ECHOES OF OBAMA IN ABBA: Rewarding opponents with justice
By MUSTAPHA MUHAMMAD
It is glaring to note that Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Executive Governor of Kano state begun to dive in world political stage due to his character of exhibiting emotional intelligence in governance, concealing emotions and bringing public goods without considering political differences, vendetta or persecution; setting a new face of political tolerance.
This is evident when Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, continues paying the former Councilors who served under the immediate past administration that is a sharp rival of his government.
Governor Yusuf appears to have drawn inspiration from the timeless wisdom of the ancient philosopher, Plato, who once declared, “we’ve heard many people say and have often said it ourselves that, justice is doing one’s work and not meddling with what isn’t one’s own.”
This is exactly what the former President of United States of America, Barack Obama, did to his former fierce presidential rival in 2008 election, John McCain.
Barrack Obama paid his opponent, John McCain, $771.82 in concession funds after the 2008 presidential election. This gesture was seen as a symbol of respect and adherence to campaign finance regulation.
Similarly, on 2nd October, 2025, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, has paid the former councilors who served under the immediate past administration their severance packages and gratuities for the second time to the tune of N5, 604,205,998.70 for 1,198 former Councilors who served the State between 2018 to 2021.
It could be recalled that the people’s governor launched the first payment in May this year to the former Councilors about 903 of them who received N1,805,003,823.
Initially, the plan for the payments was in four tranches to the end of December, 2025, but the Governor, at the occasion of the second payment made a bold step and promised to pay all the remaining balance at once in November, bringing hope closer to the retired Councilors.
“Arrangements are already at the top gear for the payment of N8, 258,424,823.20 to 1,371 ex-Councilors, which finally bring this long-standing matter to rest,” Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf was quoted to have said at the launching of the second batch payment, Thursday, 2 October, 2025.
According to the governor, “by fulfilling this obligation, our administration is sending a clear and powerful message: the sacrifices of those who dedicated their time and energy to serve at grassroots will never be forgotten.
History will never forget the impact His Excellency Alhaji Abba Kabir, had on settling the nearly decade long gratuity and severance packages for the Councilors that served during the immediate past administration.
The former government neglected, rejected and dejected the Councilors, but Alhaji Abba Kabir’s administration that respects the rights and privileges of the people irrespective of their political affiliation deem it necessary to revisit the backlogs payments to the tune of N15,667,634,644.9 and keep settling them.
Abba Kabir Yusuf, is a rare gem in our political history, like Obama in the political history of United State of America.
*Mustapha Muhammad, the Chief Press Secretary to the Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, writes from ancient City of Kano.
