Headlines
Ploy to subvert will of Northerners portends danger for Nigeria – S/West Arewa coalition warns
A coalition of Arewa Communities in South-West Nigeria has expressed deep concerns over alleged ploy to subvert the will of majority of Northern voters through the judiciary.
KANO FOCUS reports that the coalition made this known on Wednesday in Ibadan during a public gathering/rally on current developments relating to Democracy, Rule of Law and Peace and Stability in Northern Nigeria.
Shehu Idris, Vice Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum, Oyo State Chapter and Hajiya Aisha Ismail, the Women Leader, Northern Community in South West who jointly spoke on behalf of the group, lamented the current hardship in the North, adding that the seeming persecution of some prominent political leaders in the region would further heat up the zone.
While calling on the judiciary to tread carefully in order not to subvert the will of the people particularly in Zamfara, Plateau and Kano states, the coalition said any crisis in the North is a result of such action would have a massive ripple effect in the South West.
The group appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress to jettison the alleged plot to hijack more states for the ruling APC through the instrumentality of the court.
It said : “We are a coalition of various Arewa groups in South West Nigeria which look out for the interests, safety and well-being of Arewa communities in the region.
” We are all witnesses to the economic and political difficulties being faced by the citizens of our country especially those in the Northern part of the country. INEC failed to deliver free, fair and transparent elections and this is made evident by the cases in our electoral Tribunals and appellate courts after the 2023 elections.
“The economy is bad. The Naira has lost value. Food is more expensive and Unemployment is very high. All these have led to higher costs of feeding, education, health, accommodation and transportation. Yet the APC Federal Government is still borrowing and spending so much money on unnecessary travel, renovation of buildings and cost of governance. These people do not care about the “common man” of Nigeria.
” Our independent minded leaders in the North are being dealt with “politically” by this government. All ahead of 2027 even before the end of 2023!! Former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufa’i who worked on his colleagues in the North to sway victory for President Tinubu was disgraced and in a “game” played by the government, his nomination was rejected by the Senate during the confirmation process, allegedly on spurious claims of not scaling security screening.
Sen. Danjuma Goje, Senator Abdulazeez Yari and others have also suffered politically in one way or the other.
Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso is also under attack and fighting for the survival of Kano State.
“The information reaching us on a daily basis is alarming. Our people in the various states in the North are mostly of the view that this government is working to suppress the North. Amongst other things they seem to be suppressing our leaders as stated above, and are also subverting the will of the majority of the NORTHERN ELECTORATES! This is clear from the election cases in Plateau, Zamfara, and Kano. As we all know, these three states are volatile states! The perceived daylight robbery and truncation of the WILL of the PEOPLE through the courts might not be accepted by the people. There is unfortunately, a feeling by our people that this is all being caused by the inordinate 2nd term ambition of President Bola Tinubu who hasn’t even settled into his first term! Anti Yoruba sentiments are growing in the North for this reason.
“Obviously, a degeneration of this situation will impact on us directly as Arewas in the South West. If the North errupts due to the hijacking of the people’s mandate by the APC through the courts and Yorubas bear the brunt of it, then we, as Northerners, will not be safe in Yoruba land either!
“We therefore call on the President and his party to stop this crazy quest for power and the grabbing of states, using the judiciary. Mr President has been quoted in the past as saying “snatch it, grab it, and run with it. Power is not served a la carte”. From what we hear coming from the North, this will be resisted this time around.
Unfortunately, we the Arewas in the South West might suffer for it.
“As our counterparts in Kano, the Yoruba community have cried out last week through a press conference, the growing political tension in Kano is alarming, and it needs to be swiftly addressed by Mr. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through non-interference into the matters of the judiciary as an independent arm of government.
“Finally, we are told that ” Law is Social Engineering”. We trust that the Supreme Court, a co-equal arm of government, will redeem the image of the Judiciary and not allow it’s institution to be used by a recklessly power hungry arm of government to ignite Nigeria! “
Headlines
Dabo’s resignation triggers wave of defections from APC in Kano
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Political allies and loyalists of former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Arc Aminu Dabo, have begun resigning from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State following his withdrawal from the ruling party.
KANO FOCUS reports that the supporters, operating under the political group Dabo Alheri Ne, reportedly include members across Kano State’s 44 local government areas.
