The immediate past Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation in Kano State, Dr Yusuf Ibrahim Kofar-Mata, has described Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) as a “total betrayal” of both the Kwankwasiyya Movement and the people of Kano State.
Kofar-Mata was the first political appointee to resign after the governor reportedly defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). His action opened the floodgates, as several commissioners and aides loyal to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso followed suit, quitting the cabinet in protest.
In his recent interview with the Vanguard, Kofar-Mata says the governor’s decision amounts to political suicide, insisting that the mandate Abba Yusuf is exercising belongs to the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement, not to him personally.
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Asked how he felt about the governor’s defection, Kofar-Mata did not mince words.
“We see it as betrayal, total betrayal,” he said. “In fact, I have never seen this kind of betrayal in my life. This is someone who spent close to 40 years with his political leader. Senator Kwankwaso trusted him completely. He was the custodian of his documents and privy to everything. For him to turn around and do this is shocking.”
According to him, more than one million Kano voters did not vote for Abba Yusuf as an individual in 2023, but for the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
“People voted for NNPP because of Kwankwaso and Kwankwasiyya, not because of Abba Yusuf. That is why this betrayal is not just against Kwankwaso, but against the people of Kano State,” he said.
Reacting to the governor’s claim that his defection was in the interest of Kano, especially on security grounds, Kofar-Mata dismissed the argument.
“Which interest? Security because you joined APC?” he asked. “Look at APC states like Kaduna, Katsina and others. Insecurity is everywhere. Kano has been peaceful. There is no justification for this move. It is purely personal interest.”
He also rejected claims that Kano was being isolated as an opposition state.
“Kano has been in opposition many times in history,” he said. “During Abubakar Rimi’s era, Kano was in opposition and still recorded massive development. Opposition is not a crime.”
Kofar-Mata said what hurt most was that some politicians had earlier left Kwankwaso in 2019 because of Abba Yusuf’s nomination as governorship candidate, only for the same Abba to now abandon Kwankwaso.
“People left their political father because of him. Today, he has joined those who hated him. This is betrayal at its peak,” he said.
Explaining why he resigned, Kofar-Mata said staying in government would amount to endorsing what he described as an injustice.
“If it was about personal interest, I would have remained in office. But we are driven by ideology. The mandate belongs to the people, and the people are with Kwankwaso.”
He insisted that the NNPP has no internal crisis, describing such claims as excuses created by the governor.
“All our congresses were held successfully with INEC present. We have no court cases. We have a valid logo. The problem was created by Abba Yusuf to justify his exit,” he said.
On whether Kwankwasiyya is already preparing to reclaim power, Kofar-Mata was confident.
“We have structures dating back to NEPU. Kwankwassiyya is a movement, not a one-man project. By 2027, insha Allah, we will reclaim our stolen mandate.”
He accused NNPP lawmakers, especially the Speaker, of betraying the movement by siding with the governor.
“They were given tickets through consensus. We did everything for them. Instead of reminding the governor of his roots, they followed him,” he said.
On the deputy governor’s silence, Kofar-Mata said there was no reason for him to resign.
“He was elected jointly with the governor. He remains with NNPP. The mandate belongs to both of them,” he added.
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