Enabo: Gov. Idris’ ally extraordinaire

Loyalty and undaunted support in words, action and deeds are becoming a rather scarce combination among many politicians of this day and age. There are many who ride on the coat-tails of others to political office but find it very hard to reciprocate that confidence when their benefactors need their support to win re-election or get out of a tight situation. For some, loyalty is only as good as the benefits it brings, while their commitment to those who helped them rise often disappears the moment they secure the positions they seek.

It is indeed within this tight, ominously developing political space that we find those who have distinguished themselves and stood out for their exemplary conduct. These are personalities who do not play hide-and-seek of loyalty; they demonstrate it through their generosity, availability and, indeed, their whole being. They understand that political relationships are not built merely on access to power but on the willingness to stand by those whose leadership they believe in, particularly when the need for support becomes most compelling.

One such rare political juggernaut is Alhaji Faruku Musa Yaro, popularly known as Enabo. Alhaji Yaro is the current chairman of the Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Board, and you can hardly talk about the allies of Governor Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, without mentioning Enabo, the Jagaban Gwandu. He has shown time and again to be a dependable ally whose loyalty goes beyond lip service, establishing a reputation for translating his political convictions into practical support for the governor and the political family he belongs to.

Only recently, Enabo further endeared himself to the teeming supporters of Gov. Idris’ re-election in Kebbi State when he donated vehicles and 225 motorcycles to the campaign organisation to aid the ruling APC as it set out to campaign for the governor’s re-election.

It was a gesture that went beyond the ordinary show of political solidarity, demonstrating a readiness to commit personal resources and mobilise practical support towards an objective he believes is worth pursuing. At a time when political declarations are often louder than the actions that should give them meaning, Enabo’s contribution offered a tangible expression of his commitment.

While presenting the keys to the campaign organisation, he made it clear that no funds belonging to the Pilgrims Welfare Board were deployed towards procuring the vehicles and motorcycles. By that statement, he is daring anyone who thinks otherwise to come for an inquest if they so wish.

The vehicles were procured with the support of the governor and other well-meaning individuals who believe in the leadership of Gov. Idris enough to support his re-election for continuity. The clarification is important because it draws a distinction between his public responsibility as chairman of the board and his political commitment as an individual who wishes to see his principal return to office.

Enabo further explained that the gesture was part of his contribution to strengthening democratic participation and supporting the party’s campaign activities. The vehicles would be issued to campaign groups worth their salt, while the motorcycles would go into mobilisation at the ward levels.

This arrangement speaks to the practical demands of political mobilisation in a state where reaching communities, coordinating campaign activities and sustaining contact with supporters are important parts of the electoral process. By providing resources that can be deployed across different levels of the campaign, Enabo has demonstrated an understanding that political support must be backed by the means to make it effective.

People like Enabo are models, the kind of people that every politician who wishes to go far must surround himself with. But in a politically charged environment saturated with pretenders and traitors, it becomes very hard to identify the likes of Enabo, who will go the extra mile to defend the interests of those to whom they owe allegiance.

It is one thing to profess loyalty when the political atmosphere is favourable, but quite another to demonstrate it through actions that require commitment, resources and personal involvement. The distinction between the two is often what separates dependable political allies from those whose presence around a leader is largely dictated by the conveniences of office.

By contrast, there are many others who may have benefited more from the governor in terms of placement and access but who may not have the presence of mind to do or accomplish what Enabo has managed. This is why his modest efforts must be viewed not merely as a contribution to a campaign circle, but as a challenge to many others enjoying access while refusing to give back.

Political appointments and proximity to power should not become ends in themselves; they ought to create opportunities for individuals to contribute meaningfully to the political family, the communities they serve and the larger objectives of the administration they represent.

This is especially so when Enabo’s charity and generosity are factored into the conversation. Enabo has been unapologetic when giving to those not as fortunate as him. And for everyone whose face he has planted a smile, Enabo has been spreading the goodness of Nasir Idris. In this sense, the man has, by his actions, done much more for the re-election drive than all the vehicles and motorcycles he has donated put together. The reason is simple: material contributions may facilitate campaign activities, but the goodwill earned through acts of generosity can travel much farther, reaching people and communities in ways that campaign logistics alone cannot achieve.

This is the point many appointees of governors or presidents miss. Supporting your principal goes beyond issuing press statements or speaking English whenever a rival comes at him. The little, little iterations of positive actions that benefit the masses constitute the most powerful campaign message you can present. People may listen to political speeches, read statements of support and watch campaign rallies, but the experience of kindness, assistance and practical concern often leaves a more enduring impression.

When those who occupy positions of responsibility demonstrate that they understand the needs of ordinary people, they help communicate the values of the leadership they represent in ways that words alone cannot accomplish. And the good thing is, you do not have to do it all at once. You have years to plant and water these seeds until they become the fruits you harvest during election season.

Political goodwill is not something that can always be manufactured at the point of need; it grows through consistent engagement, generosity and the willingness to remain connected to the people whose support ultimately matters. Those who understand this principle are better positioned to build lasting relationships, while those who wait until elections approach before remembering the people may discover that the ground has already been occupied by others who invested in those relationships long before the campaigns began.

The above and many more have been part of the Alhaji Yaro playbook, and it is no wonder, then, that he commands such a dedicated following and enjoys a high standing among those who matter in the real scheme of things in Kebbi State.

Enabo has demonstrated time and again that being an ally of Gov. Nasir Idris is not merely about sharing political spaces, enjoying access or identifying with the administration when things are going well; it is about showing up, contributing meaningfully and ensuring that loyalty is visible in deeds as much as it is expressed in words.

As the campaign for continuity gathers momentum, his example stands as a reminder that political support acquires its greatest value when it is translated into practical action, sustained generosity and a genuine commitment to the success of the leadership one has chosen to stand with.

Abubakar writes from Birnin Kebbi