By Kolawole Omoniyi
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has applauded the Yoruba community in Kano for unreserved support and prayers during the trying period of litigation which led to his victory at Supreme Court.
Recall that the apex Court had on January 12, 2024 reversed the decision of the Court of Appeal and the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, which sacked Yusuf and declared Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the guber election.
The Governor gave the appreciation on Saturday in Kano during a grand reception held in honour of Alhaji Abdussalam Abiola Abdulllateef on his appointment as the Special Adviser to the governor on Yoruba Community.
Represented by the Chairman of Fagge Local Government Area of the State Alh Habu Ibrahim Fagge, the governor however commended the organizer of the colorful event in honour of his Special Adviser whom he described as “a perfect gentleman and highly intelligent”.
“Let me thank the entire Yoruba Community for honoring our friend, a gentle man, and I will also say that the entire Yoruba community should consider themselves as part and parcel of Kano.
“We shall never forget during our trying time when we were in the court from the Tribunal to the Court of Appeal up to the Supreme Court, the entire Yoruba Community in Kano supported and encouraged us.
“They (Yoruba Community) even sent an open letter to the President of this country, Bola Ahmed Tinubu that for peace to reign in Kano, Abba Kabir Yusuf should remain the governor of Kano State, we certainly do appreciate the support.” He explained.
On his part, HRH Oba Murtala Alimi Otisese (MAO), the Oba of Yoruba in Kano State, appreciated the state governor for creating enabling environment for the Yoruba people to strive and portray what they were known for as peaceful and united people.
His words “I want to use this opportunity to thank his Excellency, Engr. Abba Kabiru Yusuf for giving us an opportunity to portray what we are used to which is peace and unity. We also thank him for selecting Abdullateef Abiola Abdulsalam as his special adviser.
“I want to use this same opportunity to appreciate the Emir of Kano, HRH Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero for embracing Yoruba people in Kano very well and it really gladdens our heart.”
Other dignitaries present at the occasion included, HRH Igwe Boniface Ibekwe, the traditional leader of Igbo Community in Kano State, His Highness the Enuoighe of Edo Fred Aihgbe, religious leaders and political associates of the celebrant. They all showered accolades on Alhaji Abdulsalam for his “well-deserved appointment.”
In his closing remark, Alh Abdullateef Abiola Abdulsalam, the celebrant appreciated the state governor for counting him worthy as one of his Special Advisers. He also commended the kind gesture of the organisers of the reception in his honour.
The Special Adviser to the governor on Yoruba Community, however, pledged to represent the interest of the Yoruba Speaking people in the state so as to ensuring that they benefit from the people-oriented programmes of the present administration in the state.
Prior to his appointment, Abdulsalam had his first short at politics when he was appointed as Special Adviser on Intercommunity Relations to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Kano State Governor, from 2011 to 2015.
He currently holds a prestigious chieftaincy title of an adviser to Oba Yoruba in Kano, known as “Bobajiroro of Yoruba Kano”.