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• Kwankwassiyya,‘Kano First’ struggle for political space
From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
Something new has grabbed the political space of Kano. It is catching on like wild fire. It is a new political catch-phrase: “Kano First.”
The catch-phrase, emerging soon after the lapse of the Kwankwassiyya slogan, is popular among members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their sympathizers. It is grounded in the belief that loyalty should not be self-serving or to an individual, but to the people.
In major traffics, such as Club Road, Round About, Murtala Mohammed Way, Zaria Road and Airport Road, one is greeted with large billboards of “Kano First with Renewed Hope.” The phrase is often illustrated with the bold photos of Governor Yusuf and President Bola Tinubu.
Undoubtedly, these billboards are beautiful to behold. However, it is their signification that matters the most, not their form. Analysts told Daily Sun that “Kano First” emerged as a statement of strength during the heat of the face-off between the governor and his erstwhile mentor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. It was a counter-narrative to the accusation of betrayal by Kwankwaso.
“When it was first uttered, it was sweet to the ears. It was mind-swaying and it offered the much-needed answer, in few words, as to why Abba switched his loyalty from NNPP to APC,” said a source. “And soon the people were no longer grieving over Abba’s sudden split from his political mentor. They became more understanding of the difficult context he faced and the need to move on,” he added.
To better understand the landscape that gave rise to “Kano First,” one may need to revisit the governor’s remarks during his reception at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, about a month ago. Abba aptly reaffirmed the philosophy of “Kano First” when he told his audience:
“For us, politics is to serve the people. Every decision I have, therefore, taken as governor has been guided by what best would come to Kano State. Kano is too large, too strategic and too important to be politically disconnected from the centre of national governance.
“Let me say again. It is a well-known fact that development today is driven by alignment, by cooperation and access to national opportunities. That reality informed our decision to align Kano State with the APC and the centre.
“This decision was not driven by personal ambition or by political anxiety. It was driven by the responsibility to reposition Kano State to where it can engage effectively, attract opportunities and deliver governance benefits to our people under the leadership of Tinubu and his Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Investigation by Daily Sun indicated that “Kano First” slogan is no longer restricted to the open skies of high-profile billboards. It has found its way into the prose and poetry of the people. On some radio political programmes, including phone-ins, the mention of “Kano First” by presenters and discussants is on the rise.
Bello Audu, who resides at Panisau, recounted: “The other day, I saw a rickety bus driving from Jaba to Bata Junction. To my surprise, it bore the bold inscription of “Ungogo First.” That tells you that the “First” thing has been adopted by some of our local and barely literate population.”
A one-time gubernatorial aspirant, Jafar Bello, said there was nothing new or unusual about the use of catch-phrases or slogans to mobilise the people in state affairs: “It has been deployed for years in many advanced democracies like the United States of America to highlight or push forth particular political brands.
“The phrase, ‘Let’s make America great again,’ played a mobilising role in the last US elections. The Buhari administration came on board with the slogan, ‘Change Begins With You’”
Jafar rationalised the coinage of “Kano First” in the context of the feud between the governor and his erstwhile godfather, Kwankwaso: “The governor was left with fewer options but to quickly identify himself with an attractive slogan and catch-phrase that speaks directly to the people.”
But can we trust the phrase makers and the copy artists? Do politicians mean what they say when they coin these catchy phrases?
Jafar: “It will be very hard to know if the governor truly puts the interest of the state first in all he does. The actions and inactions in the coming days will offer insights as to whether to believe him or not to believe in him.”
