Kwankwaso and the politics of reciprocity, by Abdullahi Adam Usman
Most of the people who come online—or remain offline—to troll Kwankwaso and his Kwankwasiyya movement as a cult-like fellowship, already have their own political favorites. Ironically, many of those they defend are more corrupt and morally bankrupt than Kwankwaso.
In the entire history of Nigeria, from independence to date, there has hardly been a politician who has given back to his community as much as Kwankwaso has done to the people of Kano State, both in human and capital development.
It is only under Kwankwasiyya—during Kwankwaso’s leadership and now under his successor, Abba Kabir Yusuf—that 1,000 citizens at a time were sponsored to study abroad in prestigious institutions. Most of these beneficiaries were sons and daughters of the underprivileged, many of whom had never seen an airport before that day.
READ ALSO: If an Emir can kneel for someone, I would kneel for Kwankwaso” — Emir of Daura
Those at home were not left out either. From free education to maternal care, to various community interventions, Kwankwaso’s initiatives reached the nooks and crannies of the state. To his credit, he established the only two state universities in Kano and built numerous colleges across nearly all 44 local government areas of the state.
There is nothing more priceless that one can give a citizen than education. Kwankwaso understood this truth, and he built his political movement on that very principle. Some of those sponsored for studies during Kwankwaso’s tenure are today serving as Commissioners, Executive Secretaries, and Directors, driving economic, climate, and human development initiatives in the state.
Some may argue that Kwankwaso did nothing extraordinary, since all these were financed with public funds to which every citizen is entitled. That argument is not entirely wrong. But unlike many of his peers, Kwankwaso did not stash those funds in private homes, squander them abroad, or convert them into vast personal wealth and assets. Even if one insists he enriched himself in some ways, he still stands far ahead of most politicians, because he did not think of himself alone—he invested heavily in the society.
READ ALSO: “I did not agree to any power-sharing deal with Atiku, Peter Obi” – Kwankwaso
The people of Kano understand this reality well, and they value reciprocity. That is why they have always rallied around Kwankwaso at the polls—whether he is in power or not, whether his party is old or newly formed. They defeated an incumbent government with both state and federal backing in 2019, and they repeated the feat in 2023 with a party that had barely been structured.
Trolls, bashings, defections, and betrayals will never halt the Kwankwasiyya movement. This is because the foundation of the movement is not built on individuals but on the collective will of the people. Whenever someone exits, another quickly fills the vacuum, and business continues as usual. No other politician in Nigeria enjoys such a bond with the masses. THIS IS KWANKWASO’S MIRACLE!
Abdullahi is a student of International Studies, and can be reached on; abdallahnangere@gmail.com
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