Barely two days after Dabo announced his resignation from the APC, a prominent stakeholder of the group, Garba Zakiru Dambatta, said members had welcomed the decision and were showing solidarity by submitting their resignation letters to their respective ward party chairmen.
Dambatta, a former APC chairman in Dambatta Local Government Area, said the group’s members were disappointed with what they described as the prolonged marginalisation of Mr Dabo and his supporters within the party.
According to him, despite Mr Dabo’s contributions to the APC and efforts to strengthen the party and manage disagreements among its members, some key stakeholders had continued to sideline him and his loyalists in party activities.
Dambatta reaffirmed the group’s commitment to standing by Mr Dabo’s political decisions and supporting his future political journey.
He also urged the former NPA managing director not to succumb to political pressure or reverse his decision to leave the party.
“This step you have taken, we have the conviction that it is the beginning of a new chapter of goodness in your life,” Dambatta said.
Among the prominent members of the group identified as supporting Mr Dabo’s decision are Abba Rabee’u, a former Senior Special Assistant on Political Awareness; Almustapha Jilani Danmalam, a former Senior Special Assistant on Education; Jamilu Abdullahi Zangon-Mata, a former Senior Special Assistant on Entrepreneurship; and Fahd A. Dabo, a former Special Assistant on Youth Mobilisation.
The individuals reportedly served during the second term of former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
The group also said several other party loyalists and supporters were backing Dabo following his resignation.
However, the statement did not provide the number of members who had formally resigned from the APC or indicate whether the party leadership had responded to the development.
Headlines
Five Kano Pillars Amputee Players Invited to Special Eagles Camp Ahead of World Cup
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Five players of Kano Pillars Amputee Football Club have been invited to the national camp of Nigeria’s Special Super Eagles ahead of the 2026 Amputee Football World Cup in Mexico.
KANO FOCUS reports that invited players are Isah Yusuf, Abba Musa, Habu Friday, Emanuel Betel and Usman Ahmed. They are currently in Abuja with the national team as preparations intensify for the global tournament.
The Team Manager of Kano Pillars Amputee Football Team, Jamilu Uba Adamu, disclosed this in an interview with Ashiru Rabiu Gidan Tudu, Information Officer of the Kano State Sports Commission.
Adamu described the invitation as recognition of the players’ dedication, discipline and outstanding performances.
He expressed confidence that the players would represent Kano State and Nigeria with honour at the championship.
According to him, the call-up also demonstrates Kano Pillars’ commitment to nurturing talented amputee footballers and contributing to the development of the sport in Nigeria.
The 2026 Amputee Football World Cup is scheduled to take place from November 13 to 22 in San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico. A total of 24 countries, including seven African nations, are expected to participate.
The Executive Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Muhammad Tukur Babangida, congratulated the five players on their invitation, describing it as well deserved.
Babangida expressed confidence that they would justify the confidence reposed in them by the national team selectors.
He assured the players of the commission’s continued support and urged them to remain focused, disciplined and committed to making Kano State and Nigeria proud on the international stage.
Headlines
Former NPA MD Aminu Dabo resigns as APC caucus chairman in Dambatta
Ibrahim Khalil
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, Aminu Dabo, has resigned as the party’s caucus chairman in Dambatta Local Government Area and withdrawn his membership of the ruling party.
KANO FOCUS reports that Dabo, a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), announced his resignation in a letter dated October 7, 2026, addressed to the APC chairman of Dambatta Gabas Ward.
In the letter, personally signed by him, Dabo said he took the decision after careful consideration of personal reasons and his future endeavours.
He confirmed his resignation during a telephone conversation from Abuja on Wednesday, saying he had formally submitted the letter to the appropriate party officials in Dambatta for necessary action.
“I remain grateful for the cordial relationship I enjoyed and appreciative of the experience gained during my time of service,” he said.
The former NPA managing director also thanked the party’s leadership for the opportunity and confidence reposed in him to contribute to its development and progress during his membership.
“I sincerely appreciate the support and opportunity I have received from the party leadership,” he added.
A statement issued by Abdullahi Othman, Media and Publicity Aide to Dabo Dabo, said the former NPA MD did not disclose further details about his reasons for leaving the APC in the resignation letter.
