Wakilan mu na Arewa sun bar farilla sun kama nafila !

Rahotannin rabin zango na Majalisar Dattawa dana Tarrayya na kasa sunyi nuni ga gazawar walikan mu na Arewa wajen mika kudurorin dokoki duk da miliyoyin nairorin da suke karba a matsayin albashi da alawus – alawus.

Wakilan da suka fito daga jihohin da Hausawa da Fulani suka fi yawa sunfi ragowar yan Arewa dake majalisar Tarrayya zaman dumama kujera. Kazalika, manyan yan majalisar dattawa musamman tsofaffin gwamnoni suma ba abinda suka kulla wa wadanda suke wakilta ta hanyar gabatar da kudurin dokoki.

Kafin fitowar rahotannin a kullum ka bude radiyo zakaji ance dan majalisa ko sanata me wakiltan …. Ya bada atamfofi da injinan yin taliya da Babura da shaddoji da kananan jeneratoci da kekuna da sauran su. Wadanda ake turowa gidajen rediyon, kaji suna ta alfahari da tutiyar cewa ga irin dinbin nasarorin da wakilan su ya kawo masu. Kai harma da fadin cewa wakilin nasu ya bada naira dubu goma-goma a ja jari.

Bawai ina kushe dan abinda suke rabawa yan jagaliyar su bane a’a amma menene ainihin ayyukan da suka wajabta a kansu a matsayin sun a wakilan jama’a. A tsarin dimokaradiya majalisun dattawa da wakilai suna da muhimmiyar rawan da suke takawa wajen tsara kudirorin dokokin da rayuwan yan kasa zai inganta.

Sabanin haka namu wakilan daga na Tarrayya zuwa Jihohi basa bada wakilcin daya kamata inda basa iya tantance aiyukan taimako da ihisani da aiyukan daya wajabta a kansu na tsara dokoki da kudirorin da zai inganta rayuwar yan mazabar su da kasa gabaki daya. Babu wanda zakaji a cikin su yana fadama wadanda yake wakilta wane irin dokoki suke so ya mika ga majalisa ko kuma yana ma neman shawarar su kan wasu dokoki da ake batun kafawa da ake muhawara a kansu a majalisa.

Shin wakilan mu basa tunanin nauyin dake kansu na inganta rayuwar wadanda suke wakilta ta hanyar samar da dokokin da zai inganta rayuwar su? A cikin su waye ya nemi a kafa dokar da zai hana tsadar gidajen haya ko dokar da zata hana jami’an gwamnati su daina kai ya’yan su makarantu masu zaman kansu ko dokar da zata kare hakkokin mata daga mazajen da basu da tausayi balle imani? Mafi yawan sub a wannan ne a gaban suba , sai neman kwangiloli da karban albashi da alawus masu tsoka.

Sannan mafi yawan wakilan abinda ke gaban su shine su kara aure da sayan manyan gidaje da motoci da kai iyalan su kasashen waje domin haihuwa. Sun sanda cewa a makarantun mu daga firamare zuwa jami’a babu kyakyawan yanayin bada ilimi , haka ma asibitocin mu babu magunguna da kayan aiki , ga tsadar rayuwa a kullum alhalin albashin ma’aikata bai karu ba balle ayi maganar masu kananan sana’a da marasa aikin yi da sauran su. Maimakon su sa ido wajen ganin al’amurra sun gyaru a’a sai dai susa shaddoji masu Karen tsada su shigo cikin majalisa suna zazzare ido basa iya cewa komai.

Amma me yasa wakilan mu daga nan Arewa suke zaman dumama kujera a majalisa? Kuma ta wane hanyoyi ake bi a fitar dasu takara daga ma jam’iyyun siyasa? Sannan mafi yawan su zabin jama’a ne ko a’a? Su waye suka fi cin gajiyar su a aiyuka na taimako? Saboda in ba’a sake lale ba to yankin Arewa zai cigaba da zama koma baya kan ragowar bangarorin kasar nan, domin su mafi yawan wakilan su kan je ne domin samar wa yankin su dokokin da zasu cigaba kamar yadda suka sami dokar da tasa a basu rabo mafi tsoka daga kudaden da gwamnati ke samu kan albarkatun man fetur.

