SIR: For Ibrahim Shehu Shema, former Governor of Katsina State, Friday May 29, signaled his exit from Katsina Government House, where he held sway for eight years. It ended the era of impunity, avarice and arrogance that was the hallmark of his administration. His immediate concern should be on how to manage life after leaving office. He would no longer play host to the revered Katsina monarch who once threatened to sue him should he not declare his intention to contest 2011 polls. He would no longer preside over the sharing of SURE-P ‘booty’ and Local Government allocation under the guise of ‘joint account’. He must by now start to ruminate on how history would judge him on his stewardship. He must also by now start to undergo the pains of anticipated betrayal by supposed friends, in-laws, political associates, contractors, etc.
We would ‘sorely’ miss his cosmopolitan mien and flamboyant outlook. We would equally miss his ‘know-it-all’ posture. Civilization mission over, let us not burden our remembrances with heaviness that is hopefully gone forever.
Aminu Bello Masari, Governor of Katsina State is today the most beautiful bride in the state. He has become the darling of the good masses of Katsina state, the opportunists, and the ugly (economic saboteurs). Although, Masari can never be said to belong to progressive politics, his political disposition was that of a conservative stock. He turned progressive, when he could not realize his gubernatorial ambition in the PDP. Let us all pray and hope that his ‘accidental progressive’ would live up to the expectations of President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption zeal and that of the electorate who voted for change and anxiously hope for a better tomorrow.
In Katsina State, poverty level is unacceptably high. There is a grim picture of unemployment, high maternal and child mortality rate and a low level of human development. The recent National Living Survey (NLS) indicated that 75.16 percent of Nigerians are poor (mostly in the rural areas). It was reported that Katsina State is one of the worst hit. The APC government in the state should make deliberate effort to fund education and training as a panacea for unemployment. Our dams should also be revitalized, because currently, their operations are below capacity. In addition to that, special attention should be paid to the intensification of livestock and poultry production.
Our elites should do something about poverty level in their respective villages. As Professor Charles Soludo once suggested, it is easy to open micro-finance with just about N20 million. So how many micro-finance banks have been set up by our elite to empower thousand of the unemployed?
The new government should also source for capable hands that would determine the direction of the government. The state civil service should also be re-oriented for effective performance