A REJOINDER: KANO NEED TRUTH,NOT CONVENIENT SCAPEGOATS

 A REJOINDER: KANO NEED TRUTH,NOT CONVENIENT SCAPEGOATS.


By. Tijjani Sarki

Good Governance Advocate and Public Policy Analyst

26 November 2025



The insecurity in Kano is real, painful, and deeply troubling. Families are fleeing their villages. Parents are afraid for their children. Businesses are suffering. But in the midst of this crisis, truth must not be sacrificed for partisan convenience.


I am not exonerating Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, yet it is crucial to understand who truly holds the levers of power over security. In Nigeria, Governors are “Chief Security Officers” in title, but not in practical authority. The Nigeria Police Force, the Army, DSS, and other federal security agencies answer only to the federal government. Governors cannot deploy soldiers, command police officers, transfer DPOs, or enforce compliance.


Despite this, some commentators have blamed the Governor entirely for security failures. This misrepresentation ignores reality and misleads citizens. Even within Kano, Governor Yusuf has publicly lamented that the police “refuse to obey my orders, claiming they take instructions from above” (Daily Post, 2024). In October 2025, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori withdrew police officers from the Independence Day parade, prompting the Governor to demand his removal.


This is not unique to Kano. Across Nigeria:


Rivers: Governor Wike vs CP Joseph Mbu (2017–2019) repeated refusal of police to follow state directives.


Ekiti: Governor Fayose vs CP (2014 & 2018)  police ignored lawful directives during elections.


Benue: Governor Samuel Ortom vs police (2018)  delayed responses to herdsmen attacks.


Zamfara, Lagos, Anambra: Similar disputes between state executives and CPs underscore the structural limitation of Governors’ powers.



These cases prove that blaming Governors for security failures without acknowledging federal responsibility is both legally unsound and politically misleading.


Kano’s political division only worsens the problem. Opposition parties, when misused, often turn insecurity into a tool for partisan gain. Citizens’ fear should never become a political instrument. National Assembly members must step up, demand accountability from federal authorities, and insist that security agencies obey lawful state directives.


Real solutions are clear:


Ensure police and federal officers respond promptly to legitimate state requests.


Strengthen joint task forces in vulnerable LGAs.


Promote genuine federal,state cooperation free from political interference.


Speak truth to citizens about who actually holds power over security.


Our people are suffering. But pointing fingers at someone who legally cannot control security forces will not stop the violence. We need truth, accountability, and action from those who have actual power.


Governor Yusuf, like other Governors across Nigeria, is constrained by the federal system. To demand more from him than the Constitution allows is unfair. To politicize insecurity for scoring points is dangerous.


Kano deserves solutions, not narratives.

Kano deserves truth.


Sarki write from zawaciki, Kano

Can be reach on

tijjanisarki.blogspot.com


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