By Abba Anwar
Kano State Deputy Governor, His Excellency Murtala Sule Garo represented his principal, His Excellency Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, at the recently held Northern Nigeria Security Summit in Kaduna. An action commended by experts bearing in mind the legacy left by HE Garo in the promotion of peace and security when he was Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs. Among other reasons.
It is believe that, Governor Yusuf saw wisdom in sending his Deputy, for the simple reason that, he clearly understands how HE Garo was instrumental in the peace the state enjoyed before his coming to power in 2023. In the last administration.
At the state level, before the coming of this administration, the then administration gave Garo, then Commissioner, some portion of the responsibility of promoting peace and fighting insecurity across our 44 local government areas. Go and ask for further details from the then Chairmen of the LGs. And see productivity and commitment in place.
Zonal Security Summits were held across the three Senatorial Districts the, when local government councils played key role in collaboration with security agencies in managing the entire process. As Commissioner for local governments, Garo proved his mettle in the areas of peace building and standardization of security architecture and network.
Those who were involved in the process then, can better understand what this piece is saying. One cannot take away the credit of peace building and secured environment in the state, in the last administration. That became possible and sustainable due to the full cooperation of the security agencies and the proper teamwork of relevant stakeholders.
I was amazed when I spotted HE Garo in Kaduna in the midst of Northern states’ governors attending an all-important and all-inclusive Northern Nigeria Security Summit, which is still in the labor room trying to give birth to Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund. Where each and every state is earmarked and expected to contribute One Billion Naira (N1b) monthly.
The Summit was under the leadership of the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Governor of Gombe state, His Excellency Muhammad Yahaya Inuwa, came at the right time and with the right people, our able Governors. May Almighty Allah see you through.
I saw wisdom in Governor Yusuf’s decision to send his Deputy HE Garo to represent him there. Apart from being another indication showcasing how confident the Governor is, in his Deputy, it also clearly shows that HE Yusuf knows and understands why teamwork with clear purpose means.
I can still remember vividly clear that in the last administration Garo’s unwavering support to peaceful Kano, through enhancement of community policing strategy and management, stemming from our local communities was visible and encouraging. Kudos to all the then local governments Chairmen, across all the 44 local governments in the state.
With this Security Trust Fund, if allowed to work, with the federal cooperation, the eluded peace in the North could start rebooting. Especially when political will is embedded in the entire process.
When Governor Inuwa highlighted that, “Across the North, in every state, the threats posed by banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, drug abuse and other forms of criminality have continued to undermine peaceful coexistence, disrupt livelihoods and weaken social cohesion, thereby slowing down the pace of development in our great region,” what readily came to my mind was, how Governor Yusuf’s administration is putting efforts on youth empowerment and fight against drug abuse.
To fight the nefarious activities of the underworld, Kano established Neighborhood Watch Guards few months back. They are dispatched to communities for enhancing our security system and strategy. Vices like house burglary, phone snatching, etc are downsized profoundly. Unlike before the coming on board of the Watch. This also helps in drastically changing the narrative on youth restiveness.
Few days to the Northern Nigeria Security Summit, Kano state Governor Yusuf announced the establishment of the High-Powered State Task Force on Fight Against Drug Abuse. What is so fascinating, is not the body, but the leadership and its structure. The leadership of the Task Force alone shows political will and genuine commitment from the part of the government.
In other words, Kano has been aligning with the philosophy behind the spirit of the just unveiled Northern Nigeria Security Summit, which gives birth to the Security Trust Fund.
The Governor’s representative in the person of HE Garo reveals much in the honest commitment of the state. Being one of the brains behind Kano’s feats in the area of peace and security, as obtained in the last administration. His contributions towards the peaceful Kano then, was spotted by many security operatives at the time. So sending him to represent his principal, the Governor, at the Northern Security Summit, was not by mere coincidence. It was assessed, deliberated upon, agreed and soundly designed.
The LOYAL DEPUTY (emphasis mine), as described by Governor Yusuf in recently held public event, believes in charting a new course for the security of Kano, Northern Nigeria and the country in general. In so many private discussions long before now, since his time as Commissioner in the last administration, I know how deeply concerned he has been in the security of the Northern Nigeria. So exposing him to this regional effort is commendable by all standard.
Anwar writes from Kano
Saturday, 11th July, 2026
