Lamara Garba

Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States and one of the most influential thinkers on democracy and liberty, is widely credited with making a profound observation about the relationship between government and the press: that if he had to choose between a society with a government but no newspapers and one with newspapers but no government, he would not hesitate to choose the latter. Although the quotation has appeared in different forms over the years, the principle behind it remains remarkably relevant: a government, no matter how well-intentioned or accomplished, cannot sustain public confidence for long without an effective means of communicating with the people it governs.

The lesson is particularly relevant to Kano State at this moment. A government may construct roads, improve schools, strengthen healthcare, invest in agriculture, empower young people, expand social interventions and pursue policies capable of transforming lives, but if those initiatives are not properly communicated, explained and understood by the public, their impact can easily be diminished in the court of public opinion. Good governance, therefore, requires good communication, and good communication requires competent leadership.

It is against this background that the appointment of Alhaji Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa as Commissioner for Information in Kano State assumes considerable significance. His emergence is not simply another appointment to the State Executive Council; it is a strategic decision to place an experienced communicator at the centre of the machinery through which the government communicates its policies, programmes, achievements and challenges to the people of Kano.

Sanusi Bature is not entering the business of government communication as a stranger. Indeed, his previous assignment has provided him with perhaps the most relevant preparation for the portfolio he now occupies. Before his appointment as Commissioner, he served as Director-General of Media and Publicity at Government House, Kano, where he was one of the principal voices of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration. In that capacity, he communicated government policies, explained decisions, responded to criticism, engaged journalists and helped the administration navigate the increasingly complex relationship between government, the media and public opinion.

That experience is now being deployed on a much larger platform.

The transition from Director-General of Media and Publicity to Commissioner for Information is, therefore, not a leap into the unknown but a logical progression from one level of responsibility to another. The man who previously stood close to the Governor to explain the administration’s position has now been entrusted with the broader responsibility of leading the ministry charged with communicating the activities of the entire state government.

And the Governor himself has made clear why he has confidence in the new Commissioner.

Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony of two newly appointed Commissioners at Government House, Kano, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf said the selection of the appointees was carefully undertaken on the basis of merit, competence and integrity, stressing that they were expected to contribute meaningfully to the development of the state. In addressing Sanusi Bature specifically, the Governor charged him to bring his wealth of experience to bear on the Ministry of Information by ensuring the timely, effective and strategic dissemination of government information to the general public.

That statement provides important context for the appointment because it demonstrates that Sanusi Bature’s elevation was not presented merely as a political reward or routine cabinet reshuffle. Rather, the Governor explicitly linked the choice to competence, integrity, experience and the capacity to contribute to the development of Kano State. In the case of the new Information Commissioner, the relevance of that experience is particularly obvious because the responsibility he has now assumed is closely connected to the work he previously performed at Government House.

Governor Yusuf’s charge is also a reminder that the Ministry of Information is much more than a publicity office. In a modern democracy, it is one of the principal bridges between government and citizens, with the responsibility of translating policies into public understanding, providing accurate and timely information, correcting misinformation, facilitating access to government programmes and creating an environment in which citizens can engage meaningfully with the administration.

This responsibility is especially important in Kano, a state with a highly politically conscious population, a vibrant media environment and a long tradition of public debate. Government decisions are closely scrutinised, political narratives are vigorously contested, and information travels rapidly through radio, television, newspapers, social media and countless informal communication channels. In such an environment, a government that does not communicate effectively risks allowing others to define its story for it.

The Information Commissioner, therefore, occupies a strategically important position. A competent communicator can amplify the achievements of a government, explain difficult policies, calm unnecessary fears and provide clarity when confusion arises, while an ineffective communication structure can create information gaps that are quickly filled by rumours, speculation and misinformation. The responsibility is not simply to announce what government has done, but to help citizens understand why it is doing so, how its policies affect them and where they can access the opportunities created by those policies.

This is precisely where Sanusi Bature’s experience becomes an important asset. His years as Director-General of Media and Publicity gave him a front-row seat to the workings of the Yusuf administration. He witnessed policies and programmes from close quarters, interacted with journalists and other stakeholders, responded to controversies and defended the administration’s position on issues of public interest. More importantly, he experienced the pressure that accompanies government communication in an environment where every statement can be scrutinised, challenged and amplified within minutes.

Such experience cannot be acquired overnight. It is earned through service, exposure and responsibility, and Sanusi Bature now brings that accumulated experience to the Ministry of Information.

His challenge, however, is to move beyond the role of being the Governor’s voice and help build a stronger institutional voice for the entire government. As Director-General of Media and Publicity, his principal responsibility was closely associated with the Governor and Government House; as Commissioner for Information, his mandate is considerably broader. He must now help coordinate the communication activities of ministries, departments and agencies, strengthen government-media relations, promote public enlightenment, harness digital platforms and ensure that citizens have timely access to credible information about government policies and programmes.

This is particularly important in the digital age, where the traditional boundaries between the newsroom, the government press office and the public have virtually disappeared. A government statement can reach thousands of people within minutes, while an inaccurate social media post can travel even faster. A rumour can become accepted as fact before the government has an opportunity to respond, making speed, accuracy and credibility essential components of modern public communication.

The Ministry of Information must, therefore, understand both traditional media and the digital communication ecosystem. It must appreciate the discipline and credibility of journalism while also understanding the speed, reach and conversational nature of social media. Government communication can no longer be confined to press releases, official ceremonies and occasional media briefings; it must be continuous, strategic, accessible and responsive to the information needs of citizens.

