History 101: 19 Past, present Kano governors

By Maryam Jibril Yusuf

Kano State was created on 27 May 1967 during the regime of General Yakubu Gowon as Head of State, when the Northern region was divided into Benue-Plateau, Kano, Kwara, North-Central, North-Eastern and North-Western states.

Since its creation, the state has been governed by 19 leaders that include para-military, military and civilian administrators.

This is a list of administrators and governors of Kano State.

1.The First governor of  Kano state was Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Audu Bako, he took office from May 1967, and left office in July 1975.

Audu  Bako was born in 1924 at the Kaduna police barrack, his father originally from Argungu, Kebbi state served in the police force for 36 years.

He was appointed as District Head of Sabon Gari in Kaduna state. his mother Dije was from Mariri, Kumbotso local government, Kano state.

 2. Colonel Sani Bello military Governor from July 1975 to September 1978.

Sani Bello was born on 27 November 1942 in Kontagora, Niger State, the only child of Malam Bello Mustapha and Hajiya Abu.

He received Islamic Education and attended Central Primary School, Kotangora from 1950 to 1957.

From 1957 to 1962  Sani Bello attended Government College Bida, alongside classmates Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Mamman Vatsa, Mohammed Magoro, Garba Duba, Gado Nasko and Mohammed Sani Sami.

3. Group Captain Ishaya Shekari, military Governor from September 1978 to October 1979.

Shekari was born in Taligan (Magamia), Zangon Kataf , Kaduna State to parents of Atyap heritage. He started his elementary education at a junior primary school in Zangon Kataf before moving to a middle school in Zaria.

He attended two senior primary schools before gaining admission to the Provincial Secondary School, Zaria where he completed his studies in 1962.

In 1962, he enlisted at the Nigerian Military Training College. In February 1963, he went on a flight training program in Canada under the administration of the Royal Canadian Air Force. From July, 1964 to June 1966, he trained in Germany. He was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force as a pilot.

4. Alhaji Mohammadu Abubakar Rimi from October 1979 to May 1983 under the PRP.

 Alhaji Abubakar Rimi was born in 1940 at Rimi Village of Sumaila Local Government Area of Kano State. In the early 1960s, he attended an instructor’s course at the Institute of Administration in Zaria. He obtained a General Certificate of Education from the University of London. In 1972, he completed a diploma in international affairs at the London Institute of World Affairs and later obtained a master’s degree in International Relations.

Read Also: FG Reintroduces History Into School Curriculum

He served as an instructor at the Clerical Training Center in Sokoto, and later became an Administrative Secretary at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs.

5. Alhaji Abdu Dawakin Tofa, Governor from May 1983 to October 1983 under the PRP.

Abdu Dawakin Tofa earned a Higher Diploma from the School of Agriculture, Samaru, Zaria. from 1954 to 1960, he was an agricultural assistant in the former Borno province.

Tofa was a senior academic at the Audu Bako School of Agriculture, Dambatta when he was appointed commissioner for agriculture for Kano State in 1979. later he became commissioner for special duties in the cabinet of Governor Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi.

Prior to his governorship, he also served as the deputy to the preceding governor of Kano, Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi, who held office from 1979 to 1983.

6.Alhaji Abdu Sabo Bakin Zuwo, Governor from October 1983 to Dec 1983 under the PRP.

Aliyu Sabo Bakin Zuwo (December 31, 1934 – February 15, 1989) was a senator under the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) in the Second Republic and was elected governor of Kano state in October 1983, holding office briefly until the military coup on 31 December 1983 that brought General Muhammadu Buhari to power.

Bakin Zuwo’s origins could be traced to Barebari from Kanem–Bornu Empire where his ancestors migrated to Kano, where he was born and raised.

His father’s name was Abubakar, his grandfather’s name was Yusuf and his great-grandfather’s name was Ibrahim and his mother Salamatu.

He died on 15th February, 1989.

7 . Air Commodore Hamza Abdulllahi was Governor from Jan 1984 to Aug 1985 under the military.

Hamza Abdullahi  (2 March 1945 – 3 January 2019) was a military administrator who served as governor of Kano State from 1984 to 1985; and minister of the federal capital territory from 1986 to 1989.

