Kano erupts as Gov Yusuf returns from APC convention, vows loyalty to Tinubu
By Fanen Ihyongo, Kano Thousands of supporters thronged the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport as Governor Abba Yusuf returned from the national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held
By Fanen Ihyongo, Kano
Thousands of supporters thronged the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport as Governor Abba Yusuf returned from the national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held in Abuja, triggering a massive show of support that brought parts of the city to a standstill.
Chants, music, and a sea of party flags and symbols created a charged atmosphere as residents lined the streets to welcome the governor.
Yusuf, notably wearing the signature infinity cap associated with President Bola Tinubu, used the moment to signal his political alignment. His move away from the camp of Rabiu Kwankwaso to the APC fold was widely interpreted as a decisive shift, with the symbolic attire underscoring his new allegiance.
The journey from the airport to the Government House, typically a 15-minute drive, stretched to about eight hours as crowds flooded the route, demonstrating solidarity and enthusiasm.
At the Government House, the reception intensified, with supporters cheering late into the evening as the governor addressed the gathering and pledged to deliver improved governance and development.
Describing the turnout as both humbling and energising, Yusuf reaffirmed his commitment to people-focused policies and tangible democratic dividends. He said his administration would prioritise accelerated development across critical sectors while keeping citizens at the centre of governance.
The governor also urged party loyalists to remain united and intensify grassroots mobilisation amid evolving political dynamics, as the APC consolidates its influence in the state.
"I want to reassure the good people of Kano State that our administration will continue to deliver dividends of democracy in all critical areas of human endeavour," he declared.
Yusuf pledged to leverage the state's partnership with the federal government to unlock vital interventions for Kano.
"APC is consolidated with unity of purpose, and In sha Allah, we will sweep the 2027 general elections," he prophesied with conviction.
The welcome was more than politics; it was a celebration of power, the party, people, and possibility that the winning votes were already polled. It was also a naked message to the opposition, particularly the Kwankwasiyya Movement and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kano, that: "This is a genuine crowd."
The reception, orchestrated by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), led by Saadatu Yusha'u Soja, ignited a mammoth turnout that can only be rivalled by the historic welcome on January 12, 2024, after the Supreme Court upheld Yusuf's election.
