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Auwalu Anwar: NEPU’s ideals offer lessons for Nigeria’s 2027 elections
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
A political analyst, Dr Auwalu Anwar, has called on Nigerians to draw lessons from the ideological foundation of the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
KANO FOCUS reports that Dr Anwar made the call on Saturday at a lecture organised to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the founding of NEPU at the Mambayya House, Centre for Democratic Research and Training, Bayero University, Kano.
The lecture, titled “Kwadayi Mabudin Wahala: Waiwaye a Kan Aqidun NEPU da Darussa don Zaben 2027” (Political Greed: Revisiting NEPU’s Ideology and Lessons for the 2027 Elections), examined the political conditions that led to the formation of NEPU in 1950 and their relevance to contemporary Nigerian politics.
He said understanding the circumstances surrounding the emergence of the party and its ideological orientation was essential to understanding the challenges confronting Nigeria’s democracy.
Dr Anwar said political ideology represented a set of convictions about how society should be governed and the principles required to address social problems and protect the dignity and freedom of citizens.
Dr Auwalu Anwar
According to him, religion, culture, education, gender, environment, occupation, governance structures, history and prevailing social conditions all contribute to the development of political ideology.
Colonial rule and emergence of NEPU
Dr Anwar said before the formation of NEPU, the political and administrative system in Northern Nigeria was largely controlled through an alliance between the British colonial authorities and traditional rulers.
He described the arrangement as a system in which the colonial government exercised control through the traditional institutions, with the emirs playing significant roles in maintaining law and order, taxation, justice, security and economic administration.
He said the situation created resentment among sections of the population and contributed to the emergence of political movements seeking greater freedom and participation in governance.
According to him, the political awakening eventually led to the formation of organisations such as the Northern Elements Progressive Association (NEPA/JANA) in 1947 by Abdurrahman Bida, Raji Abdallah, Aminu Kano and Sa’adu Zungur.
He said the group was established to educate people about political issues but was subsequently dissolved after the colonial authorities became concerned about its activities.
Dr Anwar also recalled the formation of the Northern Teachers Association by Aminu Kano in 1948 and its subsequent confrontation with authorities over allegations of political activities.
How NEPU was formed
He said NEPU was formally established on August 8, 1950, when eight young men met at Bello Ijumu’s residence in Sabon Gari, Kano, to establish a political party committed to justice and equality.
The eight founders, he said, were Malam Abba Maikwaru, Mr Bello Ijumu, Alhaji Mudi Sipikin, Alhaji Magaji Dambatta, Alhaji Baballiya Manaja, Alhaji Musa Kaula, Alhaji Abdulqadir Na Adamu Danjaji and Alhaji Garba Bida.
Alhaji Abba Maikwaru and Mr Bello Ijumu were elected chairman and secretary respectively.
Dr Anwar said the party’s initial objectives included educating ordinary people about their rights, mobilising them to demand freedom of expression and association, challenging oppressive political structures and working towards self-government.
The party also promoted truth, justice, hard work, education, cooperation and commitment to religious values.
He said Malam Aminu Kano resigned his government job on November 4, 1950, to openly participate in NEPU activities as a full-time politician.
At its first national conference in Kano in April 1951, NEPU adopted what became known as the Sawaba Declaration, which criticised the existing political and traditional power structures and called for the liberation of ordinary people from oppression.
Dr Anwar said Aminu Kano’s election as national leader of NEPU at its 1953 conference in Bida further strengthened the party and cemented his association with its political ideology.
Islamic teachings influenced NEPU ideology
The lecturer said Islamic teachings played an important role in shaping the ideological foundations of NEPU.
He cited Qur’anic injunctions calling on believers to promote good and prevent wrongdoing, as well as the famous hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad instructing Muslims to oppose wrongdoing according to their capacity.
Dr Anwar said these teachings influenced the commitment of NEPU supporters to justice, freedom and resistance to oppression.
He also cited poems by NEPU-associated poets, including Gambo Hawaja Jos and Sa’adu Zungur, as evidence of the movement’s commitment to social justice and its criticism of economic exploitation and oppressive governance.
According to him, Zungur’s poems documented the numerous taxes, levies, fines and other burdens imposed on ordinary people during the period.
Democracy requires five conditions
Dr Anwar argued that genuine democracy could not exist without five fundamental conditions.
He listed them as an independent judiciary, a legislature committed to public interests, an accountable government, an independent electoral commission and respect for the constitution.
“If these five pillars are firmly established, the conditions for genuine democracy will be strengthened,” he said.
He, however, questioned whether Nigeria’s political system currently satisfied those conditions.
Dr Anwar said a review of NEPU’s ideological principles raised serious questions about whether the country’s current political environment could genuinely be described as democratic.
He also questioned whether Nigeria had an adequate framework for ensuring credible elections in 2027 and preventing political parties from manipulating internal processes to determine candidates.
Today’s parties lack clear ideology
Dr Anwar said Nigeria’s contemporary political parties were largely characterised by weak ideological commitments.
He traced some of the problems to the military interventions that disrupted the First Republic and restricted the development of political parties based on clearly defined ideologies.
