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Between Governor Yarima and EFCC By Either Yarima suffers from amnesia, or he surely takes Nigerians for fools. It is either of these presumptions that can explain Yarima’s attack on EFCC, just because the corruption-fighting agency has visited the state and arrested some of his government officials.
The truth is that all good citizens of Zamfara State are glad with the storming of EFCC in the State. Infact we even wonder why Nuhu Ribadu took so long to pay Gusau a visit. For all these seven years that the Yariman Bakura reigns as governor, Zamfara people have witnessed all manner of brazen abuse of trusts. And we have suffered in the shadows of his misgovernance. This is a fact that, maybe, except the few clawns that surrounded the governor, every one knows. Yarima’s extravagance of public funds, and insincerity in his dealings are legendary. Everybody in Zamfara knows that Yarima has all the three traits of a hypocrite, that when he speaks, he lies when he makes promises, he breaks them, and he abuses the trusts put upon him.
There is a popular consensus among
politicians and even the general public that when you hear Yarima swear
by Allah on any issue, know that he is lying. For he himself had
shamelessly confirmed that he is a lair.
In January this year when he inaugurated
his Youth campaign committee, in a fashion unbecoming of a Shariah
advocate, his government officials and cronies gave out about 63 cars to
musicians and praise singers that performed at the occasion. When he was
later in Abuja confronted with the allegation by the media, what did he
say? He said, “Politicians (meaning, he and his accolades) don’t
normally honor their promises”suggesting that the musicians in
question were merely promised to be given cars but were not actually
given same. He added that “just because they (the musicians) are
promised cars does not mean we are going to give them cars”
(see Daily Trust edition of January 23,2006). On the same
issue, in another interview with Weekly Trust, Jan 28, Yarima
affirmed that, “In politics, you can come and say ‘we will give
you a car’ you will then give them N100,000 and tell them to go and
complete it. That is politics.” This is enough for Nigerians to
know the kind of person Governor Yarima is. Governor Yarima’s attack on EFCC and the person of Nuhu Ribadu no doubt further put to light the height of Yarima’s hypocrisy. Before now the Bakura Prince had showered praises and encomiums over EFCC, and said he supported their activities. He never thought the anti-graft agency would visit his domain. He had thought that his beard and his sweet gab would keep Nuhu Ribadu at bay.
In an interview with The Comet, edition of Saturday, January 26, 2005,Governor Yarima said, “What EFCC is doing, whether right or wrong, I support it. I support it because it will make those who don’t have the fear of God to fear EFCC. If people are not corrupt, EFCC will not chase them.” In another breath Yarima further said, “It is the fear of God that will save us from the problem of corruption and EFCC is helping God to do it. The truth is that the way Nuhu Ribadu is handling cases of corruption is making people to have fear to some extent. This you can see obviously, because once Nuhu Ribadu name is mentioned in many Government Houses now in Nigeria people become jittery, because they are not sincere and transparent. Once you are sincere and transparent in whatever you are doing and try to be honest as much as possible, nobody will chase you or go after you.”
So, why is Governor Yarima now crying
wolf? Why will he not wait until EFCC conclude its investigation to
determine if his government officials have cases to answer in the court
of law or not? Even if EFCC is accused of selective justice, the fact
still remains that none of those it so far arrested hadn’t any case to
answer. I am sure if those Zamfara officials come out clean, EFCC will
clear them, as it reportedly did to Chief Michael Adenuga. Why then is
Yarima angry, and jittery? Is it because he is really insincere?
Because, like he said, “once you are sincere and transparent
whatever you are doing and to be honest as much as possible, nobody will
chase you or go after you.” If any body should reprimand Nuhu
Ribadu, or accuse the EFCC boss of insincerity and double standard,
certainly it shouldn’t be Yarima. For, Yarima has no moral standing to
accuse anyone of double standard, because he has unfortunately shown to
Zamfara people and Nigerians that he is a master in the art of
deception.
In year 2000, when Shariah agitation in
the northern states was at its peak, and he was soaring in the
popularity that the introduction of the Islamic legal system in Zamfara
state has given him, amidst thousands of people and the media, the
bearded governor exclaimed that, “we have successfully
implemented Sharia in Zamfara State, and now other states are copying
Zamfara State. Now, any governor in northern Nigeria that wants to rule
his state in peace must also introduce Shariah. This is just the
beginning, insha Allah. We would make sure that Shariah is implemented
not only in the north but in the whole of Nigeria!” In an interview with Shehu Kura of Nagarta Radio, sometimes last year, Yarima tried to justify the rampant gifts he senselessly and mostly indulges to mostly people outside the Zamfara State with the State’s public funds, "the act of generosity is in my blood,” he said, proudly then, “I have been like that since childhood. I give out everything I have to those who need, that is why even after I became governor; it (generosity) manifests in my leadership styles.” But not long after that interview with Nagarta Radio, Kaduna, the governor introduced schools fees to all children of non-indigenes in Zamfara State, a policy that was severely criticized by the media and concerned Nigerians. And to justify his policy, Yarima retorted, “The revenue allocated to Zamfara is meant for the indigenes of the State, it is not for people of other States. All States are given money so why should we take our money and service some other people? It does not make sense.” (See This Day. Sept 2, 2004)
When he anointed his deputy as his successor and lied that it was the unanimous resolution of his party as a result of which the ANPP in the State suffered a serious crack, the Shariah Governor justified his action in Weekly Trust of September, Aug 28, 2004, where he said it was in line with Islamic principles. “Even in Islam,” Yarima emphasizes, “after Prophet Muhammad (SAW) it was the closest caliph to him Sayyidina Abubakar, who took over from him, next was Umar. So we are trying to imitate the religious principles and ensure that justice is done.” When the interviewer incidentally, also a Muslim reminded him that the prophet (SAW) did not actually nominate Abubakar as the Governor implied, Yarima made a summersault by admitting that, “you see, the system we are adopting is not fully an Islamic System. We are trying to copy.”
Moreover, if at all Yarima is sincere with himself, he wouldn’t have even contemplated contesting for the presidency of this country because in the same Weekly Trust of September 28, 2004, he had also in trying to justify why his deputy must succeed him, affirmed that, “ if you choose a deputy automatically in democracy, you are choosing a successor.”
Now by declaring to contest Nigeria’s presidency, isn’t Yarima intruding into a venture which, according to his assertion, should automatically belong to Vice President Atiku Abubakar? For Yarima to now parade himself as the suitable person to rule this country, even as he cites his stewardship in Zamfara State as an achievement is no doubt an insult to the sensibilities of Zamfara people in particular, and Nigerians in general. For, in the first tenure of his administration, Yarima did nothing to better the lives of Zamfara citizens. This much he confirmed in an interview with Weekly Trust sometimes in July 2004, “In my first term I didn’t have time to have a coordinated agenda because of the controversy over Shariah. I was busy traveling to America, London, Dubai, Italy and even Lagos and Abuja, attending seminars and conferences explaining to the press what Shariah is all about.”
However, if truth must be told, Zamfara people welcome the coming of EFCC in Zamfara State, and the arrests of certain Government Officials in the State is well appreciated by the populace. People like Abdulaziz Yari, the State ANPP Chairman, and that Italian Mr. Renato Sala, and that lanky Commissioner of Finance, Bello Makau, should also be invited by Nuhu Ribadu to answer questions on the role they all allegedly played over the years in sucking the blood of Zamfara State, and of course explain how they come about their stinking riches. Zamfara people are dying, and are crying for justice.
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