Perhaps the most significant indication of what Governor Yusuf expects from the new Commissioner is the specific directive he gave him concerning the growing challenge of drug abuse. The Governor emphasised the need for increased public sensitisation and education of young people on the dangers of drug abuse, illicit drugs and tobacco consumption. He also directed the Commissioner to work closely with the recently established Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking to intensify public awareness campaigns and promote collective efforts to tackle the menace.

That directive illustrates the expanding role of the Ministry of Information in contemporary governance. The fight against drug abuse is not exclusively a law enforcement responsibility; it is also an information, education and community mobilisation challenge. While law enforcement agencies may arrest offenders and the justice system may prosecute them, prevention requires sustained communication that reaches young people before harmful habits become entrenched. Schools, families, religious leaders, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, the media and government agencies must, therefore, be brought into a coordinated public enlightenment campaign.

This is an area in which Sanusi Bature’s communication experience could become particularly valuable. He understands how to develop government messages, engage the media and take public information beyond the walls of government offices. Under his leadership, the Ministry can help turn information into a preventive tool by using radio, television, newspapers, digital platforms, schools, community structures and youth organisations to communicate the dangers of substance abuse in language that resonates with young people.

The Governor’s emphasis on dedication, humility, transparency and accountability is equally significant. While administering the oath of office, he reminded the new Commissioners that public office is a public trust and a commitment, urging them to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and discipline in the discharge of their responsibilities. For an Information Commissioner, that responsibility has an additional dimension because information itself is a public trust. Citizens have a right to accurate information about the policies being implemented in their name, just as they have a right to explanations when government takes decisions that affect their lives.

This is why credibility must remain at the heart of the new Commissioner’s communication philosophy. Government communication should not be reduced to celebrating every achievement or defending every decision. Its real strength lies in its ability to provide facts, explain policies, correct misinformation and engage legitimate criticism constructively. A mature Ministry of Information should not fear questions from journalists or citizens; rather, it should regard informed public questioning as part of the democratic process.

Sanusi Bature, therefore, has an opportunity to build a Ministry of Information that is not simply a publicity machinery but a strategic communication institution. Such a ministry would help government ministries and agencies communicate more professionally, ensure that important information reaches citizens promptly, strengthen the relationship between government and the media, and establish public enlightenment as an integral part of policy implementation rather than an afterthought.

This is where the Governor’s confidence in him becomes particularly important. Governor Yusuf has already seen Sanusi Bature operate in the demanding environment of Government House, where he was required to communicate government positions under pressure and in the face of competing political narratives. He, therefore, knows the experience and capacity that the new Commissioner brings to the table. His decision to appoint him to the Information portfolio, followed by the explicit charge to deploy his wealth of experience to the ministry, represents a clear vote of confidence.

But it is also a responsibility that must now produce results.

The new Commissioner must convert familiarity with the administration into institutional capacity, experience into innovation and political understanding into professional communication. He must help ensure that government achievements are properly documented and communicated without exaggeration, that policies are explained in language ordinary citizens can understand, and that information gaps do not become unnecessary crises.

The appointment also carries a broader lesson about the relationship between governance and public perception. Governments are ultimately judged not only by what they do but also by what citizens know, understand and experience about what they do. An achievement that is not properly communicated can easily be forgotten, while a policy that is poorly explained can be misunderstood. This does not mean government communication should become propaganda; rather, it means that good governance deserves a communication system capable of presenting facts clearly and credibly.

In that regard, Sanusi Bature’s appointment appears to address an important need in the Yusuf administration. The Governor has chosen someone who understands the administration, knows its communication environment, has worked closely with the media and has already been tested in the public arena. More importantly, he has chosen someone whose previous responsibilities are directly relevant to the portfolio he has now been asked to lead.

It is, therefore, difficult to see the appointment as anything other than a logical and strategic choice.

The journey from Director-General of Media and Publicity to Commissioner for Information is, in many ways, a progression from representing the Governor’s voice to helping shape the institutional voice of government. It gives Sanusi Bature the opportunity to take the experience he acquired at Government House and use it to build a broader communication system capable of connecting the government with millions of citizens across Kano State.

The expectations are understandably high, but so is the opportunity. If he combines his previous experience with professionalism, humility, transparency, accountability and a willingness to embrace new communication technologies, he can help transform the Ministry of Information into a more responsive, strategic and citizen-centred institution.

Ultimately, the wisdom behind Jefferson’s famous observation remains relevant: government without effective communication risks becoming disconnected from the society it exists to serve. In today’s world, the equivalent of the newspaper in Jefferson’s formulation is not merely the traditional press but the entire ecosystem of credible journalism, digital communication, public enlightenment and citizen engagement.

Kano, therefore, needs a government that does not merely govern well but communicates well; a government whose policies are understood, whose achievements are documented, whose decisions are explained and whose citizens are given the information necessary to participate meaningfully in public life.

For that reason, the appointment of Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa as Commissioner for Information can rightly be regarded as a significant choice by the Yusuf administration at this stage. He comes into the ministry with institutional knowledge, media experience, political understanding and a tested record of communicating the Governor’s message. More importantly, he comes with the explicit confidence of the Governor, who has publicly identified merit, competence, integrity and experience as the qualities that informed his selection.

The microphone is now bigger, the responsibility is considerably greater, and the expectations are higher. But the man holding it is not new to the sound of government.

He has been the Governor’s voice.

He now has the opportunity to become one of the principal voices of Kano.

And if he succeeds in turning experience into effective institutional communication, he will not merely tell Kano what its government is doing; he will help Kano understand why it matters.

That, ultimately, is what good government communication should achieve.

Lamara Garba is a veteran journalist based in Kano.