The recent visit by Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu to Kano State during the Ramadan has been regarded as a move to set up a level playing field for peace to thrive.
His visit brought together personalities that were hitherto thought to be political rivals with different ideological differences.
The visit, on March 3, however, created a platform for such individuals to come together for iftar (breaking of fast).
Notable among personalities brought together in one room during the visit were Umar Abdullahi Ganduje and Muhammad Abdullahi Ganduje, sons of former Kano state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; as well as Al-Amin Abba Kabir Yusuf, son of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Though known to belong to opposite political divides, the trio were spotted sitting at the same table, sharing jokes and laughter.
Also present were the state Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Hashim Dungurawa and three serving commissioners in the state.
It is noteworthy to mention that the first time the younger Tinubu visited Kano was in 2023, to attend the Kano International Polo Tournament.
Seyi made headlines at the time for attending the games, also attended by high-profile figures like emirs, the deputy senate president, and representatives of the Kano state government, in a presidential jet.
This time around, it was different.
The visit appeared to be a move to foster peace and harness tolerance especially among youths who besieged the venue chanting individual praises and not political praises as they are wont to do.
During the visit, he launched a feeding programme at Al-Furqan Mosque in the Kano metropolis. The feeding programme is part of Seyi’s Renewed Hope Youth Engagement initiative aimed at supporting vulnerable groups, including persons living with disabilities.
While unveiling the feeding programme, he stressed the importance of community service and social welfare, particularly during the Ramadan period.
It was also gathered that before the iftar, held at Amani Event Centre, owned by one of the daughter’s of Ganduje, Seyi paid courtesy visits to Governor Abba Yusuf and Kano-based business mogul, Alhaji Aminu Dantata at their respective residences.
Despite the unpolitical nature of the visit, it has sparked political debates among members of the political class.
The visit has aroused suspicion and sent tongues wagging, with not a few persons questioning the real intent of the visit.
While some say he is preparing the campaign ground for his father ahead of 2027, others say it may not be unconnected to his personal political ambition.
According to Maidalma Musa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Seyi’s visit is purely political and that he is on a mission to buy over the Kano electorate on behalf of his father.
“This is a sheer trick orchestrated by the APC and Mr President to cajole the Kano political community into indirectly working for APC at the federal level without compromising their individual party chances in the state. Why Kano? This is the second time he is in Kano and he has been establishing a support network in the state gradually. I pity NNPP because this newly found romance with Seyi will not be good for them,” he said.
However, for Ahmad Aruwa, the APC’s Public Relations Officer in Kano, the visit by the president’s son is a demonstration of the love his father has for Kano people.
“It is indeed a thing of pride for us here, we are surely important to Mr President and that means good for the state,” he said.
A source within the NNPP who preferred not to be named, said though the visit by Seyi appears noble with no undertones, the leadership of the party was playing safe with the new approach, adding that the party is trying all it can, not to politicise the visit.
