The National Leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has disclosed advice he gave to Mohammed Umar Bago on the importance of public acceptance in leadership.
Speaking during an interview on JKD while addressing political developments in Kano State, Kwankwaso recalled attending Governor Bago's inauguration in 2023, where he observed the governor's adoption of a white cap as a symbol associated with his administration.
According to Kwankwaso, he advised the Niger State governor that the success of any political identity or symbol should not be measured by its acceptance among government officials alone, but by how widely it is embraced by ordinary citizens.
He said he told Governor Bago that if, at the end of his tenure, only commissioners and political appointees were wearing the cap, it would suggest a disconnect with the people. However, if the symbol was adopted by youths, community members and the wider public, it would indicate that citizens appreciated and identified with his leadership.
Kwankwaso noted that political symbols often gain popularity when people see value in a leader's policies and programmes, adding that many political leaders across Nigeria have developed unique identities that resonate with their supporters.
The former Kano governor made the remarks while defending the role of political branding and symbols in democratic leadership, stressing that public acceptance remains the true test of any political movement or administration.
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Politics