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Shekarau: Between Promise and Fulfilling It By Abbas A. Dikko
Indeed, May 29, 1999, was a celebrated date and a year for all politicians, democrats and teeming Nigerians and of course friends of Nigeria, democratic governance was returned to the fore after several years of Military adventures. There were merriments in every nooks and corner of the country, Kano State being an integral part, was not left out in the ceremonies. Politicians and democrats all over the world were sending congratulatory messages and pouring recommendation on Gen. Abdul-salam Abubakar Military regime’s for keeping to its promise and words.
In Kano State and for the first time, they came out en-masse to vote for a conservative class of democracy and equally too identified with the establishment at the centre. Although, the political permutation of 1998/99 has no defined class, ideology or distinction, it was a hasty and haphazard arrangement just to confine the military to its traditional and constitutional responsibilities. This gave birth to the emergence of PDP and its candidate, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as the captain, steward and chieftain of Kano State to manage its affairs for four year term.
This unknowingly became Kwankwaso’s nemesis, taking things for granted, became berserk, makes who he likes and mar who he hates. It was under this situation, Mal. Ibrahim Shekarau, I think, then a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, became a victim, because of his stand on issues and principles. He lost his exalted seat and rank and, according to rumour, was relegated to a principal position in one of the State’s Secondary School.
That ingloriously was Malam’s ordeal, in the first four year of the return of democracy in Nigeria and Kano State; he became the number one casualty of the gradual ascension of impunity and arbitrary rule in the body polity. Every lover of due process, decorum and civility, not only in Kano even outside the boarders of the State, condemn in totality and sympathized with the naked injustice meted on him.
And that no doubt, became the gradual process of making him a governor. Allah (SWA) in His infinite mercy, answered the prayers of not only the Kano umma, but also, a million and more people like me who are not of Kano origin by birth or whatever. Obasanjo/kwankwaso, been ignoramus of Kano politics, thought they can utilized the incumbency factor and the State apparatus to simply coerced the Kano people to accepting the returned of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to the government house of Kano. That was, and remained their political miscalculation till the last hour Obasanjo left power. This took place in the general election of 2003.
The general election of 2007, regarded to be the worst in the history of this Nation, the task became more daunting for Shekarau, he lost the support and sympathy of his political godfather, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Presidential candidate of their great party (ANPP), he became a loner in handling the affairs of his political career, for whatever reason(s), that is best known to the two of them. Secondly, there was this Kano belief that, no one can ever be a governor twice in the State; thirdly, there was a lost romance between the duos, Malam himself, the retired army chiefs and ulamas of the State that made an indelible contributions to making him a governor in 2003.
The federal might again, never let off its hook on Malam, first there was the attempted blackmail by the Chairman of EFCC, the Gestapo of President Obasanjo, which nearly got him out of the list of the suppose contestants of his party (ANPP) against the general election of 2007. When that failed, Obasanjo became a resident visitor in Kano between April 15-20, all in a bid to make sure that, Malam was not returned elected. But as providence would have it, Malam is today, not even among the governors that are facing crime against electoral fraud at either the election tribunal or any of the appellant court.
However, in spite of all these, his piety, tolerance, principles, civility, doggedness and of course, the fierce battle put forward by the Kano State citizenry to twice defend his mandate, Malam fails to meet up with the 3 promises he made to the good people of Kano State during the electioneering campaign of 2003/’07. These remain a liability and a moral burden on him and a question in the lips of many, even including none indigenes, which I, happens to be one, hence, I took it upon me the challenge of leading this cause.
The promises are; (a). Malam promised to rejuvenate the groundnut pyramids of Kano. (b). Malam promised to serve for only one four year term. (c). Malam promised to energize the power problem in the State through an Independent power project. Unfortunately, all these remain mirages and, questions are never asked, Malam too remain adamant or serious efforts are never put. Lest he forget, the covenants he entered with the kano people, would one day come to stand the test of time. On their part, they had fulfilled their own side of the bargain, but, it seems, Malam is lost in political imagination and oblivion, he may think, constitutionally he had served, but, legacy and favour always walk hand in hand.
Today, governance and government globally, is all about economy, at the International arena, country is only recognize and respected if it has a sustainable economic growth and, the economic contributions of the component units of that country, makes it what it is at the global level. Nationally, the driving force of any State is its economic viability. Visit the South-west geopolitical zone, Lagos State alone, can be able to sustain its human capital development needs, so also, Cross River in the South-south region. North generally, looks inward to Kano and Kaduna States respectively to fine tune its economic growth thereby, raising its human capital development index.
