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Governor Lamido And Jigawa’s Re: Orientation By Sani Ibrahim Taura
The advent of the incumbent Civilian administration in Jigawa State with Alhaji Sule Lamido as a Governor is seen by some as a new vista of opportunity to them seeking the Jigawa civil society’s reorientation. But this particular era of Governance under Sule Lamido is unique in style and approach to those who sought for the retention of the status qua ante.
But what this writer intends to clarify here is how the revolutionalised leadership by Governor Lamido is a new ideological breakthrough not thought or expected of a caliber of the camp hitherto perceived as lame duck or at least criticized for rudeness and confrontational to the constituted (traditional emirate) authority.
Infact, the defunct NEPU – PRP adherents appeared conservative to some discerning minds because of some of their ideological inclinations. Sule Lamido been the head of this cabal is spearheading governance in a society that is backward in Western Education, New Societal reorientation and modern Civilization.
The manner of rapprochement to Governance therefore, is expected to be revolutionary and conservative with Jigawa’s Lamido. This is exactly the case. Lamido’s reorientation is now operating like the Indri Gandhi of India.
In the hitherto Jigawa political elite, Emirate politics is played internally and deeply to the extent that the society has adopted the Emirate (traditional) councils zonings- a bases for sharing and firing development ingredients and political post like a religion.
The Emirates of Dutse, Hadejia, Ringim, Gumel and Kazaure are the five(5) emirates that operates in the hitherto Jigawa political administration under which citizens uses as a yardstick for identification and geopolitical service sharing in contradiction to the constitutional three(3) exiting Senatorial Districts.
But it seems this particular revolution under Sule is a break through. During the occasion of swearing – in of his commissioners on Monday August 27, 2007, Governor Sule Lamido regime’s ideological currents are clearly spelt – out.
What Sule Lamido wants is “Either in decision making or policy implementation, we may do things like this which may not be appreciated initially by those who do not appreciate that Jigawa was nothing but a pure cocktail in the glass. No matter how you shake the glass, the colours never blend. This time around they would be blended. That is why you would never hear anything like Sule Bamaina Kulkili Gumel, Santali Ringim. Instead you would here “wane wane(first name surname)”, in the new Limado’s reorientation.
The traditional Institutions have a great role to play in the society’s reorientation. And it seems these particular revolutions under Lamido intend to tap the Emir’s resourcefulness for the betterment of his ideology. The social security iniative aimed at resettling, rehabilitation and taking up the welfare of destitutes in the State is given the most adoring tribute by the traditional rulership under the headship of the Sultan. Recently in Dutse, the Sultan of Sokoto witnessed, flagged off and blessed the new iniative were beggars and the disabled were given monthly allowances to the tune of N7, 000.00.
The critics of Governor Sule that hitherto contemplates him been confrontational to the constituted (traditional) authority seems no longer defensible here. And it seems this particularly episode has got the most esteemed attention and nod of the Jigawa traditional institutions.
Jigawa under Sule, intends to be reoriented and “have taken time and efforts to scrutinize the background of people who are appointed and I am happy that this is in line with our commitment that only people of high integrity, people who are hardworking, people who are honest, people who have the people of Jigawa at heart, people who are compassionate people who are caring and loving would be given appointment into responsible positions in Government”.
The new leadership under Sule sought to change leadership style for the better. His appointments into cabinet crave for societal reorientation. Lamido urge “appointees not to take commissionership or being a special adviser or an assistant to be a social armament upon which you erect your profile. Any such appointment is an honour bestowed on you in recognition of your level of commitment to the people and strength from the quality of service you render”.
It went to the extant that Lamido’s belief of the society’s reorientation under his regime is undermost. He beliefs that “if the current team of leadership at all levels were to fail to exhume or excavate Jigawa from the ruins of poor illiteracy or deprivations, then there can be nobody who can do that for us again”.
But to “err is human, forgiveness is Devine” goes an English proverbial expression. It therefore seems that these particular revolutionary tendencies of Sule Lamido in Jigawa State cannot go without errors.
This particular approach whereby destitutes and other disabled were given welfare allowances without recourse for their resettlement needs to be looked into. Some destitute cannot stay beyond rehabilitation centers.
The Executive Council is really under bloated more especially as the number or ministries pruned down to fifteen (15) many carter for enough avenue to co-opt new challenges of the Millennium. Ministries of Science and Technology with Information and Communication Technology as the main focus if created would be in line with the new global world order were information super high way would be an up to most priority. Certain vital organs of governments that are in line with new missions and visions of the new world order and millennium development goals are also lacking.
Commerce and Industries were not given prominence with a concerted role in the administration. This particular vital aspect of the globalization and new world economic order is not recognized in Lamido’s new reorientation as to give the new world (Jigawa) a new economic focus.
Certain appointees are given and lacking in merit. Youths are not given prominence in governance or decision making. Things started immensely on sound footing and may derail to the decadence if care is not taken. Leadership is about results and result – orientated leadership is only feasible if “man matches material”. This can only be possible if all resources are adequately and effectively utilized for better societal reorientation.
Sani Ibrahim Taura An Accountant, Former Deputy Press Secretary To The Governor Wrote In From Dutse, Jigawa State. |