(2): The Rise, Reign and Retrogressing of Governor Shekarau

First published on KanoOnline Online Forum on August 16, 2010

Virtually whoever knows or is aware of the Kano political situation is left wondering at the visible reversal of its opinions over the passage of each day. The state is of course famous of such unpredictability in politics. Yet this is unusually intriguing: the shunned and stoned away “Noah” now turns to a revered and august “Christ”; and likewise the other venerated “Christ” to a cast away monster. Thereof one cannot help asking both answered and unanswered questions to whoever cares to listen.

Additionally, to the amazement of many, opposition parties of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the other newly born, though revolutionary one, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) can be said to have dominated the state’s political landscape currently (both parties, I fear, are no better: the latter a hub for power hungry actors; while the former, centre for Capitalists who have little or no concern for a common man). This had not been the case since Nigeria’s general election in 2003 which marked the emergence of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau as the governor of the state.

What exactly happened? Well, it’s a proverbial assertion that water cannot develop a bitter taste without being touched. This water happens to be not an exception. Governor Shekarau came on the scene of Kano politicking in 2003 when the government of his former master, Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, whom he divinely succeeded, was so detested and despised by the largest number of Kano people. The reason for the discontentment is not up today clear to all, though many commentators declare that that had to do with the out-going government iron-handiness in holding power, negligence of the Shari’ah and maltreatment of working and even retired classes.

Thus people craved for change; and massive support for the new government after the election and declaration of the winner. Furthermore, though disputably, plus the adoration of people for the former Head of State, retired General Muhammadu Buhari, an ANPP presidential aspirant then who stormed Kano days to the polling day and “changed” things, aggregated and  subsequently resulted to Shekarau’s being governor of Kano State.

There then the government of ANPP began with earnest enthusiasm and copious confidence in peoples’ mind that it would deliver to their extreme expectation.

It quite started well before it later turned-off to the so-called Adaidaita Sahu (societal re-orientation program) which, seemingly not to the knowledge of his Excellency Shekarau, has been unprofitable and wholly ineffective as far as Nigeria and Nigerians are concerned. Kinds of this program had begun many years back after Nigeria’s independence: Gowon’s Three Rs, Buhari’s WAI, IBB’s MAMSER, Obasanjo’s The Heart of Africa and now ‘Yar-Adua/Goodluck’s Rebranding; all these and more are never effectual, how on God’s earth would Adaidaita Sahu be?

Hence with achieving little or nothing the first tenure wrapped up. Yet the people of Kano, blinded by the infatuation of the man, re-elected him. It went to the extent whereby some thought that was due to charm of somewhat nature that Shekarau deployed to win peoples’ hearts, but that was nothing more than a fabricated lie. Though, still, this was and still is surprising.

During the campaign and afterwards Governor Shekarau made so much rosy promises, typical character of him. And to be very honest with the governor, he even realized the illusion behind the ostensive reorientation program and embarks on palpable, physical project here and there in the State afterwards. That aside, people are well aware of the other promises, added to the dogged grubby grab of power by some of his cabinet members after being undeservedly forgiven by the governor over their usual scandalous actions.

One of the preponderance actions that started x-raying the real Shekarau to populace was the local government council election held on 17th November 2007. Hardly an action like this had ever happened in Kano history; for I was an eye witness. In my local government, not a ballot cast was counted, yet the winner, an ANPP candidate, was announced! Some political hoodlums orchestrated by their aggrieved and tactless masters thoughtlessly and heedlessly set the local government building ablaze; and they looted everything, leaving only irremediable rubbles.

Relatively recently was the untenable demolition of peoples’ business tents on both major and minor roads. Although that of the former roads was justifiable to even a greater extent, but that of the latter was an unwarrantable oppression of masses. It was a hidden machinery to launch a vendetta against some helpless groups of people, myself for example.

The governor’s shocking actions and inactions couldn’t just be mentioned in a constrained space like this. The hottest one is his unwanted and unwelcomed move of imposing a candidate hated by everyone within and outside ANPP. Such a foray by a party’s political office holder is never done in civilized, truly democratized world. Party affairs should be democratic not autocratic. Shekarau should know that he too is subject to question by his party for it’s higher in authority than him.

I am afraid I might be mistaken as a politician; no am simply a student, an apolitical one. It’s only truth, which it’s said to be bitter, I take a gauntlet of saying wherever and whenever I find the chance to do so.

I invoke Allah, the Exalted; for His blessings upon Kano and Nigeria in the whole, amin.