Tsarin da ake bi na fitar da yan takara da zasu wakilci al'umma ba'a basu dama wajen fitar da wadanda suke ganin cewa zai iya wakiltan su bisa amana da sanin ya kamata. Wadanda ake tsayarwa sun kasance wadanda iyayen gida a siyasa suka tsayar ko wadanda yan bunburutu da yan jagaliyar siyasa suka daure wa gindi ko kuma wanda kawai ya wayi gari ya yanke hukuncin shiga siyasa dan ya sami kudi. Mafi yawan mutane da za'a tambaye su sun san yadda ake tsayar da wakilan su, zasu ce a'a.

In har da gaske yan Arewa na bukatan canji kan irin wakilan dake wakiltan su , to sai sun darje sun duba cancantar kowane dan takara a jerin masu neman wakilcin a jam'iyyu. Sannan kada su sake yarda zumudin son wani dan takaran shugaban kasa ko gwamna yasa su rufe idannun su , su kadawa wadanda basu cancanta ba kuri'a. Akwai wadanda ko fosta basu buga ba balle su fadawa mutane manufofin da zasu ai'watar in an zabe su,amma sun zama wakilai saboda wani ya goya su sun haye basa ganin koshi daya goya su da gashi.

Wakilan mu a majalisun Tarayya dana Jihohi inda gaske suke kan cewa suna wakiltan mazabar su ba kansu ba , to ya zama wajibi su bude kofofin da wadanda suke wakilta zasu san me suke ciki da kuma bada nasu shawarwarin yayin da wata muhimmiyar batu na kasa ko jiha ta taso. Ya kamata suna da ofisoshin da suke aiki ba kuma mattataran yan bangar suba. Su kuma bude shafin yanar gizo da zasu rika sanar da jama'ar su me suke ciki da kuma bada lambobin wayan su wanda koda sakon "text" ne sai wadanda suke wakilta su basu shawarwari da bukatun da suke so.

Lokaci yayi da talakawa zasu fara tantance yan kasuwa da siyasa , da masu siyasa don inganta rayuwar al'umma da kasa gabaki daya. Duk me neman kudi ya tafi kasuwa, wanda yake son bautawa al'umma , shi jama'a ya kamata su mara wa baya. Sannan tunda kusan dukkan wakilan mu basa tabuka komai, to lallai talakawa su canza su a zabe me zuwa da wasu wadanda suke ganin zasu kare muradun su.

A karshe ya kamata talakawa su san aiyukan kowane zababbe daga shugaban kasa zuwa kansila dan sanin ko yana shugabanci ko wakilci na gari. . Ka gan a gobe in mikaji wani wakili kona Tarayya kona Jiha na bugun kirji da cewa ya raba atamfofi da babura sai mu tambayeshi kudurruka da dokoki nawa ya gabatar a majalisa. A zaben 2011 duk wakilin dake neman kuri'ar mu ya fada mana wane kudurin dokoki yake da burin gabatarwa da rayuwan mu zata inganta.


Shehu Mustapha Chaji
shehuchaji@yahoo.com

Who’s intimidating Bauchi ANPP?

Written by Shehu Mustapha Chaji
On June 22, 2009, Daily Trust featured a story where the ANPP warned the Bauchi State governor, Isa Yuguda, over the alleged intimidation of its members. In the story, the ANPP has warned Governor Yuguda to desist from intimidating its members who refused to defect with him to the PDP. Also an unnamed ANPP member of the State House of Assembly had raised alarm that Governor Yuguda has launched a move to get the Bauchi State House of Assembly to impeach his deputy, Alhaji Muhammad Garba Gadi, for refusing to join him in the PDP and deciding to remain in the ANPP

According to the ANPP National Publicity Secretary, Emma Eneuke as reported in the story, the party had received news of threats of impeachment and recall of the House of Assembly members who refused to dump the party for PDP by the governor and these point to the fact that the governor cannot muster voluntary followership except through intimidation, coercion and blackmail.

If really what the ANPP is accusing Governor Isa Yuguda of doing is true, it is really unfair not only to the ANPP in Bauchi State but to the entire people of Bauchi State who massively voted for the ANPP in the 2007 elections and took the risk of the consequences over the desire of the former governor, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu who had insisted that the will, yearnings and aspiration of the people will not prevail as they insisted that their votes must count.

