After More Than 30 Years in Politics, What Exactly Does Isa Ashiru Have to Offer Kaduna? -By Hassan Zakariyya

This is a fundamental question that deserves serious consideration as Isa Ashiru Kudan continues to feature in conversations about the political future of Kaduna State.

This is not an attempt to erase his political history or dismiss the support he has built over the years. Isa Ashiru is undoubtedly an experienced politician. He has contested elections, served in elected positions and maintained a significant political following. However, political experience should ultimately be measured by the value and results it produces, not simply by the number of years spent in the political arena.

The 2023 governorship election illustrates the strength of his political support. Ashiru polled 719,196 votes, while Uba Sani secured 730,002, leaving a margin of just 10,806 votes. It was a remarkably close contest, and some supporters of Ashiru continue to believe that he actually won and that the result was manipulated. Whatever one’s position on that controversy, and ultimately, God knows the truth, the scale of his support cannot be ignored.

But electoral strength alone does not answer the more important question of why people should entrust him with the responsibility of governing Kaduna State.

I was particularly struck by his response during a 2023 Arise TV interview, when he explained his motivation for seeking the governorship partly on the basis that he had been in the political system for more than 30 years and believed he had something to offer.

Respectfully, after three decades in public life, that should not be the strongest case a politician makes for his candidacy.

At that stage of a career, the public should be presented with a clear record of accomplishments, policies championed, institutions strengthened and measurable outcomes achieved. Experience should have produced evidence. A candidate with decades of public service should be able to point to tangible results and explain how those experiences have prepared him to address the challenges facing the state.

Ashiru’s political history is established. He served in the Kaduna State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007 and subsequently represented Kudan/Makarfi in the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2015.

Those positions matter, but holding office is not itself a record of transformation. The distinction is important. Public service provides an opportunity to create impact; it does not automatically prove that impact was created.

This is why the scrutiny surrounding his ambition is legitimate. After such a long political career, Kaduna voters are entitled to examine the substance behind the experience. They should be able to identify significant contributions that demonstrate legislative effectiveness, policy leadership, institutional development or measurable improvements in the lives of the people he previously represented.

This becomes even more relevant because the governorship is not a new ambition for Ashiru. He contested in 2019 and returned in 2023. In both elections, he demonstrated considerable electoral strength but ultimately fell short of victory.

There is, of course, nothing wrong with contesting elections repeatedly. Democracy permits it. But each return to the ballot should ideally be accompanied by a stronger proposition to the electorate: new ideas, deeper experience, clearer policies and stronger evidence of capacity.

That brings us to another uncomfortable part of the conversation: the responsibility of the voters.

In 2023, almost 720,000 Kaduna residents cast their ballots for Isa Ashiru. That level of support means that the responsibility cannot rest entirely with politicians. We, the electorate, must also examine the standards by which we choose those who seek to govern us.

Too often, political decisions are shaped by party loyalty, personal relationships, sentiment, identity and familiarity. While these factors may influence political participation, they should never replace a serious assessment of competence and performance.

We must learn to judge candidates by what they have demonstrated, not merely by what they promise or how long they have been around.

A candidate seeking to lead Kaduna should be prepared to articulate a credible approach to security, education, healthcare, employment, agriculture, infrastructure, investment and economic development. More importantly, that vision should be supported by evidence that the candidate possesses the ability and discipline required to turn plans into results.

This is not unique to Isa Ashiru. It should be the standard for every politician seeking the trust of Kaduna voters.

The real issue, therefore, is not whether Ashiru has experience. He clearly does. The question is whether his long political career provides sufficient evidence of the competence, capacity and leadership required to govern Kaduna State effectively.

The governorship should not be viewed as a reward for political persistence or longevity. It is an enormous responsibility that affects millions of lives and demands much more than ambition.

If Isa Ashiru chooses to seek the office again, he deserves to be judged fairly, but he must also be prepared to face rigorous scrutiny.

Kaduna voters should not be asked to vote for a politician simply because he has spent decades in politics. They should be given a compelling reason to believe that he can deliver better governance.

After all, 30 years in politics is an experience. What matters is what you have accomplished with those 30 years.

And that is where the conversation about Isa Ashiru should begin.