The so-called “analysis” by Abdullahi Idris Sadaukin Zuru, titled “ADC AND ASPIRANTS IN DILEMMA IN KEBBI,” is a masterclass in political fiction, a desperate attempt to tarnish the towering legacy of Abubakar Malami (SAN), former Attorney General of the Federation, while propping up Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris with laughably inflated claims. This rejoinder dismantles Zuru’s baseless narrative with cold, hard facts, hyping Malami’s monumental contributions and exposing Idris’s underwhelming record for the mirage it is.
Zuru’s claim that Malami’s defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) reeks of “desperation” is absurdly detached from reality. Malami’s strategic move on July 2, 2025, aligns him with a powerhouse coalition featuring Atiku Abubakar, poised to challenge APC’s grip in 2027. Far from a frantic leap, it’s a calculated step by a political titan. As Attorney General (2015–2023), Malami recovered over $2 billion in looted funds, drove the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, and modernized Nigeria’s judiciary, indirectly bolstering Kebbi’s access to federal justice systems. His Kadi Malami Foundation empowered 10,000+ households with food aid, supported 55,000 farmers with inputs, and created 3,000 youth jobs across Birnin Kebbi, Argungu, and Yauri—achievements Zuru conveniently ignores. The snide remark that Malami “never won his polling unit” is a baseless jab, unsupported by election data and laughable given his widespread support in Kebbi’s urban and rural wards.
Zuru’s audacity to claim Kebbi “benefited little or nothing” from Malami’s tenure is a bold-faced lie that collapses under scrutiny. Beyond his national feats, Malami secured federal appointments for Kebbi indigenes in agencies like the EFCC and Nigerian Export-Import Bank, elevating the state’s clout in Abuja. His philanthropy—vehicles, disaster relief, and scholarships—has earned him loyalty, as seen in glowing community posts on social media. Zuru’s fixation on COVID-19 palliatives as Malami’s sole contribution is a pathetic attempt to downplay a legacy of tangible impact. The vague accusation of benefits going to “family and friends” is pure gossip, devoid of evidence, and reeks of Zuru’s own desperation to smear a giant.
The article’s dismissal of Malami’s alleged N300,000 cash transfer as a “pacification” ploy is another unsubstantiated fabrication, plucked from thin air. Meanwhile, Malami’s documented empowerment programs have transformed lives, unlike Idris’s supposed ₦10 billion for 10,000 businesses—a grandiose claim lacking any verifiable breakdown. Kebbi’s reality under Idris is grim: banditry surges, rural schools crumble, and healthcare remains a pipe dream. Zuru’s boast of Idris’s “unprecedented development” is a hollow chant, with palace renovations and fertilizer handouts hardly matching Malami’s national and local impact. The defection of PDP leaders to APC, touted as proof of Idris’s popularity, is mere political horse-trading, not a love letter from Kebbi’s voters, who gave PDP 50.1% in the 2023 presidential poll.
Zuru’s most pathetic ploy is the unsubstantiated “allegation” that Malami is planting saboteurs in Idris’s camp—a rumor so flimsy even Zuru admits it’s unproven. This is nothing but mudslinging to distract from Malami’s stature, recognized by the African Bar Association’s Medal of Merit (2021). In contrast, Idris’s administration faces criticism for stifling dissent, as seen in the arrest of Malami’s supporter Mukhtar Dan Baturiya over a Facebook post. Zuru’s call for aspirants to “showcase their record cards” is a cruel irony—Malami’s card sparkles with $311.8 million in repatriated loot and thousands of empowered Kebbi youths, while Idris’s is a patchwork of half-finished projects and empty promises.
In 2027, Kebbi’s people will see through Zuru’s propaganda and embrace Malami—a visionary whose ADC platform offers hope against Idris’s lackluster tenure. Zuru’s article is a feeble attempt to dim a star that shines too brightly for his pen to tarnish. Malami’s record speaks louder than smear, and Kebbi deserves his proven leadership, not Idris’s overstated mediocrity.