Whatever Governor Yuguda and his supporters may say about justifying his decamping, the people of Bauchi state voted for ANPP not Yuguda as manifested by his inability to even convince his deputy to decamp with him. Whether the ANPP allegation is true or not, the people of Bauchi State that felt the incumbent governor had betrayed them take solace in the insistence of Alhaji Muhammadu Garba Gadi not to decamp to PDP. Many people in the state are not happy with the attitude of the governor for making a mockery of their support when he was in the political wilderness without any refuge. They picked him, provided him with a platform and gave him unflinching support that led him to victory, but he later dumped them without any concrete reason, but for personal and selfish interest of his own.

If it is true that Governor Yuguda is scheming to have his deputy impeached, then he is not learning from political history. People tend to rally round one that they feel is been persecuted for unjust reasons. It has even happen to Governor Yuguda himself when former Governor Adamu Mu’azu was persecuting him just for the mere reason that he wants to contest for the Bauchi State governorship. Governor Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano State also benefited from such sympathy as people came to be aware of how former Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso intimidated, harassed and humiliated him. Also Governor Magatakarda Wammako of Sokoto state rode on such sympathy to become the governor of the state.

Governor Yuguda is presently giving his deputy Muhammad Garba Gadi more popularity and sympathy as someone being persecuted for holding on to his views by not agreeing to deceive, betray and mock the people of Bauchi State for voting for ANPP during the 2007 elections. He may soon make Gadi as a rallying point of all those that may come together to oppose him in the 2011 elections. The mere scheming to impeach the deputy governor is not a wise political decision as it will expose Yuguda as someone not in total control of his state and it will indirectly translates into his fear of guaranteeing Bauchi state to the PDP in 2011 elections

With just less than two years to complete their tenure it will be appropriate to allow Alhaji Gadi to complete his tenure together with Governor Yuguda, as his deputy has similar claims like him in enjoying the mandate of the people.

The 2011 elections will decides really if in 2007 the people of Bauchi state voted for ANPP or Yuguda if he decides to re-contest under the platform of the PDP. But for now his deputy has more claim and legitimacy to the seat of deputy governor than the governor as he is not accused by the people of double crossing them after voting him on the platform of the ANPP and now he decamps to the PDP. There are no moral questions hanging on the deputy governor as far as legitimacy is concerned.

The yearnings and aspirations of the people of Bauchi State must be respected by Governor Isa Yuguda who should not be seen to be in any way intimidating and scheming to have his deputy impeached. It will be unfair to the people of Bauchi State who during the 2007 elections after casting their votes guarded and escorted it to the collation centre, and waited till who they voted for was declared the winner. But now their 2007 votes had been traded with what they did not bargain for in the first place.

Questions Adamu Adamu needs to answer

Mallam Adamu Adamu, a renowned public analyst and columnist with Daily Trust, needs no introduction. He is a public commentator with a distinct style, fearless, educated and bold enough to express his views and opinions both locally and internationally. As an indigene of Bauchi state, when former Governor Adamu Mu’azu was being portrayed as an achiever, Adamu Adamu took time to debunk all the propaganda been said about him.

Naturally, his readers and people of Bauchi state in particular would have expected Mallam Adamu Adamu to come out in the open to express his views in either supporting what is happening in relation to decampment of Governor Isa Yuguda and attempts made by him to have his deputy impeached or to critically analyze what is happening in the state where as reported by the media the members of the Bauchi state House of Assembly were offered ten million naira each to support the impeachment of the deputy governor, Alhaji Muhammad Garba Gadi.

Though Adamu Adamu is from Bauchi state, he has written on so many issues happening in other states of the country. He has also written so many times on international politics. Then why is it that Adamu has been silent on what has been happening in Bauchi state before and after Governor Isa Yuguda’s defection to PDP?

Or is it that what is happening presently in Bauchi state is acceptable to him? Or is he shielding Yugada from the hammer of his pen because they are friends? Or is it his own type of politics to abandon his supporters in their hour of need? Is Adamu Adamu not part of those that accompanied General Muhammadu Buhari to Bauchi state during the 2007 elections to sell Yuguda as ANPP gubernatorial candidate?

