On Adamu Adamu and democratisation of corruption
Today I am shocked, confused, demoralised and short of words to describe how devastated I was reading Adamu Adamu’s inside out, upside down (Daily Trust, May 19, 2009). Adamu is one of the ‘few good men’ (to use Rob Reiner’s 1992 movie title) today in Nigeria that can earn the title of tested and trusted Nigerians that one can confidently stand for no matter what. But his column today was rather a shocker. Let me ask Mallam Adamu; what will happen to army to army officers in battle field when their Commander surrender even before firing a bullet? You cannot just start sending a signal to us that we should, instead of hating corruption, start agitating for its democratisation. This is unacceptable and we that grow to love you because of your uprightness, honesty and trustworthineness will never forgive you, if at the end of your life you start advocating for democratisation of corruption.
The voice of our Commander today sounded defeatist and hopeless. We know the present political set-up is irredeemable, but we are still hopeful that something positive might come out of it. We are indeed bad, hardly can you trust a Nigerian even if he is your imam in your local mosque or a pastor in your neighbourhood church, and in fact some people are saying they are the worst but can we rule out any positive change? No! I know what we read today is not, and can never be your mind but you are forced to write them because, may be you think that is the only way we can address the issue.
The thieves calling themselves public servants are just unrepentant criminals. Do you see the faces of some of them in today’s dailies arriving courts? They were happy and smiling telling Nigerians that this is another stage drama orchestrated by people who were left out during the sharing.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Celebrating ten years of civilian administration
Celebrating ten years of civilian administration
One of the main thrust of our democratic experience is living with the fact that we have never experience what is called good governance. In the period 1985-1999 which the military ruled, Nigeria lived under intense pressure from the international community to return to civilian rule. General Ibrahim Babangida as a military Head of state supervised a never ending transition programme from military to civilian rule until the events of June 12. The pressure mounted on him by Civil Society Groups and democrats on the way he handled the June 12 elections made him to resign unwillingly on August 26, 1993 handing over the affairs of government to an Interim National Government. The Transition Government under Chief Earnest Shonekan lasted for only three months, when in November 1993, he was forced out of office by the then Minister of Defence, General Sani Abacha, who according to analysts was left purposely by Babangida to take over.
General Abacha ruled for five years and tried to succeed himself in what is popularly known as ‘Tazarce’ after he was endorsed by all the five existing parties then, as their Presidential candidate. However, on June 8, 1998, General Abacha died from what doctors described as heart attack. That plunged the country into yet another political turmoil. General Abdussalam Alhaji Abubakar who came after him hurriedly started a transition to civilian rule, promising to handover power to a democratically elected government on October 1, 1998 as promised by his predecessor. However, that was to happen in May, 1999.
The transition to civilian rule saw the emergence of nine political parties, prominent among them were the People’s Democratic Party, which is the largest party, the All People’s Party, and the Alliance for Democracy. The parties came with no clear manifestos or ideological position, their only promise was to make life easy for Nigerians. In fact, none of the parties up to this day can be said to have a published manifesto, or showed any strong ideological position, except what majority of them have pledged - in mostly vague terms - to improve Nigerian living standards. Ten years after, it is very difficult to say whether our transition to democracy made any impact on our general well-being as citizens. It is very easy for us to throw an accusing finger at the PDP being the ruling party in the centre, but the fact remains that the political class that were entrusted with leadership at levels of governments from 1999-2009 whether in the PDP or the opposition have failed Nigerians.
What characterised our democratic governance for the last ten years was a total collapse of physical infrastructure, corruption in high places, bastardisation of the electoral process - Ekiti state as a case study, outright stealing of public funds, and violation of rule of law. Rule of law which is the foundation upon which democracy is laid has been seriously violated and the country now is witnessing a near collapse of the economy or what Professor Kwanashi described as ‘massive structural disarticulation of the economy.’
