.
Indeed, Pundits expect nothing short of celebrations, and thanksgiving by millions of Kano residents after a miasma of huge political successes, in that for seven months, Kano city dwellers, and its environs lived in perpetual fear over a suspected plots by perceived opposition to sack the incumbent governor of Kano state, Abba Kabir Yusuf who was enthroned by popular votes during the March 17th governorship election through the judiciary.
Consequently, when the apex court finally ruled in favour of the city’s choice, preparation for the grand reception for a man that has enjoyed massive support within and around was kick started by his Deputy, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam.
In a special broadcast, Comrade Abdussalam called the city dwellers out, and pointedly requested all to pour into the streets to welcome home “our hero of democracy” to the city.
Indeed the city dwellers, including those roadside settlements, and Kano ‘vassal states’ that lie within the stretch of the strategic Kano, Zaria highway handsomely answered the call, and mobilised themselves to be part of history in a long tortuous carnival seen in recent days.
It was therefore not surprising, when the governor who took off from Kaduna alongside his entourage by 9:00am on a historic journey back home was forced to stop by thousands of residents of Makarfi in solidarity with a Kano prince turned the executive governor of the Nigerian most populous state.
The cynosure of all eyes on the auspicious day was clad in Kwankwasiyya traditional outfit, a flowing white gown, and a red cap to match, acknowledged cheers of admirers on every spot down from Makarfi to Kwanar Dangora, a border local government with Kaduna state where huge crowd, but orderly supporters signposted what to expect in villages, and towns ahead on areas of dominance along the route.
Interestingly, in every spot, Governor Yusuf who travelled in an open black SUV jeep never failed to identify with his emergency host on his way to Kano reducing the journey to a snail speed to accommodate the exigency.
Yusuf, beaming infectious smile all the way, his entrance to every spots was heralded by thunderous shouts of Allahu Akbar (God is Great) in an open acknowledgement that its God that saw the 61 year Kano born politician through the travails, and trenches of political dark alleys.
While the governor was coasting home in style amid pomp, and pageantry, Kano city itself was agog with festivities, as residents, both the well to do, and the average families reportedly cooked foods and distributed freely to neighbours, and the needy.
Expectantly, nearly all major streets were painted red. The old city gates wore a new look, as large images of the governor hung on strategic portions of the route. Many others lined up the 38km route from Kura, and the adjourning streets leading to Filin Mahaha, the venue of the grand victory rally.
It however took the new petrel of Kano politics three hours to cross over from Kwanar Dangora to Chiromawa, the official spot where hundreds of thousands of well-wishers had massed to begin the final 40km roadshow to the capital of the one city state.
If the journey from Kaduna to Chiromawa was tasking, accessing the former Toll gate town was fun as supporters in various groups began an endurance trek of 15km to Kura town. The journey was made easy by a blast of assorted music from a mobile studio with a familiar political message in praise of Allah.
Like a military parade in honor of all conquering a 3 star General, there was a heavy, and noticeable presence of local hunters, able-bodied young men and women, and teenagers whose population was put at conservative estimates of 500, 000 on the train of the governor’s steady march to homeland.
As the governor approached the city, the intimidating crowd of supporters, well-wishers on the streets became more pronounced, looking as if everyone along the strategic corridor were out on the street. The journey through Kura to Karfi, Gada Tambura, Kwanar Dawakin Kudu to 7up General area, down to Naibawa flyover by the Western, and Eastern bypass reduced the immediate past experience to ordinary.
Yusuf train arrived at Naibawa flyover by the Western, and Eastern bypass at 4:00pm, the outside of the metropolis was welcomed by a sea of heads, enthusiastic supporters, onlookers, and the bystanders. As usual, he waved to acknowledge cheers, it certainly occurred to everyone that the final journey to Fillin Mahaha located within an expanse of land between Kofar Naisa, and Sharada General Area has just begun.
It however took the governor, and the moving train 3 hours to access Gada Lado, Gyadi-Gyadi General area, a distance of 10km where several thousand reinforce the train. As at 7:00pm when Governor Yusuf arrived at Dangi Flyover, darkness had set in but arrays of street light along the route down Fillin Mahaha a distance of about 8km made the journey sweeter.
At the victory ground where a mammoth crowd had been waiting for the governor and his entourage showed less exhaustion, as people were seen in clusters around a bonfire to contain the cold harmattan wind that invaded the open field.
A Kwankwassiya die hard supporter who identified himself as Usman, aka Dogon Merci Kapenta was sighted with his 5 year old female twins dressed in red and white regalia.
Dogon Merci Capenta said “Yes my children are dressed in the red and white because I’m a die-hard fan and loyal member of Kwankwassiya, so automatically they’re also members of Kwankwassiya.”
Merci Kapenta explained “Infact, our yet unborn child which we are expecting in the next few months will also be a Kwankwassiya member and if the child is a he will be named after Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso,”
He said “We came to rejoice and show solidarity with Abba Gida Gida over his victory in the Supreme Court.”
Another resident who spoke with Daily Independent said, “I’m Tasiu Hudu, 70 years old, a die-hard supporter of Kwankwaso for sustaining Malam Aminu Kano’s legacy of emancipation of the downtrodden,”
Hudu noted, “I’ll continue to identify myself with this group till I breathe my last, because the essence of living in this temporary abode is to live your life for others”.
As at the time the Abba Gida-Gida, and his train arrived at Gidan Murtala by 9:00pm, a stretch of 2km to victory ground, the energetic fan that have reduced the journey to carnival became reinvigorated with heavy presence of well-wishers by the roadside, as chanting of “Abba Oyoyo” pierced through the air, far and wide.
When finally, the prince of Kano politics arrived Fillin Mahaha with a capacity of 10 size Olympic stadium by 10:00pm, the mammoth crowd ruptured in celebration, as ecstatic crowd sing and dance to “Ga Abban kanawa, Ga Abba Kanawa” to herald him to the ground.
Despite the endurance trek spanning tens of kilometers in honour of the emerging political hero by hundreds of thousands of residents, they demonstrated no sign of tiredness, rather a noticeable vigour that could sustain the merry making deep into the night.
In the end, organizers understood clearly that it wasn’t a day for long speeches, as those who were picked to speak were brief despite yearning from the untiring huge crowd.
The chief Host, who doubled as the Deputy Governor, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo in his remark said, Yusuf’s administration would end thuggery, drug abuse, phone snatching and better the lives of the citizenry.
Gwarzo commended the Justices of the Supreme Court for pitching a tent with the truth and honour by delivering a just and fair judgment which saved the state from, “unforeseen circumstances.”
When Abba Kabir Yusuf handled the microphone to address the crowd, he expressed his gratitude to everyone, including those who couldn’t make it to the arena.
Yusuf promised to revolutionize education, health, human empowerment, and infrastructural development across the State.
He said “We’ll not let you down. Our doors are open. We’ll deliver on the dividends of democracy in the areas of education, health, and human empowerment among others.”
On the Supreme Court judgment, the Governor narrated how some influential persons were hell bent on stealing the hard-earned mandate of people of the state under the guise that they belong to the ruling party.
“The persons were hell bent on snatching or stealing our mandate and the reason was because they felt the President, his Vice, and others were from APC. Fortunately, the President refused to interfere in the matter.”
“With this action, Kano people said Thank you Mr. President for saving Democracy in Kano. This is a message from the good people of Kano.”
In the end, Kano vote counted, the benefactor was shown true love by residents, undoubtedly their expectations are high, and whether Yusuf’s has the capacity to reciprocate this gesture would certainly manifest some pregnant weeks ahead.
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