NASIRU YUSUF GAWUNA: CAN POLITICAL REINVENTION ERASE A TROUBLED PAST?
By Tijjani Sarki
Kano is no stranger to political drama. It is a land where power is contested with passion, where loyalty is tested, and where the people,resilient and politically conscious,rarely forget. Yet today, as whispers grow louder about the possible adoption of Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a governorship flagbearer, one cannot help but confront a question that pierces the very conscience of our democracy:
Are we truly serious as a people?
The Making of a Political Figure
Gawuna is not a political novice. His journey through the corridors of power from local government administration to serving as deputy governor under Abdullahi Umar Ganduje,speaks to experience, structure, and tested loyalty.
In 2023, he emerged as the APC’s governorship candidate, riding on an entrenched political machinery.
He came close painfully close to power. The courts briefly declared him winner before the Supreme Court restored victory to Abba Kabir Yusuf, drawing the curtain on one of Kano’s most dramatic electoral sagas.
That near-victory elevated him. It amplified his relevance. It positioned him as a man perpetually within reach of power.
But let it be said clearly: visibility is not credibility.
The Sudden Cleansing of Image
Today, a new narrative is being carefully crafted.
A story of reconciliation.
A story of unity.
A story of political rebirth.
We are told of Gawuna extending hands across divides aligning, directly or indirectly, with the Kwankwasiyya movement led by Sen Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
And just like that, a new portrait emerges.
Gawuna the peacemaker.
Gawuna the reformed democrat.
Gawuna the universally acceptable candidate.
But one must ask firmly and without apology:
Since when did political alignment become a certificate of sainthood?
The Burden of Allegations
Kano people are not forgetful. They remember. They question. They connect the dots.
The same Gawuna now being polished for political resurrection is not untouched by controversy. His name and that of his political associates has lingered in public discourse around troubling allegations: electoral disruptions, ballot box snatching, and interference with democratic processes.
These are not trivial claims. They cut to the core of electoral integrity. They challenge the very soul of democracy.
Yes, no court may have pronounced guilt. But beyond the courtroom lies the court of public conscience restless, observant, unyielding.
So we must ask, with honesty and courage:
Has anything truly changed or are we simply being asked to forget?
A Cycle That Raises Questions
More troubling still is what this moment reveals about our political system.
If the ADC or any political platform sees Gawuna as its most viable option, what does that say about the depth of our leadership pool?
Is Kano State.