The way I see things, we are still nowhere near addressing the numerous problems listed above due to lack of political will and the attitude of our political class. They are consumed in self-deception, lies and highest sense of irresponsibility and are not ready to listen to any criticisms. The ruling party which is the major culprit here became what Reuben Abati described in his popular column as a party characterised by insincerity, inequities and injustice, a party remembered best for the injuries it inflicted on virtually all sectors of our lives. However, it is celebration time and they have to cook up a list of achievements recorded in the last ten years and deliver them as Democracy Day Speech on May 29, not minding how many people will believe them or believe what they are saying. To them democracy is rigging election after every four years to ensure that they perpetually remain in power for the next sixty years. That is why they were very proud telling Nigerians during the ten-year celebration of the PDP last year in Akwa Ibom that they ‘won’ the elections in 1999, 2003 and 2007, which was itself, according to them, an achievement.
It is very hard for anyone to understand the kind of system we are running in this country, as we are left with no alternative, coming out from a long military rule that did practically nothing to change our lives and entering a system which is supposedly considered an answer to bad governance, corruption, nepotism and injustices of the military era. But as soon as the politicians got into power, they continued from where the military stopped or even worst. The politicians that came have little or no concern for common good, they are not development oriented and are people characterised by excessive personal greed. They showed high level of irresponsibility, they lack commitment transparency and accountability, they engage in corruption and serious abuse of office.
The PDP, especially, and its new leaders gave democracy a different meaning altogether. It became a system where party internal democracy is not allowed, rigging and voter intimidation become a norm, elections a do-or-die affair, blackmail and assassinations become an order of the day, poverty, unemployment and general insecurity increased in the country. No doubt we have a reason to celebrate democracy at ten, since for the first time in the nation’s history we are able to break the jinx of having a peaceful transition from one civilian administration to another, but what we should bear in mind is that the government came through a fraudulent election universally discredited, so it is not a true reflection of people’s will.
Therefore, for all intent and purpose, unless if we are to use the practical definition of democracy given to us by PDP in the last ten years, what we are celebrating on May 29 is anything but democracy. As Rev. Father Matthew Kukah noted in a lecture he delivered at the 1st Abraham Adesanya Memorial Lecture, at the National Institute for International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos, that democracy should incorporate ‘adequate provision of social services, adequate access to health, education, some measure of social welfare and security, guarantee rights to private property etc.’ to the citizenry. Which of these benefits are we benefitting from as Nigerians?
I keep on saying and I think I spoke to so many people on that, the future of our country and the future of generation yet to come depends on the decision we take now, either as individuals or collectively to say enough of this madness. We have to ensure, as Nigerians, that the true voice of people determines leadership at all levels of governance. Nigerians need to take a decision that they will make the PDP and the political elites to behave responsibly. We are the ones to change our country not an angel or angels coming down from heaven.
Anyway congratulations Nigeria for witnessing, for the first time, ten years of civilian rule but not democracy.
One of the main thrust of our democratic experience is living with the fact that we have never experience what is called good governance. In the period 1985-1999 which the military ruled, Nigeria lived under intense pressure from the international community to return to civilian rule. General Ibrahim Babangida as a military Head of state supervised a never ending transition programme from military to civilian rule until the events of June 12. The pressure mounted on him by Civil Society Groups and democrats on the way he handled the June 12 elections made him to resign unwillingly on August 26, 1993 handing over the affairs of government to an Interim National Government. The Transition Government under Chief Earnest Shonekan lasted for only three months, when in November 1993, he was forced out of office by the then Minister of Defence, General Sani Abacha, who according to analysts was left purposely by Babangida to take over.
General Abacha ruled for five years and tried to succeed himself in what is popularly known as ‘Tazarce’ after he was endorsed by all the five existing parties then, as their Presidential candidate. However, on June 8, 1998, General Abacha died from what doctors described as heart attack. That plunged the country into yet another political turmoil. General Abdussalam Alhaji Abubakar who came after him hurriedly started a transition to civilian rule, promising to handover power to a democratically elected government on October 1, 1998 as promised by his predecessor. However, that was to happen in May, 1999.