For months when the local and international media started featuring stories of Governor Isa Yuguda decampment and presently his scheming to have his deputy impeached for refusing to decamp with him to the PDP, I have been following his Friday column to see what will be his reaction, but unfortunately Adamu Adamu has declined to say or write anything on the issue.

Any follower of Adamu Adamu’s Friday Column will observe that he is anti-PDP and staunch supporter of General Muhammadu Buhari of the ANPP. He even boasted that if the 2007 elections were rigged, he would be on the street demanding for justice. On the present administration of President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, Adamu was so critical that he virtually hoped for military intervention. Even of recent he was critical of the opposition in the just-concluded Iran election. Then why is he silent on Bauchi state, which is his state of origin?

Adamu Adamu should remember that either directly or indirectly he has influenced people to vote for ANPP in all stages before the 2007 elections, and after the people of Bauchi state answered his call and massively voted for ANPP, why is he shy in coming out to criticize Governor Isa Yuguda of not being fair to the people of Bauchi state for abandoning the platform that provided him the opportunity of the office he now occupies? Why wouldn’t he come out to chide Yuguda for betraying General Buhari?

And why wouldn’t he ask questions about the ten million naira each said to have been given to any member of Bauchi state House of Assembly that would support his deputy’s impeachment? And if it is true, whose money is he using? His own money or that of people of Bauchi state?

Maybe by the time Adamu Adamu decides to write Gadi would be gone; in that case would Adamu Adamu have been fair to the people of Bauchi state? Why is Adamu Adamu fearless when writing about other events in other states and his pen tends to fail him in regard to Yuguda’s conduct in the governance of Bauchi state in the last two years? Or does he approve of what Yuguda is doing?

Charity begins at home, if Adamu Adamu wants his readers to take him seriously on national and international issues he writes on, he should be able to say the truth to his state governor no matter what the relationship between them is.

Shehu Mustapha Chaji
shehuchaji@yahoo.com

Ko gwamna Yuguda yaci moriyar ganga ……?

Duk me bibiyar al’amurran siyasa a Nijeriya nada masaniyar cewa Mallam Isa Yuguda gwamnan jihar Bauchi ya canza sheka daga jam’iyyar da aka zabe shi wato jam’iyyar ANPP zuwa jam’iyyar PDP. Wani dalilin da yasa canjin shekar Yuguda ya zama abin zance shine yanda a zaben 2007 jama’ar jihar Bauchi suka jajirce sai an basu wada suka zaba.

Gwagwarmayar da talakawan jihar Bauchi sukayi na ganin cewa jam’iyyar da suke mara wa baya dad an takaran gwamnan ta Mallam Isa Yuguda ya lashe zaben na 2007 wanda ake yiwa taken A Kasa A Tsare A Raka ya kasance wani zabe da talakawan Nijeriya ke tutiya dashi domin suna ganin in al’ummar Nijeriya zasu yi tsayin daka kamar jama’ar Jihar Bauchi to tabbas fasalin zabubbuka zasu sauya a Nijeriya.

Amma abinda yafi daurewa talakawan jihar Bauchi da Nijeriya kai shine yanda dare daya Yuguda yayi tsallen daya koma jam’iyyar PDP. Sanin duk me bibiyar siyasar jihar Bauchi kafin zaben na 2007 ya san cewa an azabtar da Yuguda a lokacin da yake jam’iyyar PDP saboda kawai ya nemi takarar gwamnan jihar Bauchi a karkashin jam’iyyar. A wancan lokacin tsohon gwamnan jihar Bauchi Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu yabi duk hanyoyin da zai iya wajen ganin ya hana Mallam Isa Yuguda takara a karkashin jam’iyyar PDP. Sunce shi bama dan jihar Bauchi bane ga kuma bita da kullin da yasa ya tsallake rijiya da baya a hannun yan daban dake goyon bayan tsohon gwamnan.


