Saturday, 6 September 2008

General Buhari and Tenure Elongation

Results of 2007 elections are still being contested in the courts and have led some elections to be upheld and annulled. The final verdict with regard to the presidential election is still awaited from the Supreme Court, which will either affirm or annul the election said to be won by President Umaru Musa Yar’adua.



Courts have so far annulled many elections especially those of PDP governors in states like Kogi, Adamawa, Sokoto, Bayelsa and Cross River , still in the re-run elections PDP governors were returned with even lager wining margins. These governors have indirectly enjoyed tenure elongation for more than a year.



General Muhammadu Buhari the presidential candidate of opposition ANPP in 2007 is at the centre of storm since the day INEC declared Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua as the winner of 2007 presidential election. Buhari, like other Nigerians, local and international observers, condemned the elections as flawed. As Usual Buhari headed to the courts to challenge the election of Yar’adua. Many Nigerians, myself inclusive, supported the idea that the courts should determine Yar’adua’s legitimacy even as traditional rulers, some Ulama’s and later his party demanded Buhari to accept Yar’adua’s election in the general interest of the North and Nigeria .



It’s now more than 15 months that President Yar’adua is occupying Aso Rock and the supreme court have not yet delivered it’s judgment on 2007 presidential election. The judgment is either of the two, to affirm or annul the election. With present realities on ground President Yar’adua will hope and pray that his election be annulled, so that as the norm of ruling PDP he can re-contest, win, and have a fresh mandate of 4 years.



Recent media reports as confirmed by aides to A.C‘s presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, confirmed that there are secret talks going on between him and Yar’adua, and there are rumours going round of the possibility of Atiku Abubakar returning to PDP. With such development and with the typical Nigerian situation sooner or later the Atiku camp may withdraw its case from the Supreme Court and decamp back to PDP.



The hard nut to crack is General Muhammadu Buhari.; following his antecedents after the 2003 elections where he logically followed his case to the end at the Supreme Court. This time around from the various media interviews he affirmed his decision of following his case to its logical conclusion in the Supreme Court. As I said earlier, am one of those that had been supporting General Buhari right from when he joined politics and even propagated that he should pursue his case right to the supreme court in the interest of the masses and democracy in Nigeria. But my fears these days are many especially if the Supreme Court does annul Yar’adua’s election. Also if the apex court finally legitimizes Yar’adua’s election, what will be the fate of Buhari and his supporters in the 2011 elections?



Let’s assume that the Supreme Court annuls Yar’adua’s election and demand for a re-run. The reality on ground is whether General Buhari is ready and capable to win such election? As a start he doesn’t even have a vice presidential candidate as he and Chief Ume Ezeoke who double’s as ANPP chairman and Buhari running mate are at each others throat and by implication Buhari does not have the party’s backing. All ANPP governors excluding Alhaji Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi of Zamfara state are not in good terms with and not in support of Buhari. Governor Ali Modu Sheriff of Borno state had clearly stated that he would support Yar’adua in a re-run election, Governor Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano state has a deep animosity with Buhari and he is now concerned with how he can be ANPP presidential candidate for 2011 elections . As for Governors Isa Yuguda of Bauchi state and Mamman Ali of Yobe state even though they have not clearly stated their relationship with Buhari, but they are in support of the position of their party which accepts to be part of the government of national unity.



In such a scenario how can Buhari win a re-run election with a divided house while he has accused most of ANPP leaders and elders as merchants of PDP. Even if he wins the re-run election how can he contend with PDP controlling more than two/third of States and the National Assembly with its leadership?



In the event that Supreme Court affirm Yar’adua’s election, what will be the fate of Buhari in ANPP? Will he still contest for presidential election in 2011? And if he does will other presidential aspirants step down for him? In case they do, how sure is he that what occurred in 2003 and 2007 presidential election will not re-occur?



The ball is in the court of General Buhari to either to either bow to pressure of eminent Northerners and his party to withdraw his case before the Supreme Court and demand for concessions as it has happened in Kenya and about to happen again in Zimbabwe . If not, he should start the process of grooming his own presidential candidate for 2011 within ANPP or any other platform he might decide to use. And if he decides to pursue his case to its logical conclusion in the apex court and the court orders a re-run, it will be the greatest disservice to Nigerians if General Buhari fails to make impact and indirectly add more years to Yar’adua’s government.



Opposition parties and General Buhari in particular seem to be overwhelmed, intimidated and crushed by the PDP forces. Either of the two is the reason why PDP is having a field day , that Nigerians are contented with the way and manner the ruling party is conducting the affairs of the country or the Nigerian people are not satisfied with the qualities of those seeking to take over affairs from PDP forces . Cases in point are how people of Kano , Bauchi and Lagos states affirmed their choices even though PDP controls the apparatus of power.



As for Nigerians their destiny is in their own hands, they either tolerate the excess of ruling PDP or desire for a change. Whenever they are ready as it has happened in so many countries.



If General Buhari wants to make any impact in Nigerian politics in future, he has to look into the achievements recorded by Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Malam Aminu Kano even though they couldn’t rule Nigeria but they left a mark in history through imprints of their ideology on Nigerian politics. Why wouldn’t Buhari consolidate his ideology through grooming his own supporters and followers under his own umbrella?



