A former All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Kano Central, Alhaji Abdulsalam Abdulkarim Zaura, popularly known as AA Zaura, has declared his commitment to reconciling the state’s three leading politicians—Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Ibrahim Shekarau.
Zaura said the reconciliation would shift Kano’s political landscape from opposition-driven conflicts to progressive politics that could accelerate development, similar to what is seen in Lagos and other leading states.
Speaking during a political programme aired on local radio stations, Zaura lamented that political divisions among the trio have hindered Kano’s progress. He stressed that bridging the gap between them was key to unlocking the state’s potential.
“Opposition politics in Kano, as it is played today, is not beneficial. I am ready to work towards reconciling our three key leaders—Kwankwaso, Ganduje and Shekarau. It should be about Kano, not personal interests. Once that is achieved, Lagos and other states will look to Kano for lessons in progressive politics,” he said.
Efforts to reconcile Ganduje, the APC national chairman, and Kwankwaso, the national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), have previously failed due to entrenched political differences. The last attempt was derailed when Kwankwaso’s supporters backed former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello to replace Ganduje as APC national chairman. At the time, Ganduje had insisted that he was a “Father to anyone willing to join the party,” a remark many believed undermined reconciliation efforts.
Zaura is not alone in advocating for peace among the trio. Other APC stakeholders, including the party’s 2023 deputy governorship candidate, Murtala Sule Garo and influential politician, Baffa Babba Danagundi, have made similar calls.
Kwankwaso, Ganduje, and Shekarau, all of whom have served two terms as Kano governor, belong to different political parties and have continued to wield significant influence at the local, state, and national levels.
