Gov. Abba @ 3: If Three Years Feel This Way, What About Eight? By Nworisa Michael

Three years ago, when His Excellency Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf took the oath of office as Governor of Kano State, expectations were enormous, criticisms came quickly, and skepticism existed across different political divides. Like every new administration, many people waited patiently to see whether promises would remain campaign slogans or gradually translate into visible governance.

Today, three years later, one thing has become increasingly difficult to deny: whether one supports him politically or not, his administration has forced itself into public conversation through visibility and public engagement.

This piece is not an attempt to list every project, intervention, or programme carried out within the last three years because that alone would require extensive research and far more space than one article can conveniently contain. Governance should not always be reduced to long lists and statistics. 

Sometimes governance is judged by what ordinary people see daily, what communities experience directly, and what visitors notice when they arrive.

Across Kano today, discussions around education, infrastructure, healthcare, social welfare, workers’ welfare, youth empowerment, urban renewal, and community development have become regular parts of everyday conversations. Whether in markets, schools, offices, motor parks, or social gatherings, people increasingly debate the impact of government actions because there are visible activities to discuss.

Perhaps one of the greatest political strengths of any administration is when even opponents find it difficult to completely deny that work is happening. This does not mean there are no criticisms. It does not mean challenges have disappeared. It certainly does not mean expectations have been fully met. Governance everywhere remains a continuous process.

However, fairness demands honesty. Honesty requires admitting that three years into office, the administration of Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf has created visible footprints that supporters proudly defend and critics increasingly debate rather than dismiss entirely.

The bigger question may no longer be whether this administration has made an impact. The bigger question many residents quietly ask themselves now is this: if three years have generated this level of visibility and conversation, what would eight years eventually look like?

History will judge every government differently. 

But today, many Kano residents and visitors alike would agree that the conversation is no longer about whether governance is visible.

The conversation now is about how much more can still happen.

Nworisa Michael is the coordinator of Inter-tribe Community Support Forum and writes from nworisamichael1917@gmail.com.