Nigerians are now indifferent of the outcome of judgment at the Supreme Court as they know the realities on ground will not change the fortunes of ruling PDP. It now left for General Buhari to either accept the reality that if the court decides in his favour, indirectly he has paved the way for tenure elongation to Yar’adua and PDP. Whatever he decides the plan for the future is the most important.


Shehu Mustapha Chaji

shehuchaji@yahoo.com

Wednesday, 27 August 2008

Nigerians and Dividends of Democracy

Democracy is defined as “rule by the people”. After prolonged military rule in Nigeria and the subsequent return to democratic rule in 1999, the Nigerian people hoped for a life much better than during the military rule.



Fortunately, for democratic rule in Nigeria , political activities on the international scene have favoured- and are still favouring – the major source of income to the government which is oil. Prices of oil have been soaring higher and higher and in return, billions of dollars have been flowing into the government coffers.



Democratic governments and legitimate systems all over the world concerns centre around providing welfare and basic necessities that will make life easier and prepare its citizens for the challenge of nation building. Some countries, even though not endowed with natural resources, have used their initiatives to guarantee that lives of their citizens are at least comfortable and satisfactory.



But with democratic rule in Nigeria from 1999 to date, will the Nigerian people testify to any meaningful change that has brought about any positive change in their lives? Have they reaped any meaningful dividends of democracy? Is their will at the polls true reflection of their leaders and representatives? Are their leaders and representatives performance anything to hail up about? And have they held the trust invested on them sincerely? Answering these questions will help us to annalyse recent reports which show that despite Nigeria ’s plentiful resources and oil wealth, Nigeria is now considered one of the 20 poorest countries in the world, with over 70 per cent of its population classified as poor, with 35 per cent living in absolute poverty. Also reports indicate that 59,000 women die during or soon after childbirth every year, the second highest in the world after India .



Only very few Nigerians could testify that democratic rule from 1999 to date has direct positive impact on their lives. Among the very few are the politicians themselves, their families and cronies, business monguls and, consultants who have connections with politicians, professionals and academics given appointments to hold public offices and those that get tokens as defenders and promoters of politicians and public office holders.



The Nigerian people who don’t have connections with politicians are continuing to live in hardship and uncertain future. Poverty , maternal deaths, unemployment , insecurity, underpayment ,corruption , rigging of elections, lack of electricity, good drinking water and roads e.t.c seem to be their own portion of dividends of democracy .In some cases one notices absolute carelessness about the lives of citizens that work without salaries for several months in places partially or completely sold out by government. Cases of pensioners dieing on delayed payment queues are many.



Dividends of democracy are visible on politicians, public office holders and families and cronies of politicians. Flashy cars , exotic mansions and shopping malls, trip to foreign countries, expensive dresses and ornaments, fat bank accounts, established businesses e.t.c are some of the dividends of democracy that all can testify that those in the shade of governance do enjoy.



Masses are not envying politicians and their cronies for the life of comfort they are enjoying , rather they are demanding for what is supposed to be done to them to at least make life easier for them. They are also still confused as to which type of economic system we are operating as we are underpayed and at the same time the government keeps removing all subsidies that cushion the life of poor Nigerians against harder and brutish way of life.



Politicians have confused Nigerians with the type of economic system government is operating. In all we are aware of, that in all systems, capitalist, socialist, monarchy, theocracy, military e.t.c such governments are dedicated and concerned with providing the necessary mechanism that will afford their citizens a life full of opportunities, as they invest heavily in agriculture, education , health and deal decisively with all issues of corruption.



Been a subservient nation through accepting and implementing policies of foreign countries and their institutions will keep on retarding our development and inflicting more hardship on our people. Such policies have been in use under various names for years but they have not changed the lot of Nigerian people. Our governments have to look inward to formulate economic policies that will tally with our way of life.



Corruption, which is the core impediment to our growth and development, has to be tackled aggressively under a willed and purposeful leadership. Until corruption is fought to a standstill , those politicians that have pillage and plunder treasuries under their trust and are freely moving about enjoying and partying their loot, and even scheming for higher political offices will be emulated by would-be occupiers of elective offices and public office holders.



Nigerian leaders have to work extra hard to win back the confidence of the Nigerian people that democratic governance is all about service to the people not service to themselves. That the real dividends of democracy should be felt by all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion, region political differences and social status through enabling the atmosphere to be condusive such that all can eat three times a day, can obtain employment without having any connections , can be attended to in hospitals and provided with drugs, that salaries are enough and Nigerians can now start having the habit of life saving, that all Nigerians can move freely without fear of criminals e.t.c . Until some of these and others are within reach to the Nigerian people that the real dividends of democracy will be elusive.



President Umaru Musa Yar’adua‘s government should add gear and redouble its efforts in implementing its seven point agenda which in theory centres around the basic necessities of the Nigerian people. As far as he accepts to be the Nigerian President, the Nigerian people will continue to demand for what is supposed to be given to them especially his campaign promises which undertook to place Nigeria among developed economies by the year 2020. And if he err or foot drag, the Nigerian people will not be silent to demand for what is supposed to be done.



The march to the land of dividends of democracy will be long unless and until there are free and fair elections where their votes count and the leadership is willful, firmed , purposeful and dedicated in sincerely and honestly leading the nation to greatness . A nation that corruption is dealt with as capital offence, then only can the Nigerian people truely feel the impact of dividends of democracy.



Yoursfaithfully,



Shehu Mustapha Chaji

shehuchaji@yahoo.com

Tuesday, 29 July 2008

As the gap between politicians and masses gets wider.