Wulakanci da kama karya da izgilancin da yake fuskanta a hannun yan jam’iyyar PDP a lokacin ya tilasta masa komawa jam’iyyar ANPP a lokacin. Inda su kuma suka bashi tikitin takara a matsayin dan takaran sun a gwamna. Faduwa kuma tazo dai dai da zama inda yaci albarkacin goyon bayan da Janar Muhammadu Buhari ke dashi a jihar. Duk da kumbiya-kumbiyar da tsohon gwamna Adamu Mu’azu da jam’iyyar sat a PDP sukayi na ganin cewa sun nada nasu , hakan ya fuskanci turjiya da naki inda dubun – dubatan mutane maza da mata , manya da matasa suka kaura daga gidajen su da hana kansu barci dae da rana said a aka tabbatar masu da jam’iyyar da suka zaba dad an takaranta wato Mallam Isa Yuguda.

Duk da alfaharin da jama’ar jihar Bauchi keyi na ganin karshen jam’iyyar PDP a jihar da kuma jinjinan da Janar Buhari keyi da zaben na mutanen Bauchi . Gwamna Yuguda ya shiga neman dalilai da hujjojin da zai bashi dammar tsallakewa zuwa tsohuwar jam’iyyar sat a PDP. A zancen gaskiya canjin shekar nasa ya baiwa mutane mamaki ganin yanda ya kwance way an gwagwarmayar kawo karshen mulkin PDP a jihar Bauchi a zaben 2007 zani a kasuwa.


Yamadidin d ake tayi da zancen canjin shekar gwamna Yuguda sabanin na sauran gwamnonin da suka canza sheka shine na gazawar say a shawo kan mataimakin sa Alhaji Muhammad Garba Gadi ya biyo shi zuwa jam’iyyar PDP. Turjiyar da Yuguda ya fuskanta daga Gadi shi yasa ake ganin cewa ya lashi takobin ganin bayan mataimakin nasa ta hanyar ganin cewa an tsig shi daga mukamin sa.

Kafofin watsa labarai sun ruwaito cewa an baiwa kowane dan majalisar jihar ta Bauchi naira miliyan goma in har ya yarda ya sanya hannu a tsige mataimakin gwamna Garba Gadi. Kuma labaran na nuni da cewa mafi yawan yan majalisar suna tare da Gwamna Yuguda a yunkurin nasa na ganin an tsige mataimakin sa. Karfin mulki da kudi na iya sanyawa Yuguda ya gan bayan mataimakin nasa a kowane lokaci.

Amma abin tambaya anan shine in har Yuguda yayi nasaran ganin an tsige mataimakin nasa , yayi wa jam’iyyar ANPP adalci? Shin tsakanin Yuguda da Gadi wane ne yafi halalcin zama a kan kujerar sa? Sanan shin Yuguda yayi wa jama’ar jihar Bauchi adalchi kuwa? Kuma a zaben 2007 wa jama’ar Bauchi suka zaba tsakanin Yuguda da jam’iyyar ANPP? Samun amsoshin tambayoyin da aka zana na iya dora Gwamna Yuguda bisa sikeli domin ayi masa adalci.


A halin da ake ciki a yanzu ko an tsige Alhaji Muhammad Garba Gadi ko Gwamna Isa Yuguda ya hakura su kammala wa’adin zangon sun a farko tare , ya rigaya ya bayyana mataimakin nasa a matsayin wanda ake zalunta da nuna masa fin karfi. A yanayin dan’adam yakan tausayawa wanda yake ganin ana wa fin karfi. Hakan ta kasance tsakanin tsohon gwamnan jihar Kano Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso inda ya rika takura wa Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau a wancan lokacin said a ya bar aikin gwamnati. Ko shi Gwamna Yuguda ya sami goyon bayan jama’ar jihar Bauchi ne saboda yanda suka gan an takura masa.

Tunda shi Gwamna Yuguda ya rigaya ya koma jam’iyyar PDP bai dace ace yana gallazawa mataimakin sa ba saboda yaki komawa jam’iiyar PDP ba. Ya kamata Yuguda ya sakar masa mara su kamala wa’adin su tare, tunda in zai sake tsayawa ba tare zasu sake tsayawa ba tunda ba jam’iyyar su daya ba. Kuma hakan na iya sa magoya bayan mataimakin gwamnan day an jam’iyyar ANPP su daji sanyi-sanyi kan yakan bayan da suke ganin Yuguda yayi masu.

