End of the Road for Kwankwaso

End of the Road for Kwankwaso

Abdu Isa Kofarmata

“The good people of Kano state are under the sway of an unprecedented phenomenon called Rabiu Kwankwaso, the rural aristocrat who is at present the state’s Chief Executive. Having been elected into office based on a liberal constitution, and having launched a total subversion of personal liberty and freedom, particularly the freedom to criticize his government. In so doing he can enjoy the privileges due an Executive Governor under our constitution and an Imam or Caliph in Islam, without being held accountable to the people being answerable to any one for his policies. The result is the paradox of our times. We got rid of the military by electing dictators. Transformation in static; Revolution without motion; Democracy without liberty; Shariah without Islam; Villagers governing metropoles; Excellencies without excellence; Honorable without honor; these are the hallmarks of our contemporary politics”

SUNUSI LAMIDO SUNUSI 2001

Different names, different adjectives and phrases had been use frequently to describe the person, behavior and attitude of the former Kano state governor, (Dr?) Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, now Obasanjo’s Minister of Defense. Some people, especially his school mates called him Rabiu Plumber. Former members of his cabinet when he was a governor called him “maigida” meaning “The Boss.” Other political thugs and cronies referred to him as “Bankarasu.” Recently, his successor in the Kano state government house, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, referred to him as “ministan tsoro.”

A renounce economist and banker, Mallam Sunusi Lamido Sunusi in one of his response to the government of Kano state under the leadership of Kwankwaso in 2001 described him as a rural aristocrat, probably due to his parental background as the son of a village head (Dagaci) now elevated to district head (Hakimi) though against the popular wish of the people of the area. In the same write-up titled “Kwankwaso Phenomenon” Mallam Sunusi Lamido described Kwankwaso further as a dictator, who then as governor sought total subversion of personal liberty and freedom of his critics; hence the name “Bankarasu”.

One Abba Mustapha Sharada once made a critical comparison of the incumbent governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and Kwankwaso as posted on the gamji web site in 2004, in which he described Kwankwaso as haughty. “Kwankwaso was regarded as the haughtiest civilian governor that ever ruled Kano state.” That belief or feeling of superiority to others was the root cause of PDP’s destruction and subsequent defeat in Kano during the 2003 elections. It is natural with human being to hate those who make them feel their own inferiority that exactly described the situation upon which Kwankwaso put himself. Similarly, the problem associated with Kwankwaso is his inability to distinguish between his character and reputation. Whereas man’s character is the reality of himself, his reputation is the opinion others have formed of him. Henry Ward Beach said that character is in man; reputation is from other people. The former is the substance while the later is the shadow.

Having highlighted all the different perceptions of Kwankwaso’s person and behavior, let me now attempt to marry it with his strong and undivided loyalty to President Obasanjo to the detriment of his people’s wishes, views and progress. Thomas Fuller once opined that “there are two things a man should never be angry at: what he can help and what he cannot help.”

For the four years Kwankwaso spent as PDP governor and core loyalist to president Obasanjo, Kano state and its people did not benefit from the PDP led federal government. Within the four years under review, there was no physical or significant federal investment or project in Kano state, despite the fact that the state at that time was the largest PDP controlled state in the federation. To be fair to Kwankwaso, the street lights mounted on the bye pass express road constructed during the reign of General Abacha can be attributed to the federal government in those four years.

Everyone living in Nigeria will not have any quarrel with the undivided loyalty of governor Makarfi of Kaduna state and Abdullahi Adamu of Nassarawa to the President Obasanjo. President Obasanjo has over the span of six years executed several developmental projects and programmes in these two states. On the contrary, the four years Kwankwaso spent as governor and now about two years as federal minister of defense, Kano people can only count the atrocities and destructions of their economic and political structures by Obasanjo as aided and abetted by Kwankwaso. His contribution can only be seen in the economic sabotage and destruction of our long established political influence in Nigeria’s politics.

Among the notable atrocities committed by Obasanjo, under the support of Kwankwaso, include the deployment of well armed mobile police and military troops in our various mosques both within and outside Kano metropolitan. The aim was to intimidate the Muslim ummah in the state and to protect the kin and kith of Obasanjo from retaliatory attack, ironically, there has never been such security arrangement in Lagos where a yoruba terrorist called Ganiyu Adam was killing and maiming northerners. It is still fresh in our memory how many lives were lost in Kurnar Asabe, Brigade, and Fagge etc, just to please Obasanjo.

Similarly, the first Intifadah that saw the stoning of the Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was a result of anger of Kwankwaso’s insistence on promoting and attempting to super-impose Obasanjo on the people of Kano, furthermore, it is still during that period of Kwankwaso’s undivided loyalty that Kano state indigenes were massively retired, dismissed and replaced in the federal civil service and armed forces. It was during same period that Kano state was denied hosting right of the National Sport Festival on some flimsy excuses. Kano was also denied hosting super Eagles match. It was during the four years of Kwankwaso’s loyalty that the National Institute for Tourism which was located at Bagauda was relocated to Abuja, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport was brought to a standstill and all major International Airlines were diverted to Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt all courtesy of Kwankwaso’s loyalty to Obasanjo. Furthermore, Kano state indigenes were denied federal appointments by Obasanjo during the said period. The case of Comptroller General of Immigration Service is still fresh in our memory.

We are also living witnesses to the immense losses suffered by Kano state from the federal government NAPEP programme just because Alhaji Musa Gwadabe was a minister from Kano and did not have good working relation with our haughty governor. Ironically, the same Gwadabe was his god-father and protégé prior to his election in 1999. In fact Kwankwaso became PDP flag bearer courtesy of Musa Gwadabe who convinced Rimi to support him and give him a trial; the trial which they are paying dearly.

