As a student of power and politics—one who subscribes largely to the Marxist definition of politics, with a touch of Machiavellian realism—I believe political choices must be guided by reason, not sentiment.
Before going straight to the point, let me ask the good people of Kano: who brought, endorsed and helped Ganduje to become Gov of Kano state in the first place, and who brought Abba Kabir Yusuf? More importantly, can we objectively compare their performances, especially in the areas of education, healthcare, employment, youth empowerment, and poverty reduction, within their first four years in office?
If, after an honest assessment, you believe that Abba Kabir Yusuf has performed better than Ganduje and other did in his first four years, then party affiliation, emotions, and sentiments should be set aside. Vote based on performance. Politics should never be reduced to blind loyalty or emotional attachment.
As political scientists often remind us, politics is fundamentally about “who gets what, when, and how.” Or, as Dudley Seers aptly puts it:
What has been happening to poverty? What has been happening to unemployment? And what has been happening to inequality?
These are the critical questions voters must ask while assessing Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration. If you are convinced that his government is making measurable progress in reducing poverty, tackling unemployment, addressing inequality, and fighting corruption, then do not be distracted by the platform on which he contests. Vote for him in the interest of the common man.
Finally, let us not deceive ourselves—Kwankwaso, like every other political actor, has his own interests. Politics is not charity; it is strategy. The responsibility of the voter, therefore, is not to protect politicians’ interests, but to protect their own future and that of the society.
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