By Editor
There is something deeply nauseating about a veteran politician suddenly discovering the “sanctity of protocol” only when it serves his personal interest. In his latest sermon, Hon. Muhammad Sanusi Kiru attempts to lecture the Kano political class on “administrative decorum” and “respect for seniority.” It is a performance of such breathtaking hypocrisy that one wonders if Kiru believes the people of Kano have collectively lost their memories.
Kiru’s defense of Mallam Muhammad Garba framed as a mandate for the current Commissioner, Ibrahim Waiya, to play second fiddle is not an argument for order. It is a desperate attempt to weaponize “tradition” to protect a fading power structure.
A Convenient Memory Loss
Kiru demands that we bow to the “gold standard” of Muhammad Garba’s resume. He speaks of “veteran experience” as if it were a divine right. But where was this high-minded respect for protocol during the years Kiru and his associates held the reins of power?
The history of Kiru’s political circle is not one of “respect for hierarchy” it is a history of systematic erasure. We remember:
- The many times seasoned civil servants were bypassed for political hacks.
- The way predecessors were treated with disdain, their projects abandoned, and their legacies trashed in the name of “new leadership.”
- The utter lack of “decorum” shown when they were the ones displacing the “veterans” of that era.
To Kiru, “protocol” is a one-way street: it applies only when his friends are being challenged, never when his friends are doing the challenging.
The Myth of the “Oversight”
Kiru claims that suggesting Muhammad Garba’s appointment is an “affront” to the sitting Commissioner displays “profound ignorance.” No, Hon. Kiru, it displays political literacy. In any functioning government, the sitting Commissioner for Information is the voice of the administration. To appoint a predecessor as his “Chairman” is not a “strategic alliance” it is a public vote of no confidence. It is a deliberate attempt to castrate the current office-holder and turn him into a glorified errand boy for the “Old Guard.”
“Kiru calls this ‘inclusive,’ but in reality, it is a hostile takeover disguised as a handshake. He is asking a sitting official to vacate his authority so that a ‘veteran’ can relive his glory days.”
The “Insubordination” Scare-Tactic
The most hypocritical part of Kiru’s rant is his attempt to hide behind the Governor’s shadow. He calls any disagreement “insubordination.” This is the classic refuge of a man who cannot win an argument on its merits.
If Kiru truly cared about the Governor’s authority, he wouldn’t be writing public articles that inflame tensions and force the Governor to pick sides in a manufactured ego war. By dragging these internal committee structures into the public square to shame a sitting official, Kiru is the one violating protocol.
Conclusion: A Lecture We Don’t Need
Hon. Muhammad Sanusi Kiru needs to understand that the Kano of 2026 is not the Kano of 1999. You cannot demand respect for “veterans” while simultaneously showing zero respect for the mandates of those currently in office.
The “rich history of journalism” does not grant anyone a lifetime lease on political relevance. If Kiru wants to talk about “professional hierarchy,” he should start by respecting the hierarchy of the current administration, not the one that left office years ago.
Kiru’s “protocol” is plastic. It’s fake. It’s a tool used by a man who doesn’t even know what he’s doing in this new political era, other than trying to stay relevant by clinging to the coattails of the past.
Written by: Buhari Iliyasu