Zaben 2011 in Allah ya kaimu shi zai bayyana tsakanin Yuguda da jam’iyyar ANPP wake da jihar Bauchi bisa hakika. Wannan zaben ne zai kawo karshen bugun kirjin da kowane bangare keyi na cewa shi aka zaba ba dayan ba.

Su kuma mutanen jihar Bauchi a lokacin za’a tabbatar da cewa abubuwan da sukayi a lokacin zaben 2007 saboda Yuguda sukayi ko kuma jam’iyyar ANPP.

Gay an majalisar jihar Bauchi suyi adalci da sanin ya kamata game da tuhume-tuhumen da aka mika masu na tsige mataimakin gwamna Alhaji Muhammad Garba Gadi daga kujerrar sa. Su kuma sani duniya kallon su tare da samar masu da gurbi a tarihi a matayin wadanda suka kasance yan amshin shata suka aiwatar da son rai bisa farashin da akayi masu suka sallama. Ko kuma masu yanci da bin hanyoyin adalci wajen yanke dukannin wani hukunci dake gaban su.

Lokaci ne kawai zai canza tunanin day an Nijeriya ke dashi kan ganin da sukewa Gwamna Isa Yuguda a matsayin wanda ya ci moriyar ganga ya yada kore. Inda wasu masu zafafawa ma ke ganin cewa yaci amanar mutanen Bauchi. Tabbas hankalin masu bibiyar siyasa a Nijeriya zai karkata ga jihar Bauchi a zaben 2011 domin ganin yadda za’a kwashe tsakanin Yuguda da jam’iyyar ANPP, a lokacin ne za’a tabbatar da ko Yuguda yaci moriyar ganga …..

Shehu Mustapha Chaji

shehuchaji@yahoo.com

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

President Yar’adua and 2011

As we approach 2011 general elections, with or without calls for President Umaru Musa Yar’adua to seek for a second term, he will naturally wish to have it. The political history of Nigerian and African leaders, with very few exceptions having opportunities to seek for other terms look the other way. In the First Republic , Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa sought for re-election. Former President Shehu Shagari in the Second Republic also sought and contested for second term. In the present dispensation, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, after having his second term, also attempted to have an extra term called third term which he failed.


Constitutionally, President Yar’adua is entitled to seek for another term, but there are two reasons that Nigerians are skeptical about if he decides to seek for a second term. Firstly, what are his achievements in the nearly two years as Nigeria ’s President? Secondly, will he be able to conduct free and fair elections that will be acceptable to most Nigerians?


With the dust of 2007 elections yet to finally settle, will the present administration of President Yar’adua conduct an election different from how it was conducted in 2003 and 2007 elections? Will Nigerians say bye-bye to ballot box stealing and stuffing? Will the votes cast by Nigerians be really counted? And will we really have democratically elected leaders without the courts deciding their legitimacy all in 2011?


The controversy about 2011 has started in earnest courtesy of Justice Mohammed Uwais’ Electoral Reform Committee recommendations, which President Yar’adua still insist on nominating the Head of INEC contrary to the recommendation of Uwais committee. If the President does not have any personal intrest in the 2011 elections, why is he insisting to nominate the INEC Chairman instead of the National Judicial Council as recommended by the Uwais committee?


Can Nigerians trust President Yar’adua to conduct free and fair elections in 2011 if he eventually decides to contest? The study of Yar’adua’s antecedents as former governor of Katsina state during his tenure on how he conducted Local government elections and the roles he played during the 2003 and 2007 elections will help Nigerians to know what to expect during the 2011 elections.


Even the re-elections in states like Kogi, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Sokoto, Cross River e.t.c, can also assist Nigerians to have a close study of what to expect during the 2011 elections. After such elections with the opposition crying foul conduct, what was the reaction of President Yar’adua? And after the declaration of Prince Vincent Ogulafor that the PDP will continue ruling for 60 years and Governor Sule Lamido’s statement that PDP will rule forever, what were the reactions of President Yar’adua on such undemocratic statements?


