Jigawa

Jigawa: Is Lamido on sound footing?
By

Sani Ibrahim Taura

The inauguration of new government in Jigawa state under Alhaji Sule Lamido as its governor on the May 29, 2007 is seen by many as a new vista of opportunity for those who felt sidelined or at least not perfectly integrated into the "new world's" political leadership. But to those who already sought for a change of style of leadership, this unique opportunity is a God-given gift to them being old breeds of the defunct NEPU-PRP political cum ideological clique.

In fact, the PDP ruling class in Jigawa is very much happy for the first time now that one of them is in control and at least the foundation of their political machinery has been concretized at the centre and also at the grassroots.

But the questions that come to all discerning minds are; is the state under Governor Lamido a good administrative enterprise that would reorganize, redesign and reorient the defunct leadership style in the state so as to move the new leadership on a sound footing? Or is Governor Lamido poised to make the state " the new haven " for the less-privileged, educated few, the peasant farmers and the artisans that constitute the greater number of the state's civil society?

The answer is here but only when one decides to analyze, scrutinize and reveal the political scenario that brought Lamido into Jigawa's limelight vis-à-vis the political joint venture between him and the erstwhile political god-father of a section of the state political class- ex-governor Alhaji Saminu Turaki.

Although Governor Lamido's political dynasty is a house to reckon with in the state political elite, as a mafia of its own with its "political god-father-" the former foreign affairs minister and now the governor. The political cabal has vast political structure, ideology and thinking faculty, the ability of the two to join hands together at achieving a goal, is wart and all, a mission accomplished as at now - making the state PDP proper, but whether or not it is a lasting legacy it is left within the preview of God's control or destiny.
With the recent reorganization of ministries and parastatals, the relocation of ministries and parastatals back to Dutse, the trimming down of moribund organs of government, the structuring of political office holders based on the capability to deliver and track record, the employment of political will and intellectual ability to lead at chosen political office holders, are all seen as a good sense of direction capable of moving the state on a sound footing.

However, "the NEPU agenda", the abandonment of the " Yanwawa" (come and chop followers) and the " Yan anshin shata" (yes men) at chosen those to assist in delivering a good political leadership to the state is seen by many as a sound level of commitment by the former minister who desires to transform the state into a "panorama of sort" to those who sought for a change for the better. But much is yet to be done by Governor Lamido in the state. The issue of Jigawa problem transcends doling out certain sums as allowance to the destitute parading the streets of the state.

Destitute's welfare allowance is hailed by many but much is yet to be conceptualized on how to rehabilitate these beggars off the street and resettling them to tame the menace. Begging is not only within the destitute but also prominent among the "Almajirais" and Talakawas whereas the victims of the past stigmatization are also glorified beggars.
The old ANPP members (I beg not the "PDP maimasara" adherents) – I mean the new PDP faithful of the defunct Turaki political hagemony are scavenging fiercenessly and fearfully on whether or not Governor Lamido will recognize them in the new leadership.

In fact, it was a tale of woes by a member who briefed this writer in a short conversation that "Sule has come to bite the fingers that fed him." No, to my belief and the little knowledge I learnt about him is not vindictively beclouded. I learnt from my father - a strong NEPU adherent of those olden days who once briefed me about this gentleman - Sule. He said so many things about him of the olden days in the PRP, but the news about the incumbent governor of the state is that he is not "a witch hunter" or poised to maltreat those who tirelessly assisted him at being in his present God-given position in the state.

It happens that I was a member of a youth body in the state for sometime. Our intention then was to unite the youths frontier for a better leadership and all we could do was to co-opt our machinery into the Lamido youth machinery and vigorously campaign for him. We were then begrudged by the inability of the past leadership to effectively utilize youths for a better tomorrow. This very style of reorganization under Governor Lamido is a welcome development but the inability of the administration to co-opt youths into committees and inaugurate policy centralization machinery as seen to it that defunct government policies are studied and redesigned or co-opted in the new administration is yet to be done.

Those agricultural policies employed from abroad and within, the industrialization policies, policies on information technology, the education policies and such other viable policies conceptualized and abandoned before need to be re-invigorated presently for better results.

These among others are to be looked into, in fact those experienced (some are already within) and well known people who made giant strides at improving the leadership of the past administration in the state are in a better position to advice, assist and partake in the system with Governor Lamido on the best way of moving the state on a sound footing. Or else, Governor Lamido, as a leader, may crash-land or at worst his political god-fatherism may be buried on the (Jigawa) sand dunes - where care is not taken.

Sani Ibrahim Taura, an accountant, was a former Deputy Press Secretary to former Governor Turaki of Jigawa state.