Shettima Welcomes Governor Abba Yusuf to APC with Emotional ‘Cosmopolitan’ Speech in Kano

Kano State’s political map was officially redrawn on Monday as Vice President Kashim Shettima delivered a stirring, emotional welcome to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who has traded his “Kwankwasiyya” red cap for the broom of the All Progressives Congress (APC). At a packed Sani Abacha Stadium, Shettima described the Governor’s defection as the return of a “visionary son” to his natural political home.

In a speech laced with his trademark intellectual flair, Shettima hailed the strategic importance of Kano, describing the state as the “heartbeat of Nigeria’s enterprise.” He told the cheering crowd that Kano is “too big to play in the periphery” of national politics. “Whenever Kano talks, the nation walks with him,” the VP declared. “We welcome you with open hands and open hearts. President Tinubu has made it clear: your place in this party is second to none.”

Governor Yusuf, who resigned from the NNPP in late January citing internal instability, was visibly moved during the reception. He told the assembly that his move was not about personal ambition but about securing a “seat at the table” for the people of Kano. “Kano is too large and too important to be disconnected from the government at the centre,” Yusuf said, effectively ending his long-standing political marriage with his benefactor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

The day was not just about politics, however. Before the stadium cheers, Shettima and a delegation of APC governors visited the ruins of the Singer Market, which was gutted by fire on Saturday. In a powerful show of “State of Harmony” between the new allies, the Federal Government and the APC Governors’ Forum pledged ₦8 billion in emergency relief to help traders rebuild their lives.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma captured the mood of the day by describing Yusuf as an “original breed” of the APC who had simply “gone on a sabbatical.” With the presentation of the APC flag and a new 60/40 power-sharing deal between the old and new guards, the “sabbatical” is officially over. As the 2027 election cycle begins to take shape, the ruling party has sent a loud message: the powerhouse of the North-West is now firmly back in the APC fold.