President Umaru Yar’adua should also inform Nigerians his views on the proposal sent by the PDP governors to the party’s National Working Committee asking for automatic tickets to contest the 2011 elections-the PDP change of tactics notwithstanding- And if the proposal is expanded to include him, will he accept automatic ticket to contest for 2011 elections if he decides to contest? And as a PDP leader, what are his inputs in strengthening internal democracy of the party?


And if President Yar’adua finally decides to contest for 2011 elections, what are his achievements in office for the past nearly two years in the saddle of Nigeria ’s leadership? Among his promises to Nigerians are the implementation of a 7- Point Agenda and Nigeria ’s 2020 target of becoming one of the strongest economics in the world.


On the 7-Point Agenda, how far has Yar’adua’s government gone in implementing it? As the extent so far implemented can determine the success of fulfilling what remains before the end of his first term.


And the success in the implementation of his 7 – Point Agenda can determine if really the Yar’adua government is on track in its promise of making Nigeria among the strongest economies in the world in the next 11 years to come. Presently, according to the Federal government accepted World Bank figure, 40 million Nigerians are unemployed. And with about 70 percent of Nigeria ’s population living below the poverty line. With such statistics on ground, and the government not doing anything visible to tackle the problem, how on earth can Nigeria , with the present leaders not willing to listen to other Nigerians, be able to work toward making Nigeria among the strongest economies in the year 2020?

Instead of Yar’adua’s government to find ways of becoming successful in achieving its 7-Point Agenda, it has now become busy in finding ways that it will inflict more hardship, misery, suffering and hopelessness on Nigerians through the removal of all subsidies the Nigerian populace is enjoying. They may argue that the government needs more money and even the subsidies are not reaching those meant for, but when the Yar’adua government was getting a lot of money due to the rise in cost of petroleum products in the international market, was there any attempt to make the Nigerian people enjoy the increase? The only sets of Nigerians that can testify to the oil boom are the politicians holding public offices.


Nigeria and Nigerians should be saved from international embarrassment in 2011 elections. The ungodly and unholy activities of politicians during the 2003 and 2007 elections should not be repeated in 2011. And for Nigerians to have free and fair elections in 2011 , the agitation should start in earnest collectively by all Nigerians , irrespective of tribe, region or religion for us to truly have the leaders we elected to lead and represent us.


It is only when we have free and fair elections in Nigeria that we can start to boast of having true democratic government wherein those in the helm of affairs will feel responsible to their electorates. And even before the proper elections, party primary elections should also be free and fair. Imposition of candidates on party level weakens supporters and paves the way for election rigging. The 2007 elections were the worse ever as all political parties deliberately imposed unpopular candidates or those that did not win party primaries.


Whether President Yar’adua will contest or not in 2011 elections , the Nigerian people should assist him in seeing that Nigeria, like other countries which have developed , have free and fair elections in 2011. Democracy should be in full action by giving the Yar’adua’s government a very close marking in strengthening its hands to give Nigerians the leaders and representatives they truly elected.


President Umaru Musa Yar’adua has the great and golden opportunity in Re-Branding Nigeria and himself to the whole world as truly a nation of Good People, Great Nation with him as a great leader, if he could conduct a free and free elections that the opposition, local and international observers will testify that it is a really free and fair election.


Shehu Mustapha Chaji

shehuchaji@yahoo.com

ADVICE TO DORA AKUNYILI

Professor Dora Akunyili, the current Minister for Ministry of Information and Communication have launched a pet project called “Re-Branding Nigeria” which most Nigerians are skeptical about it success as many attempts had been made in the past and are not successful. In the opinion of this writer failure of leadership is the cornerstone of most of Nigeria’s problems.

My advice to Professor Akunyili to emerge successful in the Re-Branding Nigeria Project is to put more effort in Re-Branding Nigerian Leaders. We have leaders whose concern are not about establishing justice and serving the people as well as protecting their rights. Leaders who sacrifice the truth for their selfish intrest or their cronies intrest. And are in habit of committing disloyalty and dishonesty to the trust bestow on them by the Nigerian people.

In civilized nations of the world, power and authority is principally for protecting the rights of the oppressed people of the society against the oppressors, exploiters and opportunist. Leadership in such societies is about maintaining welfare, progress, establishing social justice, removing injustice and providing enable environment for the betterment of lives of their subjects.