The transition to civilian rule saw the emergence of nine political parties, prominent among them were the People’s Democratic Party, which is the largest party, the All People’s Party, and the Alliance for Democracy. The parties came with no clear manifestos or ideological position, their only promise was to make life easy for Nigerians. In fact, none of the parties up to this day can be said to have a published manifesto, or showed any strong ideological position, except what majority of them have pledged - in mostly vague terms - to improve Nigerian living standards. Ten years after, it is very difficult to say whether our transition to democracy made any impact on our general well-being as citizens. It is very easy for us to throw an accusing finger at the PDP being the ruling party in the centre, but the fact remains that the political class that were entrusted with leadership at levels of governments from 1999-2009 whether in the PDP or the opposition have failed Nigerians.
What characterised our democratic governance for the last ten years was a total collapse of physical infrastructure, corruption in high places, bastardisation of the electoral process - Ekiti state as a case study, outright stealing of public funds, and violation of rule of law. Rule of law which is the foundation upon which democracy is laid has been seriously violated and the country now is witnessing a near collapse of the economy or what Professor Kwanashi described as ‘massive structural disarticulation of the economy.’
The way I see things, we are still nowhere near addressing the numerous problems listed above due to lack of political will and the attitude of our political class. They are consumed in self-deception, lies and highest sense of irresponsibility and are not ready to listen to any criticisms. The ruling party which is the major culprit here became what Reuben Abati described in his popular column as a party characterised by insincerity, inequities and injustice, a party remembered best for the injuries it inflicted on virtually all sectors of our lives. However, it is celebration time and they have to cook up a list of achievements recorded in the last ten years and deliver them as Democracy Day Speech on May 29, not minding how many people will believe them or believe what they are saying. To them democracy is rigging election after every four years to ensure that they perpetually remain in power for the next sixty years. That is why they were very proud telling Nigerians during the ten-year celebration of the PDP last year in Akwa Ibom that they ‘won’ the elections in 1999, 2003 and 2007, which was itself, according to them, an achievement.
It is very hard for anyone to understand the kind of system we are running in this country, as we are left with no alternative, coming out from a long military rule that did practically nothing to change our lives and entering a system which is supposedly considered an answer to bad governance, corruption, nepotism and injustices of the military era. But as soon as the politicians got into power, they continued from where the military stopped or even worst. The politicians that came have little or no concern for common good, they are not development oriented and are people characterised by excessive personal greed. They showed high level of irresponsibility, they lack commitment transparency and accountability, they engage in corruption and serious abuse of office.
The PDP, especially, and its new leaders gave democracy a different meaning altogether. It became a system where party internal democracy is not allowed, rigging and voter intimidation become a norm, elections a do-or-die affair, blackmail and assassinations become an order of the day, poverty, unemployment and general insecurity increased in the country. No doubt we have a reason to celebrate democracy at ten, since for the first time in the nation’s history we are able to break the jinx of having a peaceful transition from one civilian administration to another, but what we should bear in mind is that the government came through a fraudulent election universally discredited, so it is not a true reflection of people’s will.
Therefore, for all intent and purpose, unless if we are to use the practical definition of democracy given to us by PDP in the last ten years, what we are celebrating on May 29 is anything but democracy. As Rev. Father Matthew Kukah noted in a lecture he delivered at the 1st Abraham Adesanya Memorial Lecture, at the National Institute for International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos, that democracy should incorporate ‘adequate provision of social services, adequate access to health, education, some measure of social welfare and security, guarantee rights to private property etc.’ to the citizenry. Which of these benefits are we benefitting from as Nigerians?
I keep on saying and I think I spoke to so many people on that, the future of our country and the future of generation yet to come depends on the decision we take now, either as individuals or collectively to say enough of this madness. We have to ensure, as Nigerians, that the true voice of people determines leadership at all levels of governance. Nigerians need to take a decision that they will make the PDP and the political elites to behave responsibly. We are the ones to change our country not an angel or angels coming down from heaven.