Hamza Abdullahi was born in Hadejia (now Jigawa State) and was educated in Kano.

He joined the Nigeria Air Force in 1964, and attended the Nigeria Air Force tactical training wing in Kaduna.

Read Also: Saraki Led Senate Is The Worst In Nigeria History- El-Rufai

Then from 1964 to 1966, he completed the aircraft technical officer’s course in west GEOGHT and later took part in the Nigerian civil war. After the war, he was the air provost marshal, air provost group from 1971 to 1980; and also attended the royal military police training centre, Chichester, England in 1974. he participated in the 1975 military coup d’état which brought General Murtala Mohammed to power;] and from 1980 to 1984 was the group commander, ground training group in Kaduna.

Following the 1983 military coup d’état, the military head of state General Muhamadu Buhari appointed Hamza Abdullahi military governor of Kano state (now Kano state and Jigawa state) in January 1984.

8. Colonel. Ahmed Mohammed Daku, military Governor from August 1985 to 1987.

Ahmed Muhammad Daku (born 1944) is a retired Nigerian Army Brigadier General who was the military Governor of Kano State from August 1985 to December 1987 and later of Sokoto State from December 1987 to August 1990.

Ahmed Muhammad Daku was born and educated in Katsina. He attended Barewa College from 1958 to 1962, and Okene Secondary School from 1962 to 1965.

9. Group captain Mohammed Ndatsu Umaru military, Governor from Dec 1987 to 27 July 1988.

Wing Commander Mohammed Ndatsu Umaru (born 7 August 1950) was a Military Governor of Kwara State, Nigeria from August 1985 to December 1987, and then of Kano State from December 1987 to July 1988 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.

10. Colonel Idris Garba Military  Governor, August 1988 to Jan 1992.

Idris Garba was the Military Governor of Benue State from 1987 to 1988 and Governor of Kano State from 1989 to 1992.

Idris Garba was born in July 1947 in Gulu, Lapai Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State, Nigeria. He had a secondary education in the Nigerian Military School, Zaria 1963 – 1967.

Read Also: HISTORY 101: Evaluating the growth of Nigeria’s university education since 1948

He admitted at the Nigerian Defence Academy, (NDA) Kaduna, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1968.

11. Architect Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya Governor from Jan 1992 to November 1993, under the National Republican Convention (NRC) party.

Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya was born on 16 June 1952 at Alkala quarters Gaya LG, to the family of Magajin Garin Gaya Sani. He attended Gaya Primary School from 1961 to 1964 and Tsangaya Primary School where he finished his primary school in 1968 his senior brother was then the Headmaster and Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila was the Assistant Headmaster who taught him maths at the primary school.

He later served in the Senate from 2007 to 2023 representing the Kano South constituency of Kano State. He is a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

12. Colonel Mohammed Abdullahi Wase, military administrator from Dec 1993 to June 1996.

Colonel Muhammadu Abdullahi Wase was born in 1948 in Plateau State. He was appointed by General Sani Abacha in December 1993 to June 1996 administering Kano state.

He attended junior primary school, Wase and senior primary school, Pankshin before enrolling into Toro Teachers College.

He died in a plane crash in Jos in 1996

13. Colonel Dominic Oneya, military administrator from August 1996 to September 1998.

Dominic Obukadata Oneya was born on 26 May 1948 and was administrator of Kano State, from August 1996 to August 1998 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha, then administrator of Benue State from August 1998 to May 1999 during the transitional regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, handing over power to the elected executive governor George Akume on 29 May 1999.

Read Also: HISTORY 101: The journey of Usman Dan-Fodio in Northern Nigeria

Oneya born in Lagos State. He was from Agbarho, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State. He attended the Baptist Academy, Yaba, Lagos (1962–1967), then enlisted in the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in May 1969, earning a commission in the Infantry Corps in September 1971.

He attended the University of Ife, Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) (1977–1980), earning B.Sc. degree in physical education. He also attended the Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna (1983–1984) and the Canadian Land Force Command and Staff College, Kingston, Ontario, Canada (1987–1988).

Later, he became Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA).

He died on 4 August 2021.