Politics in Nigeria is a serious business a do or die affair as it is the shortest route to riches. With the amount of money given to politicians legally as salaries and allowances excluding the spoils of the office , the politicians have been placed in the legion of millionaires .There is no politician , from councillorship upward , that is not a millionaire!



As for the Nigerian masses , they are getting poorer and poorer by the day. Inflation , unemployment , job insecurity, underpayment and delay in payment of salaries have bugged down the poor masses and denied them the living they are supposed to enjoy in a nation blessed with abundant natural resources.



The gap between politicians and masses is getting wider by the day , even as teachers embark on a national strike to demand for increase of salaries and allowances which the government has refused to implement under flimsy excuses, politicians on the otherhand have cause to smile to their banks as their salaries and allowances have increased in millions.



Even as children of the masses roam the streets as hawkers , petty labourers and beggars as all public schools are closed due to teacher's strike, the children of politicians from Mr. President to Honourable Councillor are in their classrooms in expensive private schools. And if not, between Mr. President, his vice and ministers , leadership and members of the National Assembly , state governors and their commissioners who among them do his children attend public schools and is affected by the present teachers strike? If there is anyone among those listed above, i will willingly surrender myself for ten strokes of cane!



If the Nigerian politicians would have five increases in their salaries and allowances from 1999 to date, how many increases in salaries and allowances have the Nigerian workers got from 1999 to date?(with apology to those not fortunate to be working). Don't they also need increase in their salaries and allowances to curb the menace of inflation? How much is minium wage ? What was the price of bag of rice in 1999 and what is it today? Is miniunum wage enough to buy a bag of rice today? Excluding amount spent on other household items, rent, transport , medical bills, school fees , utility bills e.t.c ?



We are a nation of hypocrisy and deceit as we all know what is being paid to Nigerian workers as salaries and allowances cannot fulfill their basic neccessities of life. Are the politicians more Nigerians than the masses? Are the politicians our first class citizens? In the course of nation building are some more important than others?



If not of selfishness and greediness that have characterised the way of life of Nigerian politicians , why would'nt they use their offices to alleviate the sufferings of their people and live by setting examples. Benefits of the offices they occupied are numerous from free accomodation, transport, medicals, food ,utility and free of whatever you can think of to make life comfortable and easy. But due to their greed the very little the masses demand to assist in keeping them moving is being denied them. It is only masses' demands that meet shortage of funds and deficits. And if they insist on their rights they are threatened with retrechentment and downsizing.



Nigerian masses are philosophical and as such take life easy and simple. As far as the masses are concerned, if they can eat to their satisfaction , pay their house rents, have an atmosphere that is condusive to conduct their legitimate daily activities, being able to solve their family educational and medical needs, e.t.c, the politicians can go and do whatever they want with the nation's resources. But why are the politicians wicked and inhuman? Why should a single person steal billions he cannot use and dump them in foreign banks? The Nigerian politicians should know that tyranny and deceit will not last forever as the dumbfounded and oppressed will one day realise the difference between his left hand from the right.



Disenchantment, mistrust, loss of confidence and hatred are growing all over the country against politicians. Masses cannot comprehend what is being done with billions of dollars the country is earning due to daily increase in international oil price. When some countries among those benefitting from the oil windfall embarked on building five new cities and some using theirs to advance nuclear technology to produce energy , we , the masses here are still living in hunger and lack of basic necessities of life. Politicians should as a matter of urgency act to start implementation of policies that the masses can testify tht yes they have a caring , accomodative and listening goverment.



Politicians at the helm of affairs from Federal,State and Local goverments have all performed below expectation with huge amounts of monies being shared among them. No good roads , drinking water,education, medical facilities,electric ity e.t.c.. And they also cannot solve the issue of unemployment which has turned strong,energetic and it is turning able young men and women into beggars ,criminals,fraudter s,prostitutes and frustrated people. The issue of unemployment has even taken a new dimension as monies are being extorted from applicants and they can easily lose their lives in the course of seeking for employment.



Other Nigerians , like politicians need equal oppurtunities and actions in place of rhetorics , sincerity in place of deceit ,good governance and a free and fair election. It is quite unfortunate for our politicians to be unable or delibrately refuse to fulfill the promises they make to the electorate when seeking for political office. Present politicians have no excuse for not performing as the resources are there and more than enough to bring about changes in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.



For any nation to develop , it has to invest heavily in the educational sector . With this , I am appealing to President Umaru Musa Yar'adua if he is sincere in achieving his seven-point Agenda, among which education is prominient to , as a matter of urgency , live by example in removing his children from private schools and take them to public schools and order all his officials and party to do the same and satisfy teachers demands. Let's see if quality of education will not change immediately.



The earlier Nigerian politicians realise that the masses are watching them enjoying their lives of comfort, while they allow them to continue to live in darkness , insecurity and fear of uncertain future the better. They too ( masses) like politicians , want their dividends of democracy through good living atleast one percent out of ten of how politicians live.







Shehu Mustapha Chaji

shehuchaji@yahoo. com

Saturday, 26 July 2008

Rayuwan yan siyasa da talakawa na kara tazara!