Anyway congratulations Nigeria for witnessing, for the first time, ten years of civilian rule but not democracy.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Adamawa state: still fighting to achieve good governance?
Adamawa state: still fighting to achieve good governance?
The media has been awash lately with news and analyses of Admiral Murtala Nyako’s style of stewardship of Adamawa State. The first salvo was fired by a group of ‘concerned Adamawa citizens’ who in a paid advertorial accused Nyako of appointing a large number of members of his immediate family in different government positions – this was later confirmed through a rejoinder by the government with the excuse that the Nyako family is found all over Africa. Last year, being my role model, I was forced to write in the New Nigerian, (October 1, 2008, page 11), to advise him on his decision to actively involve his family members in governance.
Similarly in an interview with a weekly newspaper, Newspage, (April 13 – 19, 2009 P.33), Alhaji Adamu Modibbo, a one-time governorship candidate in Adamawa State and now Chief Executive Officer, Sigma Pension seems to share the same views. He said in part “He (Nyako) is never in the State. He left the running of the state to his senior son, Abdulaziz who is a serving military officer. Nothing moves without the boy’s knowledge. Abdulaziz is the biggest contractor and commission collector in Adamawa State today.” He went on to add “At the party level, Nyako who is the leader of the party has also failed; the structure in the state is amusing why? Because the party chairman and the governor are from the same ward. In fact they are related which is wrong. In a State where you have intellectuals this is unacceptable.” These are damning testimonies of how Nyako has disappointed many an Adamawa state citizen within and in the Diaspora.
Adamawa State has been blessed with past and latter day political leaders and technocrats. In fact, Adamawa state can be described as the political driving force of the North East. The tradition has been that the former group benefitted the state and its people far more than the latter group.
The former group brought development and empowerment to the people and the State as a whole at the slightest opportunity. The federal University, the airport, the NNPC depot etc were brought by these group, while technocrats within this group brought about empowerment for their people as exemplified by the late Salihijo Ahmad of blessed memory.
The latter day political class failed to emulate and build on the modest achievements of the former political class despite the fact that one of them occupied the number two citizen status in Nigeria. For the eight years of part one of this republic, Adamawa state, despite achieving this feat, was left to fallow.
Coming from the above scenario, the people of Adamawa could be forgiven for rallying behind the mango farmer to usher them in the second part of the political journey in this republic. Having been amongst the first set of political leaders and technocrats, it was unanimously concurred that Admiral Murtala Nyako will certainly behave in the same manner and ways as his co-travelers. The expectation was therefore for him to provide quality leadership in the provision of the much needed infrastructural development, people empowerment through selfless service.
But unfortunately, these expectations as hoped and prayed by the people of Adamawa could not be met by Nyako. He chooses instead to empower members of his family and in an effort to take greed to its highest level, brought his own son to partake in the governance of the state.
What could have pushed Nyako to, at his age and accomplishment, dwell on the path of nepotism rather than dwelling on the path of self righteousness, love of the people and selfless service? Does Nyako not know that this rare opportunity given to him by God Almighty is like bringing back a man from the dead for him to right all the wrongs he did before death after realizing same at death?
Adamawa state is one of the few states in Nigeria today that are yet to experience what good governance is all about, especially in this democratic dispensation, despite the fact that it habours brilliant people of high intellect, top class business men and women and also top level technocrats who labour day and night in building a greater Nigeria.
It is therefore pertinent for the good people of Adamawa state, especially the political elites, to come together and put their house in order by in the first instance calling Nyako to order and then if he fails to heed to the calls plan for an alternative that will meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people. Adamawa state cannot continue like this.
