Kano 2027 : As DSP Barau Attracts Wider Endorsements

By Abba Anwar

Multitude of groups are queuing up to make an official endorsement of the Deputy Senate President and First Deputy Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Barau I Jibrin CFR, for the 2027 Kano governorship position.

Impressed by his life saving interventions across the state, political groups, non political groups, urban-based, rural-based, semi-urban based, former elected officials, from the state, to local governments, down to wards levels, business community groups, students bodies and civil society groups, among others, have been trooping to the DSP to register their presence and loyalty.

Apart from the immediate past local governments chairmen, few weeks back, he got more endorsements from former chairmen of the 44 local government areas of Kano State, who served from 2003–2011 at his office in Abuja. The little fraction in the circle of the immediate past local governments bosses, after their endorsement of the DSP, didn’t discourage those who served between 2003 to 2011, anyway. Who are larger in size and upgraded in commitment.

The 2003 to 2011 loyalists were led by the former chairman of Tofa L.G. Hon. Garba Idris Unguwar Rimi, who also doubles as a former Commissioner during Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s reign. During the visit, they unanimously endorsed Sen. Barau for the 2027 Kano governorship. Making reference to his contributions to the people and the party All Progressives Congress (APC). They pledged full support for his victory.

From the higher circle of political actors, who also see reason in declaring their total and absolute support for the DSP’s gubernatorial race, former federal Legislators paid a solidarity visit to the Senator. The group was led by Hon Umar Sadiq, who represented Kumbotso Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, between 1979 and 1983.

Among the former legislators, there are those who were at the House of Representatives twice or even thrice. And those who served during the second, third and current fourth republics They requested the Deputy Senate President, to transmit their message of solidarity to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his bid for the second term.

Hon. Mustapha Bala Dawaki, the Chief of Staff to the current APC National Chairman, was among the delegation. Another prominent lawmaker Hon Faruk Lawan, who represented Bagwai/Shanono of Kano State for 16 years, emphasized their unwavering commitment for ensuring the victory of President Tinubu and Senator Barau come 2027.

The leader of the delegation said it point blank that, “We don’t have any candidate other than Senator Barau. Insha Allah, he is the next governor of Kano State. Senator Barau has been working like a governor – his track record of performance is outstanding. We, therefore, urge him to sustain his good work.”

Accepting their call with deep appreciation, DSP Barau acknowledged that, “This is my constituency as a member of the forum, and it is a thing of joy that you have queued behind the movement to rescue Kano State from the present misrule. This is a rescue mission.

It is the failure of leadership that pushed Kano State to the path of retrogression. Kano is being run like a private enterprise. We will not sit idly and allow things to continue deteriorating. It is not about you or me; it is about our state. Let us all work together to change the situation and utilise all resources for the benefit of all.”

Distinguished Deputy Senate President encourages that, “We are on a rescue mission.”

The delegation of the former federal lawmakers to the Senator, signifies his encouraging human management style. The way he manages decades of relationship, says a lot in his capacity as a leader.

Senator Barau is not only a fast lane to responsible political leadership and progressive governance, as an art and an institution, he is a democratic melting pot, where responsibility, eligibility, ingenuity, acceptability and availability are conjoined together for a better Kano.

His grassroots touch and glue-like atmosphere in democratic parlance create more corridors for real democratic foot soldiers, from the bottom of our society – our local governments – to internalize and institutionalize his genuine feeling for the state. Hence, their support and endorsements from left, right, and centre.

It is under this arrangement and political arithmetic that, the immediate past local governments Secretaries, from across the 44 local governments in the state, paid similar solidarity and endorsement visit to the DSP. Under the leadership of Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai.

Being the most qualified for the position, in their political choice and estimation, they assured him of their total support from their respective communities. Challenging that, they would not blow their trumpet, but the difference would be clear when the chips are down.

To display a deeper touch for the Senator’s bid for Kano gubernatorial seat, come 2027, another all-important group under the platform of an Association of Former Supervisory Councilors, who were in government from 1999 to the last reign of the former Governor in the state, were with the DSP, live and direct, as they endorsed his candidature.

To show how important and engaging the former Councilors were in connection to the endorsement, they were in Abuja in their hundreds. Assuring all that, they would do everything humanly possible to make sure that, DSP becomes governor come 2027 election period.

One important point to note is, all those paying solidarity visits to the Senator, they, at the same time, endorsed the candidature of President Tinubu, to run for a second term.

What surprisesd all during the Councilors solidarity visit, was when they disclosed to the Distinguished Senator that, when the time comes they would purchase gubernatorial Intent Form for him.

This alone speaks volumes of how he sits well in what can be described as Barau Comfort Zone.

Anwar writes from Kano
Sunday, 21st December, 2025