Irin makudan kudaden da ake samu a harkar siyasa a yau ya sanya siyasa kan gaba wajen harkar da tafi kawo kudi a yau a Najeriya. Manoma da yan kasuwa da ma’ikatan gwamnati a yau ko kusa basa samun kudin shiga kamar yan siyasa. Makudan kudaden da yan siyasa ke samu daga albashin su da alawus-alawus zuwa maikon dake tattare da kujerar da suke kai ya sanya su a sahun masu hannu da shuni. A yau babu dan siyasa daga Kansila zuwa sama da bai bawa miliyoyi baya ba !



Shi kuma talakan Najeriya a kullum sai kara talaucewa yake yi. Hauhawan farashin kayayyaki da rashin aikin yi da rashin tabbas kan aiki da sana’oi da kuma karancin albashi ya sanya talaka na rayuwa cikin matsi duk da dinbin arzikin kasa daga ma’adinai da kudin shiga da gwamnati ke samu a kullum.



Banbancin rayuwa tsakanin yan siyasa da talakawa na kara nisa a kullum. Duk da cewa Malaman makarantu sun shiga yajin aiki kan batun Karin albashi da gwamnati har yanzu taki sauraron su saboda wasu dalilai da hankali ba zai kama ba. Su kuma yan siyasa an kara masu albashi da alawus-alawus na miliyoyin nairori.



Ya’yan talakawa a yau nata garanramba da tallace-tallace da aikin leburanci da bara sakamakon yajin aikin malaman makaranta. Su kuma ya’yan yan siyasa daga Shugaban Kasa zuwa Kansila suna karatun su a makarantu masu zaman kansu masu tsada. Daga Shugaban kasa zuwa Mataimakin sa da ministocin da yan majalisar tarayya da shugabannin su da gwamnonin jihohi da kwamishinonin su , waye a cikin su da ya’yan sa ke zuwa makarantun gwamnati kuma wannan yajin aikin ya shafe su? In an sami daya cikin wadanda na lissafa a baya ya’yan sa na zuwa makarantun gwamnati , to a shirye nake ayi mani bulala guda goma.



In har yan siyasa zasu sami Karin albashi da alawus-alawus har sau biyar daga 1999 zuwa yau, su kuma talakawan kasa fa? Ko su basa bukatar Karin albashi ne? Nawa ne mafi karancin albashi? Kuma nawa ne kudin buhun shinkafa a yau? Sannan ga kudin cefane na yau da kullum da kudin haya da sufuri da asibiti da makaranta da wutan lantarki da ruwa da sauran su.



A yaushe zamu daina munafunci da yaudara a kasar mu? Kowa ya san cewa albashin da ake baiwa ma’aikata a Najeriya baya isar su biyan muhimman bukatun rayuwan yau da kullum. Su yan siyasa sun fi zama yan Najeriya ne kan talakawa? Sannan su yan siyasa wasu mutane ne na musamman? Wasu sun fi wasu muhimmanci ne a bada gudunmawar gina kasa?



In banda zalama da son kai irin na yan siyasar Najeriya me zai hana su yin amfani da mukaman su wajen aiwatar da ayyukan da zai rage ko kawo karshen wahaloli da kuncin rayuwa daya dabaibaye talakawan su da kuma bada kyakyawan misali? Romon dake tattare da mukaman da suke kai nada yawan gaske, inda suke more gidan kwana da motoci da kiwon lafiya da abinci da sutura da duk kayayyakin more rayuwa a kyauta. Amma saboda son kai dan bukatun da talakawa ke bukata dan tallafa masu a rayuwar yau da kullum an hana su. Bukatun talaka kadai ke gamuwa da rashin kudin da tsuke bakin aljihun gwamnati. In kuma suka dage kan neman biyan bukatun su sai ayi masu barazana da rage ko korar su daga aiki.



Talakawan Najeriya sun kasance masu hakuri da dogaro ga Allah wanda hakan ya sanya su basa daukan rayuwa da zafi. Buri da bukatar talaka bai wuce samun abinci sau uku a rana ba da samun halin biyan kudin haya da samun kyakyawan yanayin da zasu gudanar da harkokin neman halaliyar su na yau da kullum. Su kuma iya biyan kudin makarantan ya'yan su da magungunan da akan rubuta masu su saya a asibitoci da sauran su. In talaka zai iya biyan bukatun dake gaban sa , to yan siyasa suje suyi duk abinda suka gan dama da dukiyar kasa. Me yasa yan siyasa suka zama mugaye marasa tausayi da imani? Me zai sa mutum daya shi kadai ya saci biliyoyi da bazai iya amfani dasu ba ya kaisu bankunan kasashen waje ya boye? Yan siyasar Najeriya su kwan da sanin cewa zalunci da yaudara ba zai dore ba , saboda wata rana talaka da ake zalunta zai fahimci banbanci tsakanin hannun hagun sa da dama.



Rashin yarda da zargi da kiyayya nata yaduwa a ko'ina cikin kasar nan kan yan siyasa. Talakawa sun kasa fahimtar me ake da biliyoyin dalolin da kasar ke samu albarkacin hauhawan farashin man fetur a kasuwar duniya. Wasu kasashe cikin wadanda suke cin gajiyar hauhawan kudin man fetur har su kaddamar da gina sababbin birane guda biyar , yayin da wasu suke amfani da nasu wajen gina masana'antar nukiliya dan samar da makamashi. Mu kuma a nan talakawa na cigaba da rayuwa cikin yunwa da rashin abubuwan more rayuwa. Ya kama yan siyasa su gaggauta kaddamar da aiyuka da manufofin da talaka zai shedi cewa yana da shugabanin masu tausayi da sanin ya kamata.