You cannot run a government as a business enterprise or family. Governance is trust, confidence which the electorates have for you. Was it not Admiral who declared after he was re-elected as governor that he won the re-run election basically because of the trust, which the people of Adamawa have on him? He told group of journalist in Yola immediately after the announcement of the election results that the previous administration that ruled the state for eight years did practically nothing. And it was true, the previous administration was a complete mess, but the question is; can Baba Mai Mangoro be different from his predecessor if his government is run as a family affair? Why all the political elites are silent about this?
As I said in my advice to him, nobody, even his critics can doubt his integrity, but he has to be very careful. He should run his family separate from governance, especially his children. On their part, the political elites in Adamawa have to speak out and tell Admiral the truth, if not, Adamawa people will be forced to take a decision come 2011.
The media has been awash lately with news and analyses of Admiral Murtala Nyako’s style of stewardship of Adamawa State. The first salvo was fired by a group of ‘concerned Adamawa citizens’ who in a paid advertorial accused Nyako of appointing a large number of members of his immediate family in different government positions – this was later confirmed through a rejoinder by the government with the excuse that the Nyako family is found all over Africa. Last year, being my role model, I was forced to write in the New Nigerian, (October 1, 2008, page 11), to advise him on his decision to actively involve his family members in governance.
Similarly in an interview with a weekly newspaper, Newspage, (April 13 – 19, 2009 P.33), Alhaji Adamu Modibbo, a one-time governorship candidate in Adamawa State and now Chief Executive Officer, Sigma Pension seems to share the same views. He said in part “He (Nyako) is never in the State. He left the running of the state to his senior son, Abdulaziz who is a serving military officer. Nothing moves without the boy’s knowledge. Abdulaziz is the biggest contractor and commission collector in Adamawa State today.” He went on to add “At the party level, Nyako who is the leader of the party has also failed; the structure in the state is amusing why? Because the party chairman and the governor are from the same ward. In fact they are related which is wrong. In a State where you have intellectuals this is unacceptable.” These are damning testimonies of how Nyako has disappointed many an Adamawa state citizen within and in the Diaspora.
Adamawa State has been blessed with past and latter day political leaders and technocrats. In fact, Adamawa state can be described as the political driving force of the North East. The tradition has been that the former group benefitted the state and its people far more than the latter group.
The former group brought development and empowerment to the people and the State as a whole at the slightest opportunity. The federal University, the airport, the NNPC depot etc were brought by these group, while technocrats within this group brought about empowerment for their people as exemplified by the late Salihijo Ahmad of blessed memory.
The latter day political class failed to emulate and build on the modest achievements of the former political class despite the fact that one of them occupied the number two citizen status in Nigeria. For the eight years of part one of this republic, Adamawa state, despite achieving this feat, was left to fallow.
Coming from the above scenario, the people of Adamawa could be forgiven for rallying behind the mango farmer to usher them in the second part of the political journey in this republic. Having been amongst the first set of political leaders and technocrats, it was unanimously concurred that Admiral Murtala Nyako will certainly behave in the same manner and ways as his co-travelers. The expectation was therefore for him to provide quality leadership in the provision of the much needed infrastructural development, people empowerment through selfless service.
But unfortunately, these expectations as hoped and prayed by the people of Adamawa could not be met by Nyako. He chooses instead to empower members of his family and in an effort to take greed to its highest level, brought his own son to partake in the governance of the state.
What could have pushed Nyako to, at his age and accomplishment, dwell on the path of nepotism rather than dwelling on the path of self righteousness, love of the people and selfless service? Does Nyako not know that this rare opportunity given to him by God Almighty is like bringing back a man from the dead for him to right all the wrongs he did before death after realizing same at death?
Adamawa state is one of the few states in Nigeria today that are yet to experience what good governance is all about, especially in this democratic dispensation, despite the fact that it habours brilliant people of high intellect, top class business men and women and also top level technocrats who labour day and night in building a greater Nigeria.
It is therefore pertinent for the good people of Adamawa state, especially the political elites, to come together and put their house in order by in the first instance calling Nyako to order and then if he fails to heed to the calls plan for an alternative that will meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people. Adamawa state cannot continue like this.
