Jigawa at Five: Still an Egregious Purgatory

By

Jibo Nura

Ahmadu Bello University Zaria,

E- mail: jibonura@yahoo.com

(Date: 29th May, 2004)

When I woke up first thing in the morning of Saturday 29th May 2004, my mind just started reflecting over the happenings in my state. After reminiscing over time, I feel disgruntled about the pathetic situations of our people. In fact, I exhausted all my thinking faculty, trying to picture out meaningful projects in the state from 1999 to date, but only came to conclude that there are nothing much to show in terms of significant developments throughout this five year of democratic rule. The only thing that one can ubiquitously see, that is even if he/she cares to look, are nothing other than comical overtures, which have been installed permanently into the polity by the ‘claimed’ political trumpeters; who hardly convince their electorates on the authenticity of their policies, nor can they explain the genuine ness of their kangaroo set ups. Though the government of the state always claims that it has performed above average, but looking closely at its activities, one would find that boundaries no longer exist between some of its activities and those in the presidency. Perhaps, it could be the reason why President Olusegun Obasanjo reportedly commended the Governor for doing something out of the ordinary. Because the duo (Turaki and Obasanjo) share something in common- globetrotting! Hence, Turaki’s incessant travels abroad could attract such commendations from Obasanjo.

Actually, even before the president’s and other international organ’s blind commendations, Turaki’s disenchanted projects deserve commendation of a non-performer. For instance, the ‘internet bank’ in Dutse, ‘alternative energy center’ in Buji, ‘sugar cane factory’ in Hadejia, ‘school of informatics’ (first of its kind in Africa!), research institute, which was born out of the mosquito and citrus research teams sent to Brazil and China in 2001; are some of the incredible programmes that disturb the people of Jigawa state.

The question here is that have these projects any impact or direct relevance to the people of the state? Jigawa being largely rural and considering the fact that 90 percent of their populations are peasant farmers and workers, it is expected that the condition of existence of these toilers, which constitutes the majority, should have really mattered. And as I always argue that the most crucial, pervasive and apparent aspect of the condition of existence of these people are poverty, acute need of basic essentials such as clean water, food, electricity, roads, shelter, clothing and education. Everything else is only important in relation to these problems.

Therefore my own definition of five years of democratic progress and/or dividend is beyond the farcical Broadband internet access network (Jigawa hub), which was mischievously alleged that it would be put to completion in Novenber2001 and that it could cover 75 percent of the world population. Over six million dollars was spent on this very project but yet not up to one- third of the state is connected to it, not to talk of supplying two- third of the world population. What a pity! What I am saying is also beyond opening Institute of Informatics, where the Jigawa state government on equipments alone- just to admit 30-40 percent diploma students inconsiderably spent more than 52 million Naira; let alone other students in the universities and institutions of higher learning stranded, without bursary for over two years. Those in Ahmadu Bello University, who up till today cannot collect their outstanding allowances due to the government’s selective application of justice, can testify to this fact. Ironically, these students when put together, are the least in number when compared to their counterparts in other states of the country. So where does the rationality behind the government’s outcry of the student’s welfare lie?

Therefore, when addressing matters like these, one needs to look beyond the superficial. For, if situations turn out to be sour, then the truth must be told as such. Hence, the issue is above shuttling out of the country for over forty days, all in quest for “foreign implementable projects” for Jigawa state. Though Hadejia farmers will live to regret the foolhardy of planting large hectares of sugar cane, which was given to them as “ foreign variety”, even without being shown a single processor on ground.

Certainly, the issue is: what can Jigawa state people show and boast to Nigerians and world over, five years after investing her vast wealth in Malaysia, China, Singapore and Brazil?

Definitely, those investors will one day stand before God and us and offer a concrete explanation. And that very day is fast approaching.

 

Jibo Nura,

Writes from:

Ahmadu Bello University,

E-mail: jibonura@yahoo.com