Kano Governor Relieves Polytechnic Council Chairman Amid Political Realignment
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has removed Engr. Buba Galadima from his position as Chairman of the Governing Council of Kano State Polytechnic. The decision, announced on Saturday via a statement from the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Dawakin Tofa, marks a significant shift in the administration of the state’s premier technical institution.
Engr. Galadima, a prominent engineer and former close ally of Governor Yusuf’s political mentor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, had become a vocal critic of the governor following their public political estrangement. His removal is widely interpreted as part of the ongoing realignment within the state’s political landscape, particularly affecting figures aligned with the Kwankwasiyya movement.
In his place, Governor Yusuf has approved the appointment of Aliyu Abdulkadir, the Emir of Gaya, as the new Chairman of the Governing Council. The appointment of a traditional ruler to oversee the polytechnic’s council underscores a strategy of integrating respected community leaders into key state institutions.
The official statement framed the change as a necessary step for institutional reform. It cited alignment with the “Kano First Agenda,” Governor Yusuf’s policy blueprint for the state, as the primary reason. “Although the tenure of the Governing Council is for a period of three years, the appointment of the chairman was terminated before expiration due to the ongoing reforms for optimal performance of the polytechnic,” the statement explained.
Governor Yusuf expressed gratitude to Engr. Galadima for his past service to the institution. He charged the newly appointed Emir Abdulkadir with leveraging his “wealth of experience, leadership and commitment” to drive the polytechnic toward greater academic and administrative excellence.
The change at the helm of Kano State Polytechnic, a critical institution for technical education and workforce development in northern Nigeria, highlights the overlapping dynamics of politics, traditional authority, and educational management in Kano. The success of the “Kano First Agenda” reforms may now depend significantly on the new council chairman’s ability to navigate these spheres while improving the polytechnic’s outcomes. The move sets a clear precedent for the governor’s willingness to reshuffle key appointments to align with his administration’s strategic priorities.