Before 1999, Kano and Kaduna were no doubt the leading economies of the region because of the high concentration of industries and other business opportunities. But today, Kaduna has completely fallen, that volume of businesses and job opportunities, have now become a shadow of its self. Kano is now at the verge of collapse, hence, the rejuvenation of the pyramids and, the energizing of the Kano power sector through IPP, would have been the messianic remedy.
But, first four year in the administration of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, the pyramids were still not visible as earlier promised, what we later heard, was a new invention tagged; “A DAI DAI TA SAHU”, which became the four years constructive engagement of the administration. If we are to consider the pros and cons of this new concept in comparison to the rejuvenation of the pyramids the out come of the result will be a misplacement of priority.
Take for; how many were the direct beneficiaries of the programme, how many jobs and wealth had it created, how much revenue or investment inflow had it brought to the government of Kano State? Kano State government only expend without even a commensurate returns on the objectivity behind the concept, the dividends in terms of job and wealth creation and investment inflow are variably zero. In fact, this could be said to be a pipe line dream or nothing but a conduit pipe for siphoning state on resources. However, my primary objective for championing this cause is not condemnation of the administration of Malam, but, to remind or re-awaken him on the need for the return of the pyramids because of its economic importance not only to the Kano State people, but, the north in totality.
In the 2003 electioneering campaign slogans of Malam, he promised never to seek a second mandate after his first four year term, we all believed him by virtue of his personality and principles, religious and cultural background. Surprisingly, two years in his administration, Kano State people and his admirers outside the shore of the State, wake-up one morning to be greeted by a slogan “Allah Ya Mai Mai Ta Mana”, from no other people than his party men, loyalist and government functionaries.
Issue he never debunked or dissociates self from not until 2006 when he made a categorical declaration of no vacancy in Kano government house come May 2007. In any case, we cannot alleged him to had spoken lairs, because, it will tantamount to disrespect for his personality, but, this can be said to be an invitation to deceit and deception, in other words, shifting his base from the original Ibrahim we perceived to know.
Constitutionally, he has the absolute right to seek for second mandate, but till date, he never disclosed or told the Kano people or his admirers, why this sudden reversal away from his original pronouncement and stand.
The third and of course, the last subject of discourse is, mid-way in his administration, Malam saw the rational for embarking into an Independent power project to energize the power sector of the State as a remedy to sustaining the existing industries, giving way to new ones, thereby, creating more jobs and wealth, boosting the revenue drive and investment inflow in the State. This indeed, was a quite remarkable foresight, but, this dream is either walking at a snail stage or more like gone to sleep.
Is it not better, if the State government cannot go alone, to partner with other stakeholders and the private sector in the financing as well, the management? This I think, will be the only way the project can speedily come to fruition, ensure efficiency and sustainability, which in the end, the Kano State citizenry, settlers and the business community across the north, would forever remember him for this onerous legacy.
However, my interest in picking these subject matters and more issues to follow later are; the sate of the north economically, leadership in the north politically, people of the north socially and the sensitivity of Kano and Kaduna with regards to this cause. Additionally, Malam’s position in the polity, ethics and principles in state craft, place and stand in religion should not be seen to be compromise, therefore, one would continue to remind and re-awaken him on his promises, duties and responsibilities to his state, north and humanity in general.
Lastly, the recent out-come of the local government election of Sat. Nov. 16, 2007, in the State, was nothing but, a charade. Malam allowed the adulterated PDP of Obasanjo in the State to mislead him to making a political blunder that would remain part of his administration woes at this peak period of electoral reform to cleanse the system. We know, the States of Kwara, Ebonyi and Cross River, committed this same dastardly acts, but that, shouldn’t be a yardstick to allowed the Obasanjo faction of PDP in Kano to manipulate his psycho leading him to this sham.
People hold him with high esteem and are looking inward in him to be one among the instrument of change and civility in the polity not this brouhaha. Malam need to know that, his perceived enemies could not achieved what he had in the history of Kano politics, therefore, could not leave the legacy his is about to leave. This became their worries and concern, so, the only alternate way to destroy his chances are through tempting and tormenting, diverting him from his sincerity of purpose and good cause to total contraption, hence, putting a stop to the legacy he is assiduously working to leave. Best luck ---- Malam and God bless. |