You cannot run a government as a business enterprise or family. Governance is trust, confidence which the electorates have for you. Was it not Admiral who declared after he was re-elected as governor that he won the re-run election basically because of the trust, which the people of Adamawa have on him? He told group of journalist in Yola immediately after the announcement of the election results that the previous administration that ruled the state for eight years did practically nothing. And it was true, the previous administration was a complete mess, but the question is; can Baba Mai Mangoro be different from his predecessor if his government is run as a family affair? Why all the political elites are silent about this?
As I said in my advice to him, nobody, even his critics can doubt his integrity, but he has to be very careful. He should run his family separate from governance, especially his children. On their part, the political elites in Adamawa have to speak out and tell Admiral the truth, if not, Adamawa people will be forced to take a decision come 2011.
GOMBE 2011: As the clock ticks down
GOMBE 2011: As the clock ticks down
As the 2011 general election approaches, so many people at various levels have started jostling for various political offices from the minute to the exalted. Although in some parties, like the PDP – the so-called biggest in Africa, this is a closed matter, however, in actual sense it is not, considering the fact that even within the PDP there are people who opposed the decision of the party leaders to give all their political office holders an automatic tickets.
Last year I did what I regarded as an honest and down to earth speculatory analysis of the likely contenders for the gubernatorial seat in Gombe state, (Sunday Trust, November 9, 2008. Pg 28). The responses I received through text messages, phone calls and email messages showed the fears of people of Gombe on who to succeed the present governor. This is obvious considering the fact that in its ten years of existence, the state was able to witness tremendous achievements under the leadership of the present Governor, Danjuma Goje, especially in his first four years. I also received bashing from people that felt I have unnecessarily tried to discredit their candidates. In fact, there were people who threatened to send Kalare boys to deal with me.
My intention in the said article was not to discredit, tarnish or undermine anyone who wants to be governor of Gombe state in 2011, but was to draw the attention of all those who have interest and show it and those who for fear are still hiding behind the shadows that, it is time politics take a new direction in the state, from non-ideological, loyalist and focus less politics to a more people and development oriented in which the to be candidates present their programmes to the people and on the basis of those well articulated programmes seek people’s mandate.
Gombe state is one of the few states where money and violence politics became the determinants of how powerful a candidate is. This is evident in the way and manner political campaigns were conducted prior to the elections in 2003 and 2007. All indications are pointing to the fact that the 2011 elections will not be different either. Last wek the media reported how a group of thugs alleged to be Kalare boys storm the shop of a cassette dealer in the state capital and tried to cut him into pieces. When they failed, they set the shop ablaze and took to their heels.
The most frightening aspect of the whole kalare saga in Gombe is that the police in the state appear to be impotent as these boys hold the state and its people to ransom. The police are the greatest culprit here despite the fact that we are aware of the fact that there are strong allegations that these kalare boys are supported by the Governor. Governor Goje himself is not helping the matter; in fact some people accused him of fully supporting these boys.
One other issue that will play a bigger role in the 2011 election is money. Prior to 1999 a first perquisite of determining a governorship candidate was to be a former minister of the federal republic. The first few gubernatorial candidates in Gombe state before 1999 with the exception of late Alhaji Dahiru Mohammed and Barrister Achana Gius Yaro were former ministers.
The likes of Alhaji Yerima Abdullahi, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan, and Alhaji Abubakar Hashidu were all former ministers. It followed that pattern with the entry of Alhaji Danjuma Goje, and Alhaji Murtala Aliyu to the race in 2003. This continued up to 2007, where the likes of Alhaji Musa Mohammed and Alhaji Aliyu Modibbo, all former ministers joined the gubernatorial candidates list. So no wonder then, anyone appointed a minister is seeing as a likely gubernatorial candidate in Gombe state. That is why people alleged that the removal of Alhaji Aliyu Modibbo and selecting Hajiya Aisha Dukku as a Minister from the state was to pave way for somebody who the Governor is preparing him to succeed him.