Yan siyasar dake tafiyar da al'amurran mulki daga gwamnatin tarayya da jihohi zuwa kananan hukumomi duk sun gaza wajen aiwatar da ayyukan cigaba kwatan-kwacin makudan kudaden da suke rabawa a tsakanin su. Babu kyawawa da ingantattun hanyoyi da ruwan sha da ilimi da kiwon lafiya da wutan lantarki da sauran su. Kuma sun gaza warware matsalar rashin aikin yi da ya maida matasa majiya karfi almajirai da masu aikata laifuka da karuwai da kuncin rayuwa. Matsalar rashin aikin yi ya dauki sabon salo inda ake tatsan su kudade dama iya rasa rayukan su a wajen neman aiki.



Sauran yan Najeriya kamar yan siyasa na bukatar a basu damar su da hakkokin su da cika aiki maimakon dogon turanci da kyautata niyya maimakon yaudara da mulkin adalci da zabe na gaskiya. Abin takaici ne ace yan siyasa suki cika alkawarukkan da suka yiwa talakawa yayin neman kuri'ar su . Yan siyasa masu ci a yanzu basu da wata hujja na kasa yin aiyukan cigaba saboda makudan kudaden da suke samu a yanzu.



Duk kasar da take son taci gaba ya wajabta ta kashe kudade masu yawa wajen bunkasa harkan ilimi , da wannan nake kira ga Shugaban Kasa Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'adua inda gaske yake kan aiwatar da kudirorin sa guda bakwai da ilimi ke da matukar muhimmanci daya gaggauta nuna misali ta fitar da ya'yan sa daga makarantu masu zaman kansu ya maida su na gwamnati, sannan ya umarci jami'an gwamnatin sa da yan jam'iar sa suma suyi hakan, kuma ya biya dukkan bukatun malaman makaranta . In yayi haka cikin lokaci kadan zamu gan canji me yawa a fannin ilimi.



Yan siyasan Najeriya in basu sani ba , to su sani talakawa na kallon yadda suke rayuwar su cikin jindadi da kwanciyar hankali yayin da su suke rayuwa cikin duhu da rashin tsaro da rashin sanin makomar su a rayuwa. Suma talakawa kamar yan siyasa na bukatar rayuwan jin dadi dan su more romon dimokaradiyya a kalla kashi daya cikin goma na irin jin dadin da yan siyasa ke fantamawa a cikin sa.



Hazawassalam



Shehu Mustapha Chaji

shehuchaji@yahoo.com
08038222575

Monday, 16 June 2008

YUNKURIN JANAR JANAR NA WANKE ABACHA: IHU BAYAN HARI!

Ranar 8 ga watan Yuni, tsohon shugaban kasa Janar Sani Abacha ya cika shekaru goma da rasuwa. Kamar kowane shekara iyalan marigayi Janar Sani Abacha kan gabatar da addu’oi a irin wannan ranar . Amma abinda yafi jan hankali a addu’ar na bana shine haduwar tsofin shugabanin kasa na soja wato Janar Muhammadu Buhari da Janar Ibrahim Babangida da Janar Abdulsalam Abubakar, inda kowanen su ya fito karara ya karyata zargin da akeyi na cewa marigayi Janar Sani Abacha yayi rub da ciki da dukiyar al’umma yayin da yake mulki.

Kafofin watsa labarai sun ruwaito Janar Muhammadu Buhari na fadin cewa “dukkan zargin da akewa Janar Sani Abacha zai kasance zargi ne kawai”. Shi kuma Janar Ibrahim Babangida na cewa “ zargin da akewa Abacha basu da tushe balle makama…kuma babu kanshin gaskiya na cewa yayi almudahana da dukiyar al’umma”. A inda shi kuma Janar Abdulsalam Abubakar ke cewa “ abin takaici ne da rashin adalci a zargi iyalan marigayi Sani Abacha da satar dukiyar al’umma”.

Wannan yunkurin na Janar Buhari da Babangida da Abubakar na wanke marigayi Janar Sani Abacha daga zargin wawushe baitul malin gwamnati ya baiwa jama’ar kasa mamaki saboda basu fito sunyi wannan jawabin ba sai bayan shekaru goma da rasuwar sa. Duk da suna raye , suna ji , suna gani a lokacin gwamnatin baya da take ta shela tana sanar da duniya irin magudan kudaden da take karbowa a matsayin boyayyun kudade daga bankunan cikin gida da kasashen waje da marigayi Abacha ya boye.

Jaridar Thisday ta ranar 5 ga watan Yuni 2008 , ta larabto cewa kasar Switzerland ta fadi cewa ta maido wa gwamnatin Nijeriya dukkan kudaden sata da marigayi tsohon shugaban kasa Janar Sani Abacha ya boye a bankunan kasar ta , ba tare da wani sharadi na yanda za’a kashe kudaden ba. Jaridar ta ruwaito Ma’aikacin ofishin jakadacin na kasar Switzerland a Nijeriya , Mista Fabio Baiardi na cewa , sun maido wa Nijeriya kudade a kashi-kashi , yace a kashin farko sun bada dala miliyan 290 ranar 1 ga watan Satumba na 2005, sannan kashi na biyu sun bada dala miliyan 168 a ranar 19 ga watan Disamba na 2005, sai kashin karshe, dala miliyan 40 a karshen watan Janairu na 2006.

