|
New Tamburawa Water Project: A Prophecy Fulfilled By Kabiru Inuwa Tsakuwa
“I’m formally commissioning this new water project in the name of Allah (S.W.T), and I hope that one day, God in his infinite wisdom will raise some body from among my children or grand children to continue from where I stopped.” His Royal Majesty, Late Emir Maje-Karofi, Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero.
I was privileged to be at the foundation laying ceremony for the construction of the state-of-art and multi million naira, New Tamburawa water project in Dawakin Kudu local government Area of Kano State, where the Master of ceremony delved into the history of developments of water projects and recalled the above statement made by His royal Highness, the late revered Emir of Kano, Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero while commissioning the first water treatment plant in the history of the state about seventy five years ago.
According to the Master of the Ceremony: “the prayer and prophecy made by the visionary leader has now come to pass under the leadership of his Royal Highness the Emir of Kano, Alhaji (Dr.)Ado Bayero and today (12th Nov., 2005); we are all gathered here to begin the celebration of history”.
The project was designed to supply 150 million litres of water to the city and adjoining towns and villages to augment the over 200 million litres from the challawa and several other smaller water treatment plants. The efforts, no doubt, represented a very significant milestone in the developments of Kano and will greatly assist in the alleviations of the acute and persistent water scarcity that has continued to aggravate the unbearable life of the people.
If I can recall correctly, in the year 2003, the National Television Authority Kano (NTA), conducted an interview with the incumbent governor of Kano, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, which was televised live. In the course of the interview, the governor was asked a series of questions about how he intended to solve the perennial water shortage in the state. In response, the governor said inter-alia that: “ even though, the previous government have made an effort in laying water pipes, my own government will try to address the issue from its root, by sourcing for the water first before embarking on laying pipes. This is the philosophy of my government”. Initially, this statement was taken with a pinch of salt by many doubting Thomases and sceptics, citing empty promises made by former military and civilian administrators of the state, that end up only scratching the surface; leading to a woeful failure to address the problem once and for all. But as the constructions works progresses smoothly, all dissenting voices were effectively neutralised!
Recalling another event that has an important bearing to the Tamburawa water Project, in the year 2005 when the revered Emir of Kano paid Sallah Homage to the governor, as part of the Eid-el-Fitr Celebrations, he made a passionate appeal to the governor on behalf of his subjects about the persistent water crises bedevilling the people. In response, the governor instantly promised to construct a brand new water treatment plant. The gesture was so well received by the audience as evidenced by a thunderous standing ovation to the governor. And in fulfilment of the promise, high powered machinery was set in motion to actualise the project that will be commission insha Allah, on the 4th of December 2007, by his Excellency the Executive President and C-in-C of the Arm forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
As we congratulate our selves for the new lease of life, we must acknowledge our appreciations to all the people that have contributed in one way or the other in the realisations of this gigantic and life transforming project. We should, irrespective of political difference thank God profusely for his many blessings which included having an Emir with foresights and genuine love for his subjects, who initially stamped his seal of authority in the realisations of the projects. We should also, collectively expresses our gratuities to the governor for actualising the promise. This became imperative when we consider many unlucky sister states in the federations that earn surplus billions of Money regularly, through Federal allocations; 13% derivations; NNDC; VAT and several other sources, but yet can not boost of a single land mark project that can add value and meanings to their live! The money has continued to go down the drain, despite pretences and excessive hullabaloo about fighting corruptions!
May I as your humble and loyal subject at this Juncture, most respectfully beseech and crave the indulgence of your royal highness, to prevail upon the ever humble and listening governor to expedite actions on the independent power Project (IPP) in order to ameliorate our long-sufferings. May I also, let you know that, PHCN has been a total and long standing failure. Light has been effectively replaced with darkness; Our economy is now totally generator dependent; many able bodied youth are wasting away idly due to pervasive unemployment occasioned by the closure of various factories at Sharada, Bompai, challawa, Hadejia Road, gunduwawa and Jogana as a result of the absence of enough and constant electric energy. Sir, to say that life is quite unbearable due to the absence of this vital infrastructure, is simply stating the basic fact!
May I also humbly suggest that, considering the capital intensive nature of the power projects Sir, wealthy individuals should be co-opted to partake through the built operate and transfer scheme (BOT) with government providing the land and the entire basic requirement needed to actualise the project. It is my fervent belief that, if a small state like Abia which is a non-oil producing state as Kano, can boost of its own IPP, there is no justification whatsoever for Kano; being the most populous and largest commercial nerve centre of the entire Northern region not to have its own! In addition, since the combine total capacity of the water works in Kano, failed short of the required five hundred million litres (500) target to satisfy the whole state, his highness may request for the construction of another water project in Northern or eastern senatorial districts. This is in accordance with the Makovnikov rules in organic chemistry that says: “to whom much is given, much should be added!”
In the final analysis, my hope and prayer to the authorities is that, since most of the water pipes were laid many years ago and have underwent so much wear and tear, there is need for replacement in several areas of the state, most especially Hausawa quarters in Tarauni local Government and Tsakuwa town in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Areas respectively. The whole idea behind this water project may be lost completely if the existing blocked water pipes were not replaced. There is an urgent need for government to also embark on aggressive enlightenment campaign to sensitise the people on the need to have a change of attitudes by imbibing the culture of settling water bills promptly in order to ensure adequate maintenance of the new Facility.
As Kanawa rolls out the drums in anticipations and preparations for the celebrations of the epoch making events, where the largest water works in Africa will be unveil by Mr. President on the 4th of December, 2007, we should not fail to take into account the fact that, it is a prophecy and prayer made by his royal majesty, the late Emir Maje-Karofi which is fulfilled.Alhamdu-lillahi.
Kabiru Inuwa Tsakuwa
|