The only federal appointment said to be secured for Kano was that of Managing Director NPA. However, people were not even happy with it, as it was done to disgrace one of their sons. Arrogant Kwankwaso was at one time bragging that he influenced the sacking of Alhaji Zubairu Danbatta as Executive Director, NPA. Another problem associated with that appointment was the person that was appointed, Aminu Dabo; this man was alleged to be the most corrupt MD ever to be found in the history of NPA. In fact going by that allegation, he should have been cooling himself in one of the EFCC cells.

Kwankwaso’s atrocities did not stop at that. It was he who requested for the removal of Alhaji Musa Gwadabe from the office of the minister of Labor. It was also alleged that he incited Obasanjo to initiate the impeachment of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. He was responsible for the defeat of Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar Rimi during the PDP presidential primary election which saw the elimination of Kano from the political equations of Nigeria. Kwankwaso was instrumental to the defeat of Alhaji Ghali Umar Na’Abba which has now turned out to be a national disaster. Many analysts are of the opinion that with Na’Abba in the National Assembly, Nigerians should not have been paying higher petroleum prices and that the nonsense called National Political Reform Conference should not have been taking place. The Speaker would have sanctioned the president on that wasteful and unbudgetary expenditure. Similarly, that useless Labor Bill submitted by the president should not have passed through to become an Act.

One can also recall how Kwankwaso requested the UBA plc management to sack one of its senior managers who incidentally happened to be the most senior indigene of Kano state in the employment of the bank. Ulamas were not spared by this arrogant and haughty personality, Kwankwaso declared a total war on the religious leaders just for asking him to introduce shariah legal system. Civil servants and pensioners were not left out and could not escape the wrath of our despotic ruler. He descended heavily on the civil servants in the state which subsequently saw the premature retirement of the incumbent governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau.

After the defeat of Kwankwaso and PDP in Kano during the 2003 general election, president Obasanjo appointed our haughty brother federal Minister of Defense. Two reasons informed the appointment of Kwankwaso into the office of the Defense Ministry. Firstly, to punish the good people of Kano for their rejection of Obasanjo in 2003 election. Secondly to emasculate the internal opposition in Kano PDP. The president is fully aware that by holding Defense Ministry, Kano stands to benefit less. As a water resource engineer, Kwankwaso should have been posted to Water Resources, Agriculture or Works Ministry. With Defense portfolio Kwankwaso has nothing to offer to his state. After all substantial numbers of officers in the army, air force of Kano state origin were massively retired from the service from the inception of Obasanjo’s administration in 1999.

2007 – Which way Kwankwaso? This is the commonly asked question. I am pretty sure that peacefully or otherwise Obasanjo must leave by 2007. Could that be the end of road for Kwankwaso? Certainly, YES! For instance, after his disgraceful defeat in 2003 election, our village wise relocated to Abuja for safety. With his appointment to the office of minister, Kwankwaso visited Kano only in the night, where it was necessary for him to visit in broad day light, he appeared in black tinted glassed vehicles with trucks of armed soldiers as if he was set to attack and aggressive territory.

Politically, Kwankwaso has no where to run for cover. I believe religiously, that he has no moral justification to join Atiku Vanguard come 2007. Alhaji Musa Gwadabe and Alhaji Zubairu Danbatta would not only mistrust him but they would never accept him for the atrocities he has committed against them and their supporters. Similarly, IBB 2007 groups both local and national bodies would be hotter for Kwankwaso. Remember the likes of Brigadier General Halliru Akilu Madobi and other retired military officers that combined to ensure his defeat in Kano represent IBB interest in Kano and nationwide.

As I mentioned earlier in this write-up, Kwankwaso is arrogant and uncompromising, he should have sought pardon from ever influential and charismatic Abubakar Rimi and the Lion of the National Assembly Alhaji Ghali Umar Na’Abba. This will at least give him the grace to remain in politics even without being a governor or a minister. Anayi da kai yafi ba’ayi da kai, an cire ka sarki an nada ka mai unguwa. The whole problems in fact are not the personalities listed above, but the common and good people of Kano that suffered persecution and denials from His Excellency though without excellence. Kwankwaso must find the answers to these questions. Can these people allow him to move around freely without armed police and soldiers? Can these people forget and forgive him for the innocent souls of their brothers and dear ones that he helped to destroy? Can these people allow him to reside in Kano, the city he helped to destroy economically and politically by Obasanjo? Can these people relax and allow him to enjoy his loot while they continue to suffer from the ecological and other environmental hazards which they are fully aware of how he siphoned the money meant for those projects?

The biggest drama of 2007; I predict, is going to be difficult for Kwankwaso. Obasanjo will not be around to emasculate his opponents and accord him unnecessary protection. Therefore, by 2007 his ministerial post will go together with Obasnjo. At that moment, EFCC will be patiently waiting to arrest and prosecute the honorable for eating fat from the state ecological funds. Remember also he would not be allowed to contest any elections because already a white paper is dangling on his head. Pensioners that he hated to help and see will follow up the lives of their colleagues he sent to their early graves due to non payment of their pensions. Going by this scenario, our rural aristocrat will be left with difficult alternatives. Abuja will be hot courtesy of EFCC and Kano will be hotter; rana zafi, inuwa kuna. Which way then?

On the final note, I think it was Bob Marley the popular reggae legend who once said in one of his popular revolutionary songs that “HE WHO FIGHTS AND RUN AWAY, LIVES TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY.” I really sympathize with the Honorable Minister. You are too young a politician to have reached the end of road so soon.