Bayanai na nuni da cewa Nijeriya tayi nasarar karbo dala miliyan 505.5 daga gwamnatin kasar Switzerland cikin kudaden da ake zargin Janar Sani Abacha ya sace tare da boye su a kasar kamar yanda bayanan da Ofishin majalisar dinkin duniya mai yaki da miyagun kwayoyi da laifuffuka da kuma bankin duniya suka bayar karkashin sabon yunkuri da ake kira da Stolen Asset Recovery (STAR ). Sannan ta bangaren gwamnatin Nijeriya anyi bayanin cewa an karbi kudi har dala miliyan 800 daga cibiyoyin hada-hadan kudi na cikin gida, cikin dala biliyan 3 zuwa 5 da ake zargin marigayi Janar Sani Abacha ya wawure, an kuma bada kiyasin cewa an karbi jimalar kudi dala biliyan 1.3 cikin kudaden.

In har zancen Janarori ya kasance gaskiya to ina kasar Switzerland ta sami miliyoyin dalolin data maidowa Nijeriya a matsayin kudaden da marigayi Janar Sani Abacha ya boye a bankunan kasar ta? Sannan ofishin majalisar dinkin duniya da bankin duniya ina suka sami bayanan da suka bayar kan kudaden da aka karbo na marigayi Janar Abacha? Su kuma (Janarori) ina suka sami nasu bayanan na cewa Janar Sani Abacha bai wawuri dukiyar Nijeriya ba?

Abin tambaya a nan shine me suke so su cimma da wannan furucin nasu na wanke Janar Abacha bayan shekaru goma ? In har tsofin shugabanni uku sun isa su bada sheda na wanke wanda ake zargi, to lallai sai yan Nijeriya su amince da shedan da tsofin shugabannin kasa uku wato Janar Yakubu Gowon da Alhaji Shehu Shagari da Cif Earnest Shonekan zasu bayar kan tsohon shugaban kasa Cif Olusegun Obasanjo kan yanda ya tafiyar da dukiyar Nijeriya daga 1999 zuwa 2007.

Yan Nijeriya na bukatar sanin gaskiyar lamari game da zargin satan dukiyar kasa da gwamnatin baya ke zargin marigayi Janar Sani Abacha dayi. Tunda har Janarorin sun fito a yanzu su shedi cewa Janar Abacha bai saci dukiyar al’umma ba, sai su kara wa yan kasa haske dan suyi watsi da bayanan da suka fito daga kasar Switzerland a matsayin kazafi ga marigayi Janar Sani Abacha.



