The Director General of the Kano State Signage and Advertising Agency, Kabiru Dakata, has said Governor Abba Yusuf’s decision to leave the New Nigeria Peoples Party was driven by governance considerations, not personal ambition.
Dakata spoke on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, January 26, where he argued that states governed by the All Progressives Congress enjoy greater access to federal support.
According to him, Yusuf’s planned move to the APC was aimed at positioning Kano State to benefit more from the Federal Government.
He explained that political alignment with the ruling party at the centre often translates into increased funding, approvals, and interventions for states.
“The neighbouring states that are in the All Progressive Congress (APC) are benefiting more from the centre than Kano State, and I don’t see it as something wrong for the centre to favour states that are under the political party — that is the All Progressive State (APC). So it is not an indictment,” Dakata said.
He described the move as a strategic opportunity for Kano rather than a political misstep.
“It’s an opportunity for the party to do better in the state controlling,” he stated.
Dakata maintained that Yusuf’s decision should be viewed through the lens of performance and service delivery.
Speaking further, he said political leaders should not be discouraged from switching platforms if they believe it would help them govern more effectively.
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“If a political leader believes that he can perform better on a particular platform, I think he should be encouraged to take that step. So that’s all about it; it is not about his personal ambition,” Dakata said.
He added that Kano had already started seeing tangible benefits from the governor’s alignment with the Federal Government.
Dakata pointed to a major infrastructure project that had faced delays due to limited funds, noting that federal approval was recently secured.
“All three past governors tried their best, His Excellency Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Abdullahi Umar Ganduje all tried their best,” Dakata said.
“When His Excellency Abba Yusuf Kabir came, he did part of the project, and completed part of the project,” he added.
Dakata said fresh funding followed shortly after the alignment.
“Because of this alignment, the Federal Government has approved more than ₦46 billion for the project, that is the Wuju-Wuju project,” he said.
“Not about his personal interest, and a political leader believes that he can perform on a particular platform, I think he should be encouraged to take that step,” Dakata added.
Governor Yusuf formally resigned from the NNPP last week after weeks of speculation, citing persistent internal crises within the party and the need to protect the broader interests of Kano residents.
Yusuf’s defection has also widened the rift between him and former governor Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, a force that has shaped Kano politics for years.