|
Gov. Yuguda’s Manifest error By Abbas A. Dikko
Mark you, in the general election of 2003, former Gov. Adamu Mua’zu had to enter into an agreement with the Bauchi State citizenry to regain his seat in spite of the incumbency factor to his advantage. Similarly, ANPP Presidential candidate polled over a million votes to beat his arch-rival, PDP incumbent President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Aftermath of cruelty is like wild fire that has no bound, when it comes, may consume everyone including the architect ---Food-4-thought
Nigeria, God’s own protected country, in spite of all the PDP inflicted and deliberately created problems, the country remain Kaka-Raka like the Olumo rock. Once again, thanks HIS grace for spearing and insolating us from all forms of natural disasters witnessed in other part of the world. Decade of our existence as a sovereignty, we have all it takes to be the leading nation in the continent of Africa, among the emerging economies in the world, but, here we are like a toddler groping with leadership inertia, high scale corruption in every aspects of our endeavours and damaging social values.
When leaders in Asia and Middle-east are competing favourably, war-tone Sierra Leone is tirelessly working to put its political and economic act in order, the Giant of Africa, remain shamelessly at the periphery. Could one imagine, a country said to be fighting corruption expended $13billion to achieve perpetual darkness while, an integral part of UAE, spent $22 billion to develop a complete new city? Could one again imagine, at this period of our electoral reform, following the widely condemnation of our previous elections, yet, members of the parliament and 1st term governors of a political party, were asking for automatic ticket against the doctrine of internal democracy that serves as the bedrock to true democratization process? Won’t one feel sorry for this country seeing our elected representatives under the platform of another political party, shamelessly decamping to the ruling party, leading the country to one party state in this era of multi-party democracy the world over?
And, how does one asses the sincerity of a government that advocates rule of law as one among its fundamentals, yet, granting amnesty to a group they called criminals but continue to hold in captives political prisoners like Almustapha and co. without fair trials? How as well, can we emerge as one among the 20 leading economies in the world by the year 2020, when leadership at the 3rd tier, almost all at the federating units, does not even understand the principles and purposes of the concept of African peer review mechanism, objectives of diversification from mono-to-multi productive economy or effective taxation system as another apparatus for income generation?
How fast can we achieve our dream of becoming a modern state recognize and respected by the comity of nations, when our political land space is adulterated with all manner of morally bankrupt, unprincipled and undemocratic elements and, our economy infected with illiterates, parasites and kleptomaniacs? Today, Nigerian leadership felt isolated by the action of the American President for choosing Ghana to be his Bus-stop in the West-Sub-African region, insincerely neglecting to reflect our sorry past or the rot that characterized our democracy in the immediate last ten uninterrupted years of civil rule.
These unbridled insolence that breaks the fabrics of our body polity, derailed our economic fortune and distorted our societal values, continue to repeat itself like a recurring decimal under the watchful eyes of world leaders, yet, we expect what, comportment from them? Sorry!
However, this foundation was laid as a prelude to the subject of discourse in this report, the borne of contention with Nigerian leadership principally are: principles, morality and credibility which, in all honesty are absent. I once told a friend, a strong advocate of protecting the sanctity of our votes as one among way forwards to qualitative leadership and good governance in this country that, for the first time, I would want to agree with President Yar’Adua’s position that, it’s not who appoints the chairman of an umpire Institution that matters but, the credibility of the personality so appointed, therefore, it’s not safe-guarding the sanctity of our mandate that only count but, the credibility of the persons so elected.
Though, he argued. I went further to remind him the Kontagora local council episode and the manner at which the electorates stand firm and after a year and more, actualized their mandate but, the later outcome was too ugly to mention. But, his defence was, local council administration was the inadequacies of the 1999 constitution that recognize state/local government joint account, to a level, I wonder why and how ‘joint account’ would be a poser to the morality and credibility of a council chairman that the only way to deliver dividends of democracy to his people, must be through abandoning his platform to the ruling party? His reply was, Bauchi/Yuguda in no distant time, would distinctively probe his case beyond all doubting Thomases.
Fortunately, the unfolding event in Bauchi State today, vindicated my argument and position. Here was a founding member for that matter of certain political party that has made an indelible contribution to its twice victory at the state/federal level, its most competent 2007 gubernatorial aspirant, notwithstanding, disgracefully removed from his ministerial position, accused of financial wrong-doing, humiliated, castigated and even scared to near death, all in a calculated attempt to quash his political ambition and finally, in an undignified manner, denied him the ticket.
Picked from the trash, dusted, rehabilitated, polished and presented to the Bauchi State people, overwhelmingly accepted, massively voted as well, stand firm to defend the sanctity of his mandate in spite of all the fire power of the state apparatus and federal might put together. But as is said, wonders never end; here he is today, in what one can easily described as extreme political stupidity, cruelty and mediocrity. Haba!
In record time and, in the history of the defence of the sanctity of our votes in this fourth republic, at the local level, Kontagora local government would forever be remembered. But, at the state level, not even the Kano State scenario of 2003 that was spear-headed by retired army chiefs, Bauchi State 2007 would remain exceptional and extra-ordinary because, it was wholly fought by an armless mass population of the state citizenry.
Unfortunately, power as it is/was said, drunk absolutely drunk. So careless was Yuguda’a statement to the ordinary man/woman that sacrificed their precious lives against the ruthless and reckless government of Obasanjo to safe-guard his priceless mandate that it was his popularity that brought him to power. What an insult! And so was the manner he wants to reciprocate well with evil, more devastating, the going on plot to destroy and destabilize his innocent deputy’s political structures for standing firm on principles, morality and dignity. What a farce!
These indeed, are perplexing, amusing and surprising, why, why, why the indignation? I mean, won’t this be regarded as ingrate-ness, political miscalculations, misnomers and misfit-ness or a meccabah dance in the gallery of absurd? What obviously were the fears allayed for one who was able to win election with a landslide under a crude and despotic leader or expectations in a constitutional democracy? Truly, we have less in number or none democrats at all in this country, every elected representative expect to be stage manage back to power including ones known to have clearly, freely and fairly won their election. God save us! |