Of Boni Haruna

Of Boni Haruna, Jubril Animu, And The Politics Of Buck-passing

Dr. Yakub J. Abdalla

Until January 2006 PDP Chairman UK Chapter I am not Governor Boni Haruna’s defence lawyer, it is not in my character to fight other people’s fight but I am principled enough to know that when history beckons I am of those that fate will ask, “so what did you do?”. To further disabuse the minds of the readers, I am not an image manager.

We are humans and there is room for mistakes which should be accompanied with constructive criticism especially from the masses and the people at the grassroots; however when criticism comes from those who are placed in better position and have done nothing, such criticism is appalling. It might be gainsaying or blowing another trumpet, a hobby which is not mine.

Boni Haruna stands out as one who has tried in his little way to build bridges and bring development to Adamawa State in his own little way despite the scarce resource. I say this in response to the statement credited to Senator Jubril Aminu, representing Adamawa Central zone during his last constituency tour, sadly this is one of the very rare constituency tours, this one in particular because opposition against him is mounting. Speaking to pressmen and seeking cheap publicity, he said “Adamawa State government had not been able to address sufficiently the question of development in the state”.

It is quite laughable that the Senator would say this, at a point I just believed he was misquoted but since he has not recanted or sent out a rejoinder, I am sure he said it. More laughable is that one ordinarily would want to think that the ‘distinguished Senator has brought ‘sufficient’ development to Adamawa Central zone, so he has the moral standing to accuse the Governor, but for a Senator who by 2007 would have lost at the ballot box, he will be leaving a senatorial district with no visible sign of development, not even a watering trough for cattle One would say may be it is the same thing with o ther Senators, but when one sees the development and federal government presence that other Senators in the State and Federation have brought to their constituencies, we can only say in the Senator’s own words “As senators, we don’t control resources we only offer suggestions…”. And the suggestions in most cases that he and other failed Senators have offered is not far from a third term agenda advice.

I hope Senator Jubril or his advisers are reading this, we did not vote you to offer suggestions to the executive arm, or to fight the Governor, or to be a third term henchman, like Boni Haruna rightly stated “we are not afraid of going to jail in the fight against third term… Those who are afraid of campaigning against third term are people with dirty past”. I really wonder what dirt y past the able Professor turned Senator would have other than not having performed his statutory functions as a Senator to his people so mouthing the Governor whom with his boss are against the third term will facilitate help from Aso Rock, but let someone tell him that he is mistaken.

Does Senator Professor or Professor Senator Jubril Aminu have a dirty past, which is why against the will and wishes of the Adamawa central zone, the senator is one of the arrowhead of the third term project of Mr. President and his group of ‘rascals’. Who is he speaking for when he took up such a dastardly project?

I do not know why the Senator would be engaging others in mouth war instead of seeking for ways to bring visible development to our people at the grassroots level. What has Jubril Aminu the Professor professed in terms of development or initiatives? Go to Hong, Gombi, Song, Yola North and Yola South, as well as Fufore all in Adamawa central zone. He has done nothing and nothing named after him (not even a cow) because he claims to be fulbe; not one sick person he has visited, not one donation he has made, nothing. This is bringing down to the basics of goodwill, yet Prof. Animu has none. The only developments in these areas are state government initiatives.

“The politics of deception and the era of fake promises…” one learns more about the inner character of Prof. Aminu, when he sp eaks: for a professor who knows he did not win election to be talking about deception and fake promises. It would be better he go to Chris Ngige of Anambra State who restored dignity, integrity and a sense of pride and moral to a stolen mandate by working for his State and the masses, emancipating them from poverty thus leaving foot prints on the sands of time. Prof. Aminu would rather disappear into oblivion, never to be remembered again, in the minds and hearts of Adamawa Central people

It is obvious that Senator Jubril Aminu knows that we all now know his antics he has retained his membership of the lazy sitting Abuja politicians who stay in Abuja and make noise rather than perform, so he is scared that come 2007 he will be booted out. He said that the people should be steadfast and vote for people who can work for them. This is the most graceful self admission of guilt from Jubril Aminu Truthfully the Senator may just have prophesied his own exist because we the people, the masses will not vote him because he has not worked for us, neither has he shown that he can. In his new hobby of verbal warfare he has engaged Adamawa in a senseless verbal war. Today, it is Boni Haruna, yesterday, it was the Vice President, and tomorrow it will be the peace loving people of Adamawa as a whole and the Central zone in particular.

For persons who take power legitimately and do not work for the people Allah’s wrath is upon them, how much more those that did not work for the people and rode into power illegitimately. Allah sees all things and is all knowing.

Adamawa central zone is blessed with men and women that have insight on how to move the grassroots forward, men of legitimate material possessions yet humble and touching lives of many with love and kindness. We can build a network of understanding and association laced with purposeful relations among the various groups in the State and Adamawa central zone. Our people should set the pace in democratic inclusiveness, fight poverty through practical and pragmatic initiatives, challenge unemployment and harvest our beaut iful sunshine into electricity. Together we can push for better rural medical services, purposeful approach to security of lives and properties, and concerted efforts for better and free education for our children. We can do it together. We certainly deserve better.