When a Kano State High Court nullified his election as chairman of Kumbotso Local Government Area in March 2026, Abdullahi Gali Shitu did not spend months seeking another political appointment. Instead, he returned to the tailoring shop where his political journey began.
Known as Comrade Abdullahi Gali Basaf, the former council chairman now spends his days cutting fabrics, supervising apprentices and sewing clothes at his workshop in Sheka Ward, Kumbotso LGA.
Speaking with THE STAR, Basaf said his decision to return to tailoring was intentional, aimed at demonstrating that political office should never replace a sustainable means of livelihood.
According to him, every politician should have a profession or business capable of providing financial stability outside public office.
“Politics is an opportunity to serve people, not a permanent source of income. A trade gives you stability and independence,” he said.
Basaf explained that tailoring has remained his primary occupation for more than a decade, even while he ventured into farming, painting and politics.
He said proceeds from the business helped finance his political activities, including election campaigns and community engagements.
“Without tailoring, it would have been difficult to sustain my political career. It supported me financially throughout the journey,” he said.
The former council chairman currently employs about 20 workers and apprentices, with plans to expand the business into a garment manufacturing company capable of creating jobs for at least 50 people.
He said his long-term goal is to modernise tailoring and contribute more significantly to Nigeria’s economy through local garment production.
Despite holding bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Political Science, Basaf said he remains passionate about tailoring and considers it more dependable than political office.
He urged young Nigerians to embrace vocational skills, insisting that trades should not be viewed as inferior to white-collar jobs.
“Politics can change overnight. You may be in office today and out tomorrow, but your trade will always remain with you. It feeds you, supports your family and enables you to help others,” he said.
Basaf’s political career began with his involvement in the Kwankwasiyya movement. He founded Kwankwasiyya Reporters in 2015, later served as Kano State chairman of the Alliance National Party and contested for a Senate seat in 2019 before joining the New Nigeria People’s Party, where he served as Senior Special Assistant on Information.
He was elected chairman of Kumbotso Local Government in 2024 and, according to him, implemented projects in education and healthcare, including sponsoring the education of more than 2,000 students.
However, his tenure ended in March 2026 after the Kano State High Court nullified his Certificate of Return, ruling that it had been issued contrary to an earlier court order. The court declared Ali Musa, popularly known as Hardworker, the rightful winner and ordered his immediate swearing-in.
Although he has resumed tailoring full-time, Basaf said he has no intention of abandoning politics.
He maintained that while public service remains important, every politician should have a productive occupation capable of sustaining them beyond elective office.