He noted that the return to civilian rule in 1979 produced parties such as the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), which he described as a successor in ideology to NEPU, and the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), which he said retained some characteristics associated with the Northern People’s Congress (NPC).
He said the military governments that followed also interfered with the development of political parties, citing the creation of the NRC and SDP under Ibrahim Babangida and five political parties under Sani Abacha.
According to him, the transition to civilian rule in 1999 further produced the AD, APP and PDP, but political parties have since struggled to develop strong ideological identities.
He said this had resulted in parties frequently appearing to differ more in name and personnel than in their fundamental political objectives.
APC, opposition parties have similar interests
Dr Anwar criticised both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition parties, arguing that there was insufficient ideological distinction between them.
He said political parties had increasingly been associated with internal authoritarianism, manipulation, vote-buying, political scheming, betrayal of supporters and the pursuit of personal wealth.
“Political parties are platforms for displaying the interests and aspirations of their members,” he said, arguing that parties claiming to represent ordinary Nigerians should demonstrate clear commitment to those interests.
He also criticised opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for failing to unite around a coherent alternative political programme.
He said the struggle to defeat the ruling party appeared, in many cases, to be driven more by the desire to gain political power than by a clearly defined programme for national transformation.
Call for issue-based voting in 2027
Dr Anwar urged Nigerians not to vote solely on the basis of party affiliation in the 2027 elections.
He advised voters to scrutinise individual candidates at every level and assess their integrity, competence, experience and commitment to public service.
“Every party has its share of oppressors, deceivers and corrupt individuals at different levels of leadership and representation,” he said.
He therefore urged voters to examine candidates individually rather than automatically supporting or rejecting an entire political party.
According to him, blindly voting for candidates simply because they belong to a particular party could lead to widespread regret.
“The Nigerian voter must use the wisdom given to him by God to carefully examine the candidates presented by political parties at every level and choose the one he considers more trustworthy and honourable,” he said.
He concluded by quoting Sa’adu Zungur, warning that ignoring the truth could ultimately lead to regret.
“If the ear hears, the body survives,” he said.
Chairman of the 9th NEPU-Day Lecture, Dr Bala Muhammad of the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano, also highlighted the historical significance of the movement in his remarks.
Dr Bala Muhammad
He stressed the importance of preserving NEPU’s legacy and drawing relevant lessons from its history for the future of Nigeria’s democracy.
The annual lecture is organised to provide a platform for scholars, activists and members of the public to reflect on the movement’s historical contributions and examine contemporary political and socio-economic issues affecting the country.
The lecture formed part of activities marking the 76th anniversary of NEPU, which was founded in 1950 and became associated with campaigns for social justice, political participation and the empowerment of ordinary people in Northern Nigeria.
Suspect returned to Kano to face investigation, prosecution
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking has arrested a suspected gang leader and sponsor, Ishaq Lawan Ibrahim, popularly known as Malam Keya, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
KANO FOCUS reports that the 27-year-old suspect, from Yelwa in Dala Local Government Area of Kano State, is accused of sponsoring violent gang clashes that have claimed lives and heightened insecurity in parts of the state.
The task force disclosed this in a statement, saying the suspect was arrested following intelligence-led operations after allegedly fleeing Kano as security operations against gang violence intensified.
According to the statement, operatives tracked him to Port Harcourt and arrested him in an operation led by the task force’s Head of Operations, CSP Bashir Gwadabe. He has since been returned to Kano.
The task force alleged that Malam Keya played a leading role in orchestrating and financing hoodlums involved in violent attacks in Dala and other affected communities.
The areas reportedly affected by the gang violence include Jakara, Madigawa, Yalwa, Sanka, Kul Kul, Dogon Nama, Kukar Bulukiya, Dala, Shatsari and Dandalin Turawa.
Confirming the arrest, the task force chairman, Barr Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, said the operation demonstrated the agency’s determination to pursue suspected sponsors of violence beyond Kano State.
“Let me assure you that those who bankroll violence should know that no distance, and no hiding place, will protect them. This arrest is only the beginning. We will not rest until peace is fully restored,” he said.
The task force said the suspect remained in custody for further investigation and would be prosecuted upon the conclusion of the investigation.
It added that its operations would continue in accordance with the law, with all suspects entitled to due process.
The agency also pledged to sustain efforts to dismantle criminal gangs, identify their alleged sponsors and disrupt drug supply networks linked to criminal activities.
It urged residents, community and religious leaders, parents and youths to support security efforts by reporting suspicious persons and activities, monitoring their neighbourhoods and discouraging young people from being recruited into criminal gangs.
The task force described public cooperation as essential to restoring peace and security across the state.
It also acknowledged the support of the Kano and Rivers state police commands and other law enforcement agencies in the operation.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Police Command has foiled an alleged kidnapping plot in Gezawa Local Government Area and arrested two 20-year-old suspects over threats to abduct a village head.
KANO FOCUS reports that the suspects, identified as Aliyu Naziru Garba and Bashir Alhasan, were arrested following intelligence-led operations by police operatives attached to the Gezawa Divisional Police Headquarters.
