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Katsina State Under ‘Yar-Adua: So Far, How Far? By Dr. Sadiq Isah Radda Sociology Department Bayero University, Kano
Katsina State is one of the poorest states in Nigeria. Despite the poverty, but for historical reasons, the people are educated, hardworking and peace-loving. In addition, the people are agrarian in nature. Hence, agriculture is the sole provider of subsistence. Commerce and industry are very low in the State. This explains the over-reliance of the people, especially the elite group (traditional and modern) on the government. It is this over-reliance on the government that renders our people in the state vulnerable to manipulation. It also hinders them from the capacity for independent political action. Additionally, the fact that the government is the giant employer of labour and the provider of basic amenities, the ability to defend personal and collective rights is low in the face of a tyrannical and corrupt government. It is this kind of vulnerability and helplessness that is capitalized on by the political power elites in Katsina state. Using their ill-gotten undue advantage these elites over-power the majority of the people thereby thwarting and subverting their collective will for positive change in their lives. We saw it happen during the so-called 2003 and such other elections that came-up in Katsina state. During these so-called elections, state apparatuses (modern and traditional) unleashed reign of terror on the people of Katsina state under the supervision of Umaru Musa ‘Yar-Adua who can be considered a fascist. It is my candid view that overwhelming majority of the characters parading themselves as official office holders (whether appointed, selected or ‘elected’) lack legitimacy due to the grand electoral fraud we saw in 2003 and the ones we witnessed in-between to date.
Illegitimately, ‘Yar-Adua and cohort have held on to power from 2003 to date. Despite this lack of legitimacy, one can ask a relevant question thus: Katsina State Under ‘Yar-Adua: So Far, How Far?
In response to this question, one can argue that Katsina state under ‘Yar-Adua has not gone far. One can simply say that some individuals, families and corporate interests have made tremendous selfish and self-serving progress. I challenge ‘Yar-Adua to publish his so-called completed projects, their individual costs, their quality, the contractor (s) and the full names of the bidders and the bidding process. I am sure that there will be startling revelations!! It is then desirable to explore and share with the world the monumental failures of the illegitimate government headed by ‘Yar-Adua from 2003 to date. This is vital because very soon, having been frustrated from their third term bid, ‘Yar-Adua and his ilk will become ordinary citizens without the paraphernalia of office. In his particular case, the notorious Section 308 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution will no longer shield him from prosecution for past misdeeds that can be seen as unholy.
If you want to document ‘Yar-Adua’s failings and atrocities, books of many volumes can emerge. Thus, in this piece I will touch on the surface of the matter neglecting the depth of the problems to researchers, archeologists and historians. The atrocities are numerous and legendry; and for a fact surmounting these problems he is going to leave behind when he finally vacates office in 2007 are quite daunting.
To start with, our people have never been divided and polarized like ‘Yar-Adua did. Also, he has turned some people into treasury looters. Local government Chairmen engage in fraud and graft like child’s play. Under ‘Yar-Adua, a local government Chairman bought pure water worth One Million Naira (N1m) for just a one-day official visit by ‘Yar-Adua. If corruption and graft are not taking place at high places, no local government Chairman can venture into such a grand fraud. The sad thing is that if one is in ‘Yar-Adua’s good books, he/she go unpunished for his/her crimes. While he ordered for the vindictive transfer, sacking and denial of promotion for those opposed to his views, known treasury looters are shielded and even rewarded.
Katsina state’s educational sector (at various levels) is hard hit under ‘Yar-Adua. The teachers bitterly complain of lack of incentive for them to go for further studies or even attend short term refresher courses. Our students in tertiary institutions are given pittance in the name of scholarships. At lower levels, our secondary school students and primary school pupils are taught under deplorable conditions; and there are no serious attempts at eradicating adult illiteracy in the state. Lest I forget!!! Is the poor state of educational facilities the reason why ‘Yar-Adua sent his two daughters to London for proper education? Hello there, can you answer me?
Agriculture is crucial to the lives of Katsina state people. ‘Yar-Adua has done next to nothing to revitalize this vital sector. Katsina state is blessed with three huge dams, namely Zobe, Jibia and Sabke Dams. ‘Yar-Adua has done nothing to actualize the potentials of these resources to the benefit of our people. Farming without fertilizer is not rewarding. ‘Yar-Adua has failed to provide this vital ingredient of farming to our people. The little fertilizer provided is used as a political tool and given to political commission agents as reward for their past heinous political activities.
It is noted that ‘Yar-Adua purchased the machine for dialyses. But I am curious!! Is it not meant to serve his purpose first, then any other person later? The health sector is in shambles. The so-called free treatment for some ailments and some people is mere illusion. The people are extorted!
If one examines and re-examines Katsina metropolis, there is no visible transformation of the capital city. In fact, Katsina metropolis is a ghost of its former self. Urban planning and development is rather absent. What you see is mere white-wash of the infrastructures left behind by the military. It is amazing that refuse dumps and litter are beyond the control of ‘Yar-Adua!!! See the geographical spread of Katsina, look at its total population and look at the consumption pattern of our people, and then reconcile all these with the inability of ‘Yar-Adua to give the people a neat and well landscaped environment!! It is unforgivable!!! If Katsina metropolis is what it is, then the conditions of our satellite towns and villages are best imagined. Just look at Daura as an example. What has changed? Virtually nothing has changed, perhaps, because of political vindictiveness and meanness.