However, people of Gombe have to be very careful this time around, because for now, all those who showed interest, and even those who are still operating behind the shadows, we have not seen any candidate that can be said, has programme that will be regarded as an agenda for the development of the young state. I am not sure but as I am talking to you now, there is no any candidate among those who want to lead the state that can give exact figure of primary school going children in the state and the number classroom blocks in the state, or number of malaria cases in the state for 2008. They cannot give you the exact number of unemployed in the state or how many bags of fertilizer the state needs in a farming year.
Furthermore, our desire to see the continuation of the good works we have seen in the first four years of Governor Goje is becoming bleak daily. It is only when we see well articulated programmes and development driven agenda from a person that we believe mean well for the state that we will regard a candidate as serious. It is not enough for any candidate to start going to the press, granting visionless interviews, to think that people will take him serious.
Therefore, the people of Gombe will be left at the mercy of opportunistic politicians whose idea of governance, is to be in power to steal public money. We have seen what they have done in the past and what they are doing now. In fact, we might say these people are not qualified in anyway to be our leaders. I may have love to call them by their names and expose them for what they are and what they stand for, but I feel is better to give them a chance to see before 2010 if they can come out with programmes on how they can continue or build on the foundation laid by the present Governor.
Governor Goje on his part should do the people of Gombe state good if he maintains the absolute neutrality he is known for and allow the people to choose their leaders. Gombe state is bigger than each and every one of us. We are not saying Goje is perfect, he has his own problems, but at least he has recorded tremendous achievements incomparable to any of his predecessors. But he has to be very careful, and he knows that, because all those shouting to succeed him today are people whose sole interest is to be in power in order to revert the state to pre-Goje era of money sharing government.
Anyone interested in contesting the governor’s seat should first of all do away with the idea of kalare politics, which in recent years turned the state into a lawless society of sort. He should present programmes on how to tackle the issue of unemployment, which as suggested by many analysts is the genesis of the upsurge of kalare activities in the state. He has to also present his policies on agriculture, education and health care. He should also try to ensure that apart from the existing projects, he should come with more. How is he going to address the issue of environmental degradation and energy etc?
These are some of the key issues any political candidate ought to have presented to the electorate, not the number of kalare groups he has on his pay roll or the support he gets from above or from the Governor. It is then that we can be able to address the core issues that become bane of development of our young state.
As the 2011 general election approaches, so many people at various levels have started jostling for various political offices from the minute to the exalted. Although in some parties, like the PDP – the so-called biggest in Africa, this is a closed matter, however, in actual sense it is not, considering the fact that even within the PDP there are people who opposed the decision of the party leaders to give all their political office holders an automatic tickets.
Last year I did what I regarded as an honest and down to earth speculatory analysis of the likely contenders for the gubernatorial seat in Gombe state, (Sunday Trust, November 9, 2008. Pg 28). The responses I received through text messages, phone calls and email messages showed the fears of people of Gombe on who to succeed the present governor. This is obvious considering the fact that in its ten years of existence, the state was able to witness tremendous achievements under the leadership of the present Governor, Danjuma Goje, especially in his first four years. I also received bashing from people that felt I have unnecessarily tried to discredit their candidates. In fact, there were people who threatened to send Kalare boys to deal with me.
My intention in the said article was not to discredit, tarnish or undermine anyone who wants to be governor of Gombe state in 2011, but was to draw the attention of all those who have interest and show it and those who for fear are still hiding behind the shadows that, it is time politics take a new direction in the state, from non-ideological, loyalist and focus less politics to a more people and development oriented in which the to be candidates present their programmes to the people and on the basis of those well articulated programmes seek people’s mandate.