The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa.
According to the statement, the incident was reported on October 26, 2026, at about 1:30 a.m. by the village head of Bangare, Mallam Idris, who told the police that he had received a threatening phone call from an unidentified person on October 24 at about 9:33 p.m.
The caller allegedly threatened to kidnap him.
Following the report, police operatives launched a follow-up operation, which led to the arrest of the two suspects.
“The suspects have confessed to the commission of the crime,” the statement said, adding that investigations were ongoing and the suspects would be charged to court upon completion.
The Commissioner of Police in Kano State, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, commended officers of the Gezawa Division for their swift and professional response.
Bakori reiterated the command’s zero-tolerance stance on criminal activities and said the operation aligned with the policing vision of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, which prioritises intelligence-led and technology-driven policing, professionalism and proactive crime prevention.
The police urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons or movements to the nearest police station.
The command also provided the following emergency contact numbers for reporting security concerns: 08032419754, 08123821575 and 09029292926.
The Eurodite scholar alleges that insurgents continue to exert influence in parts of the North, while the summit calls for stronger security measures and urgent action to address the plight of affected communities.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Dr Usman Bugaje, a scholar and political activist, has criticised Nigeria’s political leadership over persistent insecurity in Muslim-majority communities, describing the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket as a “fraud” allegedly used to win voters’ support without addressing their challenges.
KANO FOCUS reports that Bugaje spoke at a one-day summit organised by the Islamic Forum of Nigeria in Kano on Saturday, with the theme, “Dilemma of Muslims in Nigeria: The Way Forward.”
The summit brought together Islamic scholars, professionals and other stakeholders to discuss insecurity, economic hardship, religious discrimination and other challenges confronting Muslims in the country.
Dr Bugaje argued that the religious identity of political leaders had not translated into adequate protection for Muslim communities, despite the support they received from voters.
He said persistent insecurity and economic hardship raised questions about the benefits of political arrangements built around religious identity.
Citing the security situation in the North-East, Bugaje alleged that Boko Haram insurgents continued to wield influence in communities around Maiduguri, where they reportedly collected taxes and held court sessions to settle disputes among residents.
He also expressed concern over the security situation in Sokoto State, claiming that residents travelling from the state capital to Isa Local Government Area could do so only twice a week with the support of the Joint Task Force (JTF).
The scholar argued that the situation underscored the failure of political representation based on religious identity to guarantee safety and improve living conditions for the people.
He further raised concerns about Nigeria’s dependence on imported medicines, claiming that about 70 per cent of drugs used in the country were imported.
Dr Bugaje said strengthening domestic pharmaceutical production and protecting the country’s territorial integrity were important measures of national independence.
He also warned about drug abuse among young people and women, describing it as a threat to the social and economic wellbeing of Muslim communities.
Earlier, Professor Sulaiman Abdullahi Karwai of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, said the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket did not necessarily represent Muslim interests, arguing that politicians had adopted the arrangement as an electoral strategy because of the large Muslim population in Nigeria.
Prof Karwai lamented the economic hardship facing Nigerians, citing inflation, fuel subsidy removal, exchange-rate changes and tax reforms as factors contributing to the difficulties experienced by citizens.
He also raised concerns about insecurity, including the reported abduction and killing of a professor and a nurse at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, as well as what he described as inadequate federal capital projects in Muslim-majority states.
Recalling the late General Sani Abacha’s establishment of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), Karwai said its interventions helped support health and educational institutions amid increases in fuel prices.
The summit’s chairman, Alhaji Gidado Mukhtar, said Nigeria was a multi-religious country in which citizens should be free to practise their faith.
He said the summit was convened to examine challenges confronting Muslims, including insecurity, religious discrimination and persecution.
The National Chairman of the Islamic Forum of Nigeria, General Ahmad Daku (rtd), represented by his deputy, Alhaji Muhammad Tukur Bello, said the meeting was intended to assess the situation of Muslims and identify a way forward.
The forum’s Acting Executive Secretary, Alhaji Dalhatu Muhammad Gwarzo, said the discussions addressed major challenges affecting Muslim communities, particularly banditry, kidnapping and religious discrimination.
Alhaji Gwarzo said the summit called on state governors and members of the National and State Assemblies to remember the plight of affected communities and take concrete steps to address their problems.
He added that the leaders had been urged to act decisively, noting that Allah was aware of the situation confronting the people.
He also called on Muslims and other Nigerians to intensify prayers for divine intervention, while urging Imams to pray for Allah’s guidance and solutions to the country’s challenges and sensitise the Muslim community, particularly during Friday sermons.
The forum said a committee would be constituted to review the summit’s resolutions and develop an actionable plan for implementation.
In its communiqué, the summit called for stronger security measures, a review of economic policies it said were worsening hardship, fairness in federal appointments, protection of the right to wear hijab and greater cooperation among Muslim organisations.
It also urged Muslim communities and organisations to invest in education, healthcare, economic empowerment and Islamic social finance as part of efforts to tackle poverty and improve human development.
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