Shehu Mustapha Chaji

shehuchaji@yahoo.com

Tuesday, 10 June 2008

Kano 2011: Da sassafe ake kama fara

Ba’a bori da sanyin jiki, da alamun wannan Karin Magana ke sa yan siyasar jihar Kano dake da burin gadar gwamnan jihar Kano Malam Ibrahim Shekarau bayan ya kamala wa’adin mulkin sa a zango na biyu keta shirye-shiryen ganin ko zasu dace. Wasu cikin masu kokarin ganin cewa sun gaji Gwamna Shekarau tuni suka fara nuna kansu ta hanyar kaddamar da kamfen ta bayan gida ta hanyoyin da suke ganin yafi dacewa a gare su dan samun goyon bayan al’ummar jihar Kano.
Cikin sahun gaba na masu son shige gidan gwamnatin jihar bayan Gwamna Shekarau ya nade kayan sa a shekarar 2011, sune yan jam’iyyarsa ta ANPP . Sannan yan jam’iyyun adawa musamman yan jam’iyyar PDP , sai kuma yan jiran ganin yadda guguwar siyasar zata kada kafin nan da shekarar 2010.
Mafi yawan yan takarar gwamnan jihar Kano dake nuna kansu ko kuma suke da niyyar tsayawa takara a shekarar 2011 in Allah ya kaimu sune manyan jami’an gwamnati da gaggan yan jam’iyyar ANPP me mulki a jihar. A sahun gaba na masu neman mukamin gwamnan a jihar sune Aljaji Sani Lawan Kofarmata, limamin Allah ya maimaita, Darakta Janar na Hukumar alhazai na jiha da Injiniya Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo mataimakin gwamna da Alhaji Garba Yusuf na hannun daman Gwamna Shekarau kuma kwamishina a gwamnatin sa da Alhaji Musa Iliyasu Kwankwaso kwamishinan raya karkara kuma kakakin jam’iyyar ANPP na jihar Kano da Injiniya Sarki Labaran kwaminishan aiyuka da Alhaji Abdullahi Sani Rogo .
Kazalika Sanatocin jihar a majalisar dattijai na kasa wato Sanata Kabiru Gaya da Sanata Muhammad Bello da Sanata Aminu Sule Garo ba’a barsu a baya ba wajen ganin cewa ko zasu dace su gaji Gwamna Shekarau ba. Tun dawowar tsarin dimokaradiya a shekarar 1999 tsohon gwamnan jihar Kano Sanata Kabiru Gaya keta hankoran ya sake komawa gidan gwamnatin jihar amma hakar sa bata cimma ruwa ba. In da rai da rabo, ba shakka kila ya sake jarraba sa’ar sa a zaben 2011. Shi kuma Sanata Muhammad Bello tun shekarar 2003 yake ta kokarin ganin cewa ya shige gidan gwamnatin jihar, kuma tun dawowar sa jam’iyyar ANPP yake ta kokarin ganin cewa ya sami gindin zama kuma hakan yasa yayi taka tsan-tsan wajen kaucewa karo da Gwamna Shekarau duk da radi-radin da ake tayi na cewa yana da sha’awar kujerar gwamnan jihar kafin zaben 2007.Shima ana ganin cewa tunda gwamna Shekarau zai bar mulki a shekarar 2011 to shima zai jarraba farin jinin sa ga al’ummar jihar Kano ganin yadda ya shafe shekaru yana yi da dukiyar sa wajen karfafa jam’iyyar ANPP a jihar da taimakawa jama’a da kungiyoyi a jihar. Shi kuma Sanata Aminu Sule Garo tun kafin zaben 2003 yake da sha’awar fitowa takarar gwamnan jihar Kano amma a lokacin abokin sa Alhaji Ibrahim Amin Little ya sha gaban sa a lokacin .Shima da alamun wannan karon zai sake yinkurawa ko zai dace a wannan karon. Sai dan majalisar tarrayya Alhaji Danlami Hamza wanda a yanzu yana zango na uku a majalisar yana cikin wadanda suke da sha’awar zama gwamna a 2011.
Suma wadanda suka canza sheka daga wasu jam’iyyun zuwa jam’iyyar ANPP ba za’a bar su a baya ba wajen neman takarar gwamna a karkashin jam’iyyar ANPP ba a shekarar 2011. Cikin su akwai Alhaji Barau Jibrin tsohon dan majalisar tarayya kuma na hannun dama a daga tsohon kakakin majalisar tarayya Alhaji Ghali Umar Na’abba da tsohon gwamnan jihar Kano Dakta Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi, sai Alhaji Shehu Yusuf Kura wanda yayi takarar gwamna karkashin jam’iyyar PDP da Dakta Bala Salisu Kosawa shima dan takarar gwamna karkashin jam’iyyar NDP.
Ta bangaren jam’iyyar PDP me adawa a jihar Kano wadanda ake ganin zasu shiga sahun gaba a takarar sun hada da Alhaji Ibrahim Amin Little da Alhaji Ahmed Garba Bichi ministan kasuwanci da Alhaji Ghali Umar Na’abba tsohon kakakin majalisar tarayya da Dakta Shamsudeen Usman ministan kudi da Alhaji Faruk Lawan dan majalisar tarayya da Alhaji Aminu Dabo da Alhaji Usaman Sule Ruruwai dan takarar jam’iyyar A.C a zaben 2007.
Ta bangaren magoya bayan Janar Muhammadu Buhari a jihar Kano suma zasu fito da karfin su saboda da zarar abinda suke jira ya tabbata na matsayin da Buhari zai dauka bayan hukuncin kotun koli zasu kara kaimi wajen ganin cewa dantakarar gwamnan jihar Kano da zasu mara wa baya mai goyon bayan Janar Buhari ne.Burin magoya bayan Janar Buhari a jihar Kano karkashin jagorancin Alhaji Haruna Ahmadu Dan Zago shine na samin gwamna me goyon bayan Janar Buhari a jihar Kano a shekarar 2011.
Sai dai da alamun cewa takarar na gwamnan Kano a shekarar 2011 zai iya zuwa da sarkakiya in har ta tabbata Gwamna Ibrahim Shekarau ya canza sheka zuwa jam’iyyar PDP kafin zaben 2011 , inda ko yayi nasara wajen tsaida magoya bayan sa a takara har dana gwamna yanda tsohon gwamnan jihar Kebbi SSanata Adamu Aliero ya sami nasarar yi bayan ya koma jam’iyyar PDP ko kuma ya sami nakasu kamar yanda tsohon gwamnan jihar Jigawa Sanata Saminu Turaki ya samu inda yan jam’iyyar PDP na asali karkashin jagorancin Gwamna Sule Lamido suka mamaye takarar da mukamai masu tsoka suka sha gaban Sanata Saminu Turaki . In har ta tabbata Gwamna Shekarau ya koma jam’iyyar PDP jam’iyyar zata kwashi ruguntsumin banbancin ra’ayi tsakanin gaggan jam’iyyar inda zai sami Tsohon gwamna Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso da tsohon gwamna Abubakar Rimi wanda kowannen su zai yi kokarin ganin cewa dan takarar sa na gwamna ne ya sami tikitin tsayawa takarar gwamna. Sannan akwai yan takara masu jinni a jika kamar su Alhaji Ibrahim Amin Little da Alhaji Ghali Umar Na’abba da zasu yi kokarin tabbatar da ikon su saboda kada ayi masu sakiyar da babu ruwa kamar yanda akayi masu a zaben fidda gwani na shekarar 2007.
Yanda Gwamna Shekarau ya tafiyar da gwamnatain sa a shekaru biyu masu zuwa zai iya bashi damar ko rashin damar tsaida tsaida wanda yake so ya gaje shi a shekarar 2011. Jam'iyyar sa ta ANPP a kasa na fuskantar durkushewa gaba daya saboda rigingimun cikin gida ga kuma barazanar mamayar PDP data tinkaro yankin Arewa maso Yamma yankin da Shugaba Yar'adua ya fito inda jam'iyyar keso ta tabbatar da ikon ta saboda Shugaba Yar'adua.
Al'ummar jihar Kano na lura da bibiyar yanayin siyasar dake gudana, in kuma Allah ya kaimu lokacin zasu duba su darge su dauki wanda suke ganin yafi dacewa ya jagoranci jihar a shekarar 2011. Ko su amince da duk wanda gwamna Shekarau ya nuna masu ko kuma su zabi wani daban albarkacin Shugaba Umaru Yar'adua ko kuma su sake amincewa da wanda Janar Muhammadu Buhari zai nuna masu kamar yanda yayi a shekarar 2003. Amma kuma ko su a kan kansu zasu duba wani daban a kan kansa da suke ganin shi yafi dacewa da cancanta dan samun romon dimokaradiya da ake ta tababa ko tsohon Gwamna Rabiu Kwankwaso da Gwamna Ibrahim Shekarau basu baiwa al'ummar jihar ba a lokacin mulkin su lokaci ne kadai zai bayyana.