Nigerian leaders that emerged from the controversial democratic process in 1999 to date are to be blamed for the bad image Nigeria and Nigerians are been viewed in other parts of the world. Corruption that is beyond human comprehension is been committed by those in position of authority. Many are kleptomaniacs with no shame or human feelings. They rig elections, using the apparatus of power, state treasuries and agencies conducting elections to deny citizens their universal franchise right to elect leaders they feel can bring about positive development to their nation.

Politicians that had rigged themselves into power are presently in the fore-front in presenting Nigeria to the world as a nation of not trustworthy people, where the fundamental human rights of citizens is not valued and a country where leaders embezzled state resources and escape the law.

Mismanagement and implementation of policies that are against the intrest of Nigerian people such as retrenchment, removal of subsidies and inability of government to fund education and health is daily increasing the numbers of frustrated Nigerians. Millions of Nigerians are unemployed and those engage in petty trading are having their kiosks, shades and containers destroyed under flimsy excuses without any better arrangement for them.

Nigerians are presently yearning and praying that they should have or their present leaders should change to, wise leaders capable of managing their resources, who have respect and regard for the lower class, the poor and who will improve the living conditions of their people. Leaders who control their desire and restrain themselves from corruption and looting of public treasury, using their occupied offices to amass ill-gotten wealth. But leaders whose concern will be welfare, mercy, love and kindness to their subjects.

We need leaders that are steadfast and firm. Who do not condone corruption and does not partake as such behavior if allowed will even make those that abstain to become tempted if those engage in the practice go scot-free.

Those leaders who are kind and shows concern to the Nigerian people. And lighten their burdens and abandon coercing them in that in which they possess not the ability. Leaders who when their subjects complain of burden, suffering and bring about prosperity to the country.

Leaders that will not right size or downsize their workforce and will grant generously to their workers enough salary which will eliminate their lacks and through which their need for greasing of the hand will decrease. Leadership who will investigate the affairs of the masses who are unable to gain access to them.

The leaders we need are the ones that will respond to their subject’s requests and demands, as such request do not impose burden on them, such as demand for social amenities and betterment of their lives. Leaders that if any of their subjects should report injustice, they will take their time to explain to their citizens their justification for implementation of policy they view as inflicting hardship on them.

Way of life of our leaders should change from flamboyancy and living beyond their salaries and allowances. The Leaders should set examples to their subjects by their families attending public hospitals and schools. And they should not prolong seclusion from their subjects, for a leader s seclusion from their subjects is a kind of constraint and results in lack of knowledge of affairs. Seclusion from subjects deny them the knowledge of affairs of state and great appears to them as small and the small as great. The beautiful appears as ugly and the ugly as beautiful. And the truth becomes strained with falsehood. For the leader is only a Man and he does not know the affairs which Men hide from him.

And those leaders with the vision of not hurrying to implement policies before their proper time, of neglecting them when they are possible, of stubborn persistence in them when they are impracticable and of weakness in them when they have become clear. Leadership that will put everything in its place and perform every action at it’s time. And who are in government not for the sake of power and to use their position to acquire ill-gotten wealth. But are in government to implement reforms that the Nigerian populace will be safe and prosper in all sectors of life.

Nigerians need leaders that will consider corruption, amassing of wealth and misappropriation of treasury funds by government officials as treachery. Government officials should win the confidence of electorate by their sincerity and honesty, as people are aware of how they dress, where they lived, the car they owned e.t.c before been in government.

Leaders, who will fight poverty across the country as it weakens an intelligent man, make reason and wisdom puzzled. Leadership that will not let the luxury of government and power to overlook the condition of the Nigerian populace.

We want leaders that will treat Nigerians with humbleness, lenient toward them, meet them with open face, and accord them equal treatments. Leadership that will protect human rights without distinction of religion, state, tribe or region.

Re-branding Nigeria Project will be an effort in futility if those at helm of affairs do not Re-brand themselves. Change in their attitude will create a rapid change in behaviors of Nigerians. As people tend to copy their leaders in whatever they do. Re-branding Nigeria should make Nigerian leaders from federal, state and local government’s levels the centre piece of the Re-branding.


Shehu Mustapha Chaji

shehuchaji@yahoo.com