If there is crop of ill-motivated, dissatisfied and frustrated workers in Nigeria, Katsina state civil servants are tops on the list. Due to his holier than thou attitude and draconian characteristics, ‘Yar-Adua has denied the civil service the right to perform its job. Workers in Katsina state are bitter about their marginalization and the patronage given to political crooks who are as corrupt if not more corrupt than some of the civil servants. The consequence of workers’ frustration can be seen in low productivity, sabotage and poor initiative. In the long-run, professionalism will be replaced with mediocrity, sycophancy and hypocrisy as is the case today under ‘Yar-Adua. It is common knowledge that these three least attractive traits in human nature are what ‘Yar-Adua cherishes. This is why appointment, transfer, promotion, reward and punishment are determined by the few workers’ familiarity with these nasty practices.
‘Yar-Adua has dealt a deadly blow democracy and to its potentials for thriving in Katsina state. He is the alpha and the omega! He is the boss!! Being fascistic, he passes commands down the line and no one dares him!! He is just like a feudal over-lord or an emperor. Actually, he resembles a warlord in Afghanistan. Hence, he decides for the three branches of government; and he decides the leadership of the party from top to bottom. The council meetings are in name replete with behind closed door and pre-determined agenda. We pretend to be in a democracy, but the people are under a totalitarian figure!!! Just think for a moment that ANPP has control over just one local government in the entire Katsina state!! Rigging elections is a popular pastime for ‘Yar-Adua. This is because having failed the people in his first term, the people wanted a change. However, the people were subdued using all the might of the government. Elections were never allowed to hold. In Katsina state, peoples’ consent as to who governs them is entirely immaterial and inconsequential. Because ‘Yar-adua knew he was going to rig elections, he has not sworn the State Independent Electoral Commission Chairman up till now. Hello Sir!! Is it a lie? Getting to office in Katsina state depends on one’s contribution and sophistication in banditry, thuggery and terror which reminds me of the ugly days of Katsina’s history, when to be a King you must be able to over-power and slaughter your opponent in public. Listen ‘Yar-Adua!!! We may forgive, but we have not forgotten and we will never forget the blood-letting you authorized and supervised in the name of politics and power. Don’t forget, you imported thugs from neighbouring states. Is that the legacy we want to bequeath to our young generation? And where are your daughters now? Why use other peoples’ children to cause mayhem?
In my various publications on ‘Yar-Adua, I have always characterized him as a deceitful fellow. This position has not changed. It can be recalled that he unwillingly introduced the Sharia legal system in Katsina state. Knowing his historical antecedents, many people envisaged failure and they were proved right when he gave a grand celebration in a wedding ceremony in his house the very day the Sharia legal system was launched. But this is the light aspect of the matter. Currently, all the immoral practices of the pre-Sharia Katsina State are endemic in post-Sharia Katsina State. Go to any Hotel or Cub of your choice and you will have abundant alcohol. Brothels are back in fashion. Rape in Abukur and murders in Malumfashi and Kankara have been committed and no Sharia inclination-action has been taken. There is no any sensitization programme to upgrade the spiritual lives of the people in line with Sharia. I keep wondering what Sharia Commission and Courts are doing today in Katsina State!
One can say that there is no media freedom in Katsina state. Being state owned, the electronic media in Katsina state serves the whims and caprices of the governor. One recalls with sadness how ‘Yar-Adua turned the state electronic media into his personal campaign outfit and at the same time denying other stakeholders similar opportunities. There is no professionalism in media practice Katsina state due to too much government control.
Political discussion is absent in Katsina state. This is because the party in power is under the watch of ‘Yar-Adua, a maximum ruler, who does not tolerate other views. As a result, the political class does not know what political debates are, much less be able to inform, sensitize and educate other people in the State. What you have in Katsina state is a collection of political hangers-on grouped together like shareholders in a giant company simply waiting for dividends on ‘investment.’ Since they are hangers-on, freedom of conscience and action will naturally be zero. The effect of absence of political discussion is that the political power players hardly learn anything and those growing up will not learn. Therefore, the attempt to nurture and entrench democratic culture and values are defeated. For me, ‘Yar-adua is the major culprit because he is such a vindictive and intolerant person surrounded by cowards and parasites.
Contrary to what we used to know, traditional rulers have become openly partisan. It is on record that ‘Yar-Adua threatens them if they refuse to comply with his demands. In fact, the masses in Daura emirate recurringly point at the Emir’s palace and ask if the PDP Chairman is there? The involvement of traditional rulers in politics was more severe and intense in Katsina Senetorial District than elsewhere in the state. At lower levels, orders were given to them to make things happen. Money and gifts were doled out to them. The effect of their involvement is the erosion of the little respect they have. And if they continue to be so openly partisan and repressive, then the seeds for self-destruction have been sown.
In reality, documenting ‘Yar-Adua’s negativities is a huge task that should be an on-going process. The bottom line is that Katsina state is experiencing tyranny and under-development because it has fallen (illegally) in the hands of a fascist who has turned it into one of those properties inherited. In my view, ‘Yar-Adua is colossal and miserable failure if one considers the amount of money he received and the projects so far expensively executed. For now, I am highly interested in knowing ‘Yar-Adua’s tangible and intangible assets within and outside Nigeria so that I can compare it with his filled asset declaration form. By the way, when is ‘Yar-Adua traveling to Germany again? I have organized a private meeting for him and Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu of the famous EFCC. It will be fun to see them meet.
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