Kafin Hausa rally and Maishanu’s theory of thugs
By Mohammed Mohammed Kafin Hausa
In recent days, a report surfaced alleging that thugs disrupted a rally organised in Kafin Hausa, Jigawa State, in honour of APC chieftain Zakari Kafin-Hausa, where supposed endorsements for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 reelection bid were made.
The said report, published by Abubakar Ahmadu Maishanu, spun a tale of violence, disorder, and political schism within the ranks of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jigawa. The writer alleged that the event degenerated into chaos, with vehicles vandalised, citizens injured, and an undercurrent of hostility pitting Governor Umar Namadi against the Honourable Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru.
Let it be stated without equivocation: the entire piece was a figment of the writer’s imagination. It is unfortunate that such a sensational story has been given currency in the media space, not for its factual accuracy, but for its potential to serve the agenda of overambitious political godfathers desperate to manufacture crises where none exist.
The mischief of the writer is so glaring that even the most casual observer of Jigawa politics will struggle to take his claims seriously. Nigerians and indeed the good people of Jigawa know that Governor Umar Namadi, Minister Badaru, and Alhaji Zakari Kafin-Hausa enjoy cordial relations built over years of cooperation, trust, and a shared vision for the progress of both the state and the nation. To suggest otherwise is nothing short of a mischievous hatchet job.
The fallacy of manufactured division
One of the more ludicrous claims in the report is that the so-called rally was an affront to Governor Namadi because it allegedly ran parallel to a citizens’ engagement programme he was holding in a neighbouring local government. The insinuation here is that loyalists of the governor were so threatened by the presence of former state officials at the event that they resorted to sponsoring violence. This is pure fiction. We thank Mr Maishanu for his creativity.
Governor Namadi has consistently demonstrated maturity, restraint, and inclusiveness in his leadership. His administration has never been associated with political thuggery or the sponsorship of violence. On the contrary, the governor has gone to great lengths to ensure unity within the APC ranks in Jigawa State, recognising that disharmony only weakens the party and distracts from its developmental mandate.
Similarly, Minister Badaru, having served Jigawa meritoriously as governor between 2015 and 2023, remains an elder statesman whose loyalty to the APC and its leadership is unquestionable. He has repeatedly called on his supporters to put the party’s unity above all else. As for Zakari Kafin-Hausa, the man at the centre of this alleged gathering, he too has maintained a cordial working relationship with both Namadi and Badaru. There is no record, nor even a credible whisper, of rivalry between these men.
The writer’s attempt to weave a web of discord among them is not only mischievous but insulting to the intelligence of Jigawa people, who know their leaders better than outsiders looking to sow division for political gain.
The agenda of mischievous writers
This is not the first time mischief-makers have attempted to tarnish the hard-earned reputation of Governor Umar Namadi. Since assuming office, the governor has prioritised good governance, transparency, and people-centred policies. These qualities have earned him admiration within and beyond Jigawa, much to the irritation of political desperados who see his rising profile as a threat to their ambitions.
Consequently, they have turned to the oldest trick in the book: sponsor writers to concoct tales of violence, division, and bad blood in order to distract the governor, undermine his credibility, and destabilise the APC in Jigawa. Unfortunately for them, their efforts continue to fall flat because the facts on the ground belie their narrative.
The people of Jigawa are not gullible. They can see through the antics of hired pens who reduce journalism to a marketplace where truth is bartered for political favours. Every well-meaning Nigerian recognises that what happened in Kafin Hausa was not a crisis but rather a gathering misinterpreted and misrepresented by a writer too eager to please his patrons.
A call for responsible journalism
The role of the media in democracy is too important to be left in the hands of those who thrive on mischief. While criticism of public officials is necessary and healthy for democracy, outright fabrication and sensationalism are dangerous. Reports such as the one in question risk inflaming tensions, tarnishing reputations, and destabilising communities.
Journalists must therefore exercise responsibility, fairness, and fidelity to truth. Political commentary should enlighten, not mislead. It should build bridges of understanding, not fan the flames of division. At a time when Nigeria is grappling with multiple challenges, what we need is sober reflection, constructive dialogue, and a commitment to national unity — not reckless writing designed to serve narrow interests.
The so-called crisis at Kafin Hausa, therefore ,exists only in the imagination of mischievous writers. Governor Umar Namadi, Minister Muhammad Badaru, and Alhaji Zakari Kafin-Hausa remain united in their commitment to the APC and to the people of Jigawa. The attempt to drive a wedge between them has failed, just as previous attempts had.
The people of Jigawa and indeed Nigeria at large should treat such reports with the contempt they deserve. Let us not allow the hatchet jobs of a few desperate individuals to overshadow the genuine progress being made under the leadership of Governor Namadi and other leaders who have chosen the path of unity and service.
History will remember those who built, not those who peddled falsehoods to destroy.
Mohammed Kafin Hausa is a student at Sule Lamido University, Kafin Hausa, Jigawa State