Shehu Mustapha Chaji
shehuchaji@yahoo.com

Tuesday, 3 June 2008

After one year in office: President Yar’adua in the eyes of Nigerians

President Umaru Musa Yar’adua was exactly one year in office on 29-May-2008 as President of Nigeria. He came to power through an election that was alleged to be massively rigged according to reports of local and international observers. This led opposition parties to challenge his election in the courts and Nigerians are still waiting for the final verdict from the Supreme Court which can legitimize or nullify his election.

He assumed office in a situation that he needs the support of Nigerians as he was greeted by strike organized by the Nigerian Labour Congress(NLC) which demands him to reverse last minute policies of former President Olusegun Obasanjo who privatize Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries, increase vat and price of petroleum. The policies were reversed as demanded by the organized labour which reflects the yearnings of Nigerians.

Saddle with the leadership of Nigeria President Yar’adua formulated the 7 point Agenda which according to him will be the central cardinal of what he wants to achieve so as to put Nigeria among the world emerging economies in the world. The 7 Point Agenda are Energy, Security, Wealth creation, Education, Land reform, Mass transit and Niger Delta. After one year in office did Nigerians feel the impact of the 7 point Agenda? And out of the 7 point Agenda which among is he able to addressed? How far has he gone in achieving the 7 point Agenda? Can Nigerians testify to any difference in his governance to that of previous administration of President Obasanjo?

Sincerely, Nigerians have not felt any impact on any of Yar’adua’s 7 point Agenda. Energy sector is getting worse than he met it, according to reports power generated by Egbin Thermal station with the capacity to generate 1,350 megawatts has drop to less than 800 megawatts. And Nigerians are still looking forward to Mr. President in fulfilling his promise of declaring the state of emergency in the power sector. Insecurity is on the increase as Nigerians continue to live in fair of activities of criminals. On the issue of Niger Delta, the militant youth had continued to disrupt oil exploration which led to drop in amount of oil drill every day from 2.4 million barrel to around 2 million.

Political analyst and commentators view the Yar’adua administration as slow and the government seem incapable of tackling the enormous problems affecting the country, couple with policies reversal and somersault. This had even led some to believe that Yar’adua’s administration is the continuation of Obasanjo’s administration as his government has achieved little in the past one year.

But one distinct quality of Yar’adua’s administration is in the area of rule of law. The President has tried in issues regarding to the rule of law compare to the previous administration of Obasanjo. In the past one year all court rulings were abide by the President especially verdicts that had affected governors of his ruling party. He has also promise to cease to be president if the Supreme Court annulled his election and hand over to who the court decide will take over.

Though the President Yar’adua has promise to bring about electoral reform, Nigerians have continue to experience massive election riggings and manipulations from local government elections to re-run elections conducted all over the country. He should also fulfill that promise so that Nigerians will have free and fair elections like all democracies in the world. Free and fair elections will encourage Nigerians to believe and trust democratic governance as a tool for social, economic and political development of their country. President Yar’adua should not allow Nigeria under his leadership to become a one party state as canvassed by his party men.

In the area of corruption, President Yar’adua is not been accused by Nigerians of embezzling their nation’s resources as previous administrations were accused. And there is no allegation of spreading corruption and bribery in the National Assembly to enable him have his ways as it was alleged during the past administration where Ghana must go bags are used to achieve personal and selfish interest .Also he is not accused of interfering with the running of affairs in the legislature and judiciary in process of executing their works.

Nigerians expects action and not lip service from Yar’adua’s administration, to execute projects that will better their lives. Lack of constant power has led to set back in the economic sector and he should boost the agricultural sector or to be short and precise, President Yar’adua should fully implement his 7 point Agenda as he has promised Nigerians.

Many Nigerians believed that President Yar’adua has good intention for Nigeria and Nigerians. Some are of the view that the court cases have been affecting his performance in office. President Yar’adua should side with the Nigerian people and what they want as trying to please somebody or some people will hinder him from implementing his dreams for Nigeria. Time does not wait as one year out of four is already gone.

If a national survey for public opinion will hold on rating the Yar’adua’s administration for the past one year , most Nigerians will express the opinion that Yar’adua’s administration have achieved less and it has failed in bringing about any positive impact on their lives. For Nigerians , their lives today has no difference from the past eight years they had lived under Obasanjo’s administration and they have started loosing hope that the Yar’adua’s administration will bring about any positive change in their lives.

In the next coming months Nigerians can access if the change they desire will come about or they will continue to live as they had lived in the past nine years which is suffering with all the billion of dollars the country is making due to high increase in oil price.

Shehu Mustapha Chaji

shehuchaji@yahoo.com