By Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya
In the anatomy of governance, the personal character of a leader is often tested not in the absence of crises but in how he rises above the missteps of others. The current crisis involving a serving Commissioner in Kano State who personally facilitated bail for a suspected drug baron has generated understandable public concern. However, what must not be lost in the emotion of the moment is the towering record of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in his unrelenting and consistent fight against drug abuse and criminality in the State
It is tempting, in the rush of public discourse, to conflate the actions of one man with the entire philosophy of a government. But governance, at its most noble, demands that we distinguish between the intent of the state and that of an individual. In this context, the Commissioner’s personal involvement, which he has categorically clarified as an act done based on his own volition , does not, and must not, reflect the values and vision of Governor Yusuf’s administration. The governor has neither endorsed nor condoned such a move, and the silence of power in this instance must not be mistaken for complicity.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has, from the inception of his administration, demonstrated a principled stance against the rising scourge of drug abuse, youth criminality, and the systemic decay that fuels insecurity in our society. Under his leadership, Kano State has not only spoken against drug-related crimes but has institutionalized the fight through deliberate policies and programmes.
Take a look at the list: The establishment of the Kano State Bureau for Drug Abuse Prevention and Control, a pioneering agency designed to coordinate anti-drug campaigns, engage at-risk youth and rehabilitate victims of addiction; The Safe Corridor: Kano Model initiative, which has so far profiled and engaged over 1700 repentant political thugs, many of whom had once been caught in the web of substance abuse and criminal violence; Strategic partnerships with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and security agencies, meant to ensure, not only law enforcement, but also public enlightenment and community resilience; Consistent advocacy at state and national platforms, where Governor Yusuf calls on traditional, religious and political leaders to see drug abuse and related crimes not just as social ills, but national emergencies as well.
Worthy of note in his unrelenting efforts at the fight against drug abuse, Governor Yusuf reopened and renovated the Kiru Reformative Centre initiated by the administration of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, when the current Governor was the Commissioner for Works. The Centre meant to rehabilitate drug addicts was closed down by the Ganduje administration.
These efforts are certainly not the footnotes of his administration. They are central pillars of his philosophy of governance, anchored on the belief that no society thrives where the youth are enslaved to drugs and criminality
In the face of this controversy, the natural inclination would be to question the cohesion of the cabinet. But Governor Yusuf, like the philosopher-king envisioned by Plato, understands that power must be exercised with justice, and justice must be seen as impartial. That a commissioner acted outside the official frameworks of government should not be a pointer to failure of leadership, but proof of a leadership that allows individual agency, with all its attendant consequences.
The governor has not interfered with the process of public accountability. Therefore he has not shielded the Commissioner. More importantly, he has allowed the integrity of state institutions to speak for themselves. This is the mark of statesmanship, finding expression in the Philosophy of Responsibility and Individual Choice
Therefore, society must resist the seduction of moral laziness, the kind that seeks to paint every lapse as a reflection of the collective. As Aristotle reminds us, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” Governor Yusuf’s habit of confronting insecurity, tackling drug abuse and investing in preventive structures is no mere act. It is a pattern of excellence, a habit of upright leadership that must not be so easily dismissed.
In contrast, the Commissioner’s admission that he acted on his volition removes any ambiguity about intent or complicity. The line is clear, a man acted on his own, and the governor remains on the side of the law.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has shown, time and again, that his administration is committed to restoring dignity, order, and hope to the people of Kano State. This moment of controversy should serve as a test of our collective discernment, not an excuse to derail a purposeful leadership.
If anything, this incident underscores the need to rally behind a governor who has never wavered in his commitment to a safer, saner, and drug-free Kano. It reminds us that in the theatre of governance, even a falling star can not dim the light of all steady sun.
And that sun, for now, continues to shine over Kano, under the watch of Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Waiya is the Hon. Commissioner,
Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs, Kano State
