One name that deserves a closer look in Kano is Aminu Suleiman Goro, who represented Fagge Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2023 and served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Tertiary Education and Services.
What makes Goro’s story interesting is that his name still comes up among people who benefited from his years in public service. For many, his political career was not just about occupying a seat in Abuja; it was about creating opportunities for ordinary people, particularly the young people.
But acknowledging good work is not the same as praising someone blindly. If we are quick to criticise politicians when they fail, we should also be willing to recognise them when they make a positive difference. Otherwise, we risk creating a political culture where shortcomings are remembered but genuine service is forgotten.
During his time as the Chairman of the House Committee on Tertiary Education and Services, he was involved in efforts to expand access to higher education, including initiatives relating to new tertiary institutions and additional National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) study centres.
For a state like Kano, where thousands of young people compete every year for limited spaces in higher institutions, expanding access to tertiary education is not a small issue. It can determine whether a young person gets the opportunity to build a career or spends years waiting for one.
He was also involved in empowerment programmes aimed at helping youths and women acquire skills and access start-up support. Among his supporters, he earned the nickname “Mai Gonar Offer” — a humorous but telling description of a politician whose “farm” was said to produce employment opportunities.
His constituency work also extended to responding to emergencies and local needs. Flooding in parts of Fagge, for example, attention was directed towards affected residents. Infrcture projects, including roads, schools, mosques were also part of his constituency interventions.
Goro’s legislative interests also went beyond Fagge. His involvement in proposals for the establishment of federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education reflected a broader concern about Nigeria’s shortage of tertiary institutions.
As politicians begin preparing for the next elections, voters should look beyond posters, slogans and promises. They should ask simple questions: Who has done it before? Who has created opportunities? Who has invested in young people? And whose record can we actually examine?
Abbas Datti writes from Kano. He can be reached at comradeabbasdatti@gmail.com
