Kanawa and Yar’adua’s administration

The recent appointment of Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria has added to the long list of indigenes of Kano state serving in the present PDP-led administration of President Umaru Musa Yar’adua. With Sanusi’s appointment, it seems the people of Kano are among the set of people Yar’adua wants to work with, or a calculated strategy that will directly or indirectly translate into some votes for his party during the 2011 elections.

Among the Kanawa holding vital and sensitive positions in Yar’adua’s government are Dr. Shamsudden Usman , Minister for National Planning , Dr Mansur Maukthar , Minister of Finance, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Danbazau , Chief of Army Staff, Sarki Mauktar, National Security Adviser and many more serving in different categories. And presently the Governor of CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

Though Kano State presently is not among the states controlled by the PDP in the North-west since 2003, the zone is the area that President Yar’adua himself comes from. The politicians and non-politicians in Yar’adua’s cabinet will naturally try their possible best to please Mr. President by delivering Kano to the PDP in future elections.

Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s appointment as CBN governor has politically benefited the Yar’adua administration as many Nigerians especially Northerners and people of Kano state in particular has felt that the government did a good job by appointing a credible and competent person as head of the apex bank. Even though Sanusi is not a politician in the Nigerian context, but in his writings published by media houses before the 2003 elections he wrote against the then PDP governor of Kano state Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. And he supported General Muhammadu Buhari against former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Can Sanusi now ever write against the PDP-led administration he is now serving? No, he will give more credibility to the government especially if he happens to succeed in his job, which will translate into achievements for Yar’adua’s administration.

And Sanusi’s family background added with the respect and love the people of Kano have for him will also help the PDP to get more votes in the state during 2011 elections. His appointment is to the advantage of Kano PDP if the various antagonizing camps within the party worked together.

If PDP loses Kano in 2011 elections, President Yar’adua should hold all indigenes of the state appointed by his government responsible; it is up to them to carry their people along by empowering them and bringing the dividends of democracy courtesy of Federal Government to their door step. And it would be an added boost if they can collectively work toward the availability of constant power supply to the state, so that the closed industries will be re-opened and thousands will be employed. Many people will consider voting for the PDP in Kano state in the next elections.

Also with the big names in Kano PDP such as Dr. Abubakar Rimi, Engr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso , Alhaji Ghali Umar Na’abba , Hon. Faruk Lawan, Alhaji Sule Ruruwai, Alhaji Ibrahim Amin Little, Dr. Yakubu Danhassan , Arc. Aminu Dabo, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje and others, it will be the biggest shame of the century if they fail to deliver Kano to PDP. Their party may have lost the 2003 and 2007 elections to particular situations at the time but this is not the situation presently.

Kano state is up for grabs for any political party in 2011 if they have good planning and strategy. The present governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau will part ways with General Muhammadu Buhari as he has sworn not to decamp from ANPP; While General Buhari is preparing to decamp from ANPP ahead of 2011 elections. Governor Shekarau is too confused presently to choose his successor as almost all his entire cabinet are fighting and back stabbing each other to succeed him. To make the matter worse, none among them commands the respect Shekarau had enjoyed before his contesting in the 2003 elections.

On the part of General Muhammadu Buhari’s supporters in Kano state presently, neither one of Alhaji Haruna Ahmadu Danzago nor Alhaji Abdulmajid Danbilki Commander can lead them to victory. The people will first of all consider the quality and competence of the gubernatorial candidates of all parties before voting for them.

The Yar’adua administration, despite all the criticism it is facing, have shown special respect and concern to the people of Kano state by appointing their sons in key positions of his government. It now remains if the people of Kano will show their appreciation to President Yar’adua through supporting him and his party during the coming 2011 elections.


Shehu Mustapha Chaji