Shekarau's One-Year Anniversary

By

Balarabe Maikaba

bmaikaba@yahoo.com

May 29th, 2004

Last week Saturday, precisely May 29th, 2004, the people of the ancient city of Kano celebrated (though not in grandiose style) the one-year anniversary of the assumption of office of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau's administration. Considering the current economic downturn and low-level income of the majority of the citizenry, the celebrations were low keyed. The highlights include prayers, visitations and special interview and phone-in sessions with the Malam.

One session, which is worth remembering, was the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Kano interview and phone-in programme. Even though I missed the first part of the interview session with top media gurus, the second session of live phone-in from viewers was fascinating and interesting. As the case with his previous outings Malam Shekarau was relaxed, unruffled and calmed. His posture and general outlook are reflective of the inner workings of his peaceful mind.

As the great orator, the DanMasani of Kano, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule once stated at a public function, the people of Kano should be thankful to Allah (God) for at last He had answered their prayers by giving them such a "humble, honest and amiable leader.

Shekarau Allah Yasa ka shekare." And indeed, the Malam had spent 365 days in office. The people are to pass their verdict as to the qualities and achievements (or lack of them) of the governor as enumerated by the DanMasani.

The questions raised by the callers of the NTA Kano phone-in borders on such areas as the provision of infrastructure, the Sharia application and implementation, the recent Kano crisis and other policies of the administration. One caller queried the governor as to why his administration is sluggish on the implementation of Sharia despite its earlier promise. The reply His Excellency gave, apt and concise, was similar to the one he gave some months back on NTA Abuja. Sharia, the Islamic legal code "is basically to do with fear of God and being truthful in whatever we do," he categorically stated. And that the only proper way of its application is by educating people whether Muslims or non-Muslims on the implications of the sins they might be committing and the need to repent and that we must fear Allah in our worldly transactions. The act of punishment in the form of stoning for adultery or amputation in the case of stealing is only a portion of the code. Thus, as the Malam rightly emphasized on the case of prostitution, the emphasis of his administration is that of rehabilitating the prostitutes by pinpointing the dangers of the trade to the operators (through proper education), providing them with employment opportunities and possibly marrying them out to any willing suitor. The government according to the governor will not follow the previous step of chasing the prostitutes by force out of the state, to end up continuing with their illicit and nefarious business in neighbouring states. The governor further emphasized that Sharia is the pillar of his administration and whatever decision and policy taken by his government are guided by the dictates of the code.

While understanding the precarious and contentious nature of the Sharia issue especially in view of the internal and external outcry it generated, and the desire of all genuine Muslims to have it implemented in their respective domains, one can readily understand the predicament of the Malam Shekarau's administration. Unfortunately, as the governor himself noted many Muslims like their non-Muslims counterparts, are ignorant of the Sharia. To many of our contemporary clerics Sharia application and implementation is immediately to do with the aspect of punishment, which may not be the case. There is the need to spend a lot of time preaching and educating the populace on the various teachings and requirements of the Sharia before real and proper implementation and application takes place. This, I supposed, is what the Malam shekarau's government is trying to do.

Thus, one can argue, either rightly or wrongly that poverty has bred in our people a lot of impatience, manifested in many irrational actions and decisions we took. Even though I'm not standing brief for the Shekarau administration I'm happy over the manner in which they are patiently handling the affairs of the state. The volatility of a complex and overpopulated state like Kano when it comes to crisis situation, distribution of infrastructure and citing of projects by any government could be imagined by any right thinking person.

Another caller lamented on the behaviour of most victims of the recent unfortunate riot in Kano, who consider most of their neighbours as accomplice to the attack on them. While disproving this notion the caller cited cases where people saved their neighbours from the hoodlums and miscreants elements who perpetrated the crime. In stronger terms Malam Shekarau condemned the riot and provided evidence of his government's effort at redressing it and also avoiding future occurrence. On the same issue, another caller called to alert the governor on the circulation of certain leaflets purportedly by an opposition camp meant to create chaos and disorder in the state. The governor informed the caller that they are aware of such leaflets and queried why just because of politics and opposition some people will be all out to destabilize the state. " How can you come back to rule a place you destabilize?" he asked. Ever since a state of emergency was imposed on Plateau state, speculations are making the rounds in Kano that the state is the next target, especially in view of the rigidity and uncompromising stance of the people towards the PDP led Federal Government. Therefore, there may be a deliberate machination by the opposition and enemies of Kano to create chaos and confusion leading to anarchy and subsequent removal of Malam Shekarau. The circulation of the inciting leaflet is a support to this claim.

Several other callers called on the lack of or erratic supply of either water or electricity in their area which the governor noted. As the case with power outages he lamented on his lack of control of the situation since NEPA is a Federal establishment noting that, the appropriate bodies concerned will however be contacted to ensure improvement. Others called to enquire about scholarship payment which the governor said are being paid promptly despite the over ten fold doubling of the beneficiaries.

What is really surprising about Malam Shekarau is that while other state governments are complaining about lack of funds to execute meaningful projects for their people, he has been stating that Kano state has sufficient funds to execute all the projects it earmarked for itself. This is indicative that the funds needed for our development were either misplaced or stolen in the past. And one should not be surprised therefore about the tremendous goodwill sent by the people via the phone on the anniversary. I should only caution the governor not to be carried away by the praises and praise singers. There is much that needs to be done especially in the areas of education, health, sanitation, security, morals and other areas of our development.

MALAM BALARABE MAIKABA is of the Dept. of Mass Comm.

BUK