14. Colonel Aminu Isah Kantagora, military administrator from September 1998 to May 1999.

Aminu Isa Kontagora was born on 20 April 1956. He served as the governor of Benue State, from August 1996 to August 1998 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha.

He was later appointed governor of Kano State from September 1998 to May 1999 during the transitional regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, handing over power to the elected executive governor , Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on 29 May 1999.

Kontagora died on 10 January 2021, following complications from COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.

15. Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso Governor from May 1999 to May 2003 under the PDP.

Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE FNIQS was born on 21 October 1956. He served as governor of Kano state from 1999 to 2003 and from 2011 to 2015. After he lost his re-election in 2003, he was appointed the first Minister of Defence of the Fourth Republic with no prior military background, from 2003 to 2007, under the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He was later elected to the Senate in 2015, serving one term under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Kano Central Senatorial District.

16. Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, Governor from May 2003 to May 2011 under the ANPP.

Ibrahim Shekarau was born on 5th November 1955 is a former minister of education and two-term Governor of Kano State.

He was elected in April 2003 and re-elected in April 2007. He is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was one of the candidates who aspired to become president in the Nigerian general elections of 2011.

Read Also: HISTORY 101: Meet Amina of Zazzau; the warrior of Zaria who led her kingdom to prosperity

Shekarau was born in the Kurmawa quarters of Kano, the son of a police officer. He was educated at Gidan Makama Primary School (1961–1967), then at Kano Commercial College (1967–1973) and finally at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1973–1977) where he received a Degree in Mathematics/Education.

After finishing his degree, he went into the civil service. Later on, he started his career as a Mathematics teacher at Government Technical College, Wudil in 1978. Two years later he became Principal at Government Day Junior Secondary School, Wudil.

In 1980, he was transferred to Government Secondary School, Hadejia, then to Government College Birnin Kudu in 1986, then to Government Secondary School, Gwammaja and then to Rumfa College in March 1988, all as the schools’ principal.

17. Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso Governor from May 2011 to May 2015 under the PDP.

18. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Governor from May 2015 to May 2023 under the APC.

Abdullahi Umar Ganduje OFR was born on 25 December 1949. He previously served as Rabiu Kwankwaso’s deputy governor twice, from 1999 to 2003 and from 2011 to 2015. He is a member and acting national chairman of the ruling Party All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ganduje was born to a Fulani family in the village of Ganduje, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State. He began his early education at a Qur’anic and Islamiyya school at his village, where he was trained in Islamic knowledge.

Later, he moved to the headquarters of his local government where he attended Dawakin Tofa Primary School from 1956 to 1963. Ganduje attended the prestigious Government College, Birnin Kudu from 1964 to 1968.

Read Also: HISTORY 101: Understanding the history of Jigawa state and its five emirates

Ganduje attended Advanced Teachers’ College, Kano between 1969 and 1972. He then attended Ahmadu Bello University, located in Zaria, Kaduna State, where he graduated with a Bachelor in Science Education in 1975. In 1979 he obtained a master’s degree in applied educational psychology from Bayero University Kano. Later, Ganduje returned to Ahmadu Bello University from 1984 to 1985 for a Master of Public Administration degree. He received his doctorate in Public Administration from the University of Ibadan in 1993.

 19. Abba Kabir Yusuf incumbent governor from May 2023 under the NNPP.

Abba Kabir Yusuf was born on 5th January 1963. He served as governor of Kano State since May 2023 to date.

He served as Commissioner of Works, Housing and Transport when Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso was re-elected for a second term from 2011 to 2015.

Abba Kabir Yusuf named Abubakar was nicknamed Abba, which became his official name . He was born to the Sullubawa Fulani clan, the ruling class of the Kano Emirate from the family of Malam Kabiru Yusuf and Malama Khadijatul-Naja’atu in Gaya Local Government Area of Kano State.

Yusuf started his Islamic education at an early age under the guidance of his late grandfather, Dan Makwayon Kano, Alhaji Yusuf Bashari who was then District Head of Gaya local government area of Kano State.

Yusuf was elected governor of Kano State on 18 March 2023 under the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party alongside Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, his running mate.

They were sworn into office on 29 May 2023.