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

First published on KanoOnline Online Forum on August 16, 2010

Virtually anyone who knows or is aware of the Kano political situation is left wondering at the apparent reversal of its opinions from day to day. The State is, of course, famous for 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 castaway monster. Therefore, one cannot help but ask 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 2003 general election, which marked the emergence of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau as the State’s governor.

What exactly happened? Well, it’s a proverbial assertion that water cannot develop a bitter taste without being touched. This water is no exception. Governor Shekarau entered the Kano political scene 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 discontent is not apparent to all today. However, many commentators declare that this had to do with the outgoing government’s iron-handedness in holding power, negligence of the Shari’ah and maltreatment of working and even retired classes.

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

Then, the government of ANPP began with earnest enthusiasm and considerable confidence in the public’s expectations that it would meet their extreme expectations.

It started well before it later devolved into the so-called Adaidaita Sahu (societal reorientation program), which, seemingly without His Excellency Shekarau’s knowledge, has been unprofitable and wholly ineffective for Nigeria and Nigerians. 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 effective, how on earth would Adaidaita Sahu be?

Hence, with little or no progress, the first tenure concluded. Yet the people of Kano, blinded by the infatuation of the man, re-elected him. It went to the extent whereby some thought that it was due to the charm of a somewhat nature that Shekarau deployed to win people’s hearts, but that was nothing more than a fabricated lie. Though this was surprising at the time and remains so.

During the campaign and afterwards, Governor Shekarau made so many rosy promises, typical of his character. And, to be candid with the governor, he even realised the illusion behind the ostensible reorientation program and embarked on tangible, physical projects across the State afterwards. That aside, people are well aware of the other promises, and of the dogged, grubby grab for power by some of his cabinet members, following their undeserved forgiveness by the governor for their usual scandalous actions.

One of the most significant actions that began scrutinising the real Shekarau before the populace was the local government council election held on November 17 2007. Hardly had an action like this ever occurred in Kano’s history, for I was an eyewitness. In my local government, no ballot 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 rubble.

Relatively recently, there was the untenable demolition of people’s business tents on both major and minor roads. Although that of the former roads was justifiable to an even greater extent, that of the latter was an unwarrantable oppression of the masses. It was a hidden mechanism to launch a vendetta against vulnerable groups of people, myself included.

The governor’s shocking actions and inactions couldn’t just be mentioned in a constrained space like this. The most controversial is his unwelcome move to impose a candidate who is hated by everyone within and outside ANPP. Such a foray by a party’s political officeholder is never undertaken in a civilised, truly democratic world. Party affairs should be democratic rather than autocratic. Shekarau should know that he, too, is subject to questioning by his party, which is higher in authority than he is.

I am afraid I might be mistaken for a politician; I am simply a student, an apolitical one. It’s the only truth, which is 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.