In Sheka ward of Kumbotso Local Government Area, the hum of sewing machines and the rhythm of scissors cutting fabric tell a story of resilience.
Here, Abdullahi Gali Shitu, popularly known as Comrade Abdullahi Gali Basaf, spends his days supervising apprentices, cutting cloth, and stitching garments.
Until March 2026, Basaf was the chairman of Kumbotso LGA of Kano State, but recently chose to return fully to tailoring, a trade he insists offers more stability than politics.
Basaf returned to his tailoring business to send a strong message to people, insisting that politics should not be the sole focus.
He believed that politicians must have a trade that sustains them and view politics as just an opportunity to serve people, rather than as a full-time means of livelihood.
In a country where you hardly see a politician doing what many will call a small business or may never want to be associated with it even after leaving office, Basaf chose to make a difference.
His tailoring journey began in his youth and has spanned more than a decade. He recalls personally buying fabrics, sewing them, and selling them himself.
Even while combining farming, painting, and small business ventures, tailoring remained his favourite anchor.
“Tailoring is not a small trade. It is a major one. It sustains livelihoods. Even in politics, my tailoring business helped me financially to support my campaigns and organisations. Without it, it would have been impossible to sustain political activities,” he said.
Today, his shop employs about twenty people. His apprentices see him as a mentor and employer, and his vision is to expand further.
“My goal is to modernise tailoring, establish a garment company, and employ fifty or more people. I want to contribute to the economy,” he explained.