Gombe state is one of the few states where money and violence politics became the determinants of how powerful a candidate is. This is evident in the way and manner political campaigns were conducted prior to the elections in 2003 and 2007. All indications are pointing to the fact that the 2011 elections will not be different either. Last wek the media reported how a group of thugs alleged to be Kalare boys storm the shop of a cassette dealer in the state capital and tried to cut him into pieces. When they failed, they set the shop ablaze and took to their heels.
The most frightening aspect of the whole kalare saga in Gombe is that the police in the state appear to be impotent as these boys hold the state and its people to ransom. The police are the greatest culprit here despite the fact that we are aware of the fact that there are strong allegations that these kalare boys are supported by the Governor. Governor Goje himself is not helping the matter; in fact some people accused him of fully supporting these boys.
One other issue that will play a bigger role in the 2011 election is money. Prior to 1999 a first perquisite of determining a governorship candidate was to be a former minister of the federal republic. The first few gubernatorial candidates in Gombe state before 1999 with the exception of late Alhaji Dahiru Mohammed and Barrister Achana Gius Yaro were former ministers.
The likes of Alhaji Yerima Abdullahi, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan, and Alhaji Abubakar Hashidu were all former ministers. It followed that pattern with the entry of Alhaji Danjuma Goje, and Alhaji Murtala Aliyu to the race in 2003. This continued up to 2007, where the likes of Alhaji Musa Mohammed and Alhaji Aliyu Modibbo, all former ministers joined the gubernatorial candidates list. So no wonder then, anyone appointed a minister is seeing as a likely gubernatorial candidate in Gombe state. That is why people alleged that the removal of Alhaji Aliyu Modibbo and selecting Hajiya Aisha Dukku as a Minister from the state was to pave way for somebody who the Governor is preparing him to succeed him.
However, people of Gombe have to be very careful this time around, because for now, all those who showed interest, and even those who are still operating behind the shadows, we have not seen any candidate that can be said, has programme that will be regarded as an agenda for the development of the young state. I am not sure but as I am talking to you now, there is no any candidate among those who want to lead the state that can give exact figure of primary school going children in the state and the number classroom blocks in the state, or number of malaria cases in the state for 2008. They cannot give you the exact number of unemployed in the state or how many bags of fertilizer the state needs in a farming year.
Furthermore, our desire to see the continuation of the good works we have seen in the first four years of Governor Goje is becoming bleak daily. It is only when we see well articulated programmes and development driven agenda from a person that we believe mean well for the state that we will regard a candidate as serious. It is not enough for any candidate to start going to the press, granting visionless interviews, to think that people will take him serious.
Therefore, the people of Gombe will be left at the mercy of opportunistic politicians whose idea of governance, is to be in power to steal public money. We have seen what they have done in the past and what they are doing now. In fact, we might say these people are not qualified in anyway to be our leaders. I may have love to call them by their names and expose them for what they are and what they stand for, but I feel is better to give them a chance to see before 2010 if they can come out with programmes on how they can continue or build on the foundation laid by the present Governor.
Governor Goje on his part should do the people of Gombe state good if he maintains the absolute neutrality he is known for and allow the people to choose their leaders. Gombe state is bigger than each and every one of us. We are not saying Goje is perfect, he has his own problems, but at least he has recorded tremendous achievements incomparable to any of his predecessors. But he has to be very careful, and he knows that, because all those shouting to succeed him today are people whose sole interest is to be in power in order to revert the state to pre-Goje era of money sharing government.
Anyone interested in contesting the governor’s seat should first of all do away with the idea of kalare politics, which in recent years turned the state into a lawless society of sort. He should present programmes on how to tackle the issue of unemployment, which as suggested by many analysts is the genesis of the upsurge of kalare activities in the state. He has to also present his policies on agriculture, education and health care. He should also try to ensure that apart from the existing projects, he should come with more. How is he going to address the issue of environmental degradation and energy etc?
These are some of the key issues any political candidate ought to have presented to the electorate, not the number of kalare groups he has on his pay roll or the support he gets from above or from the Governor. It is then that we can be able to address the core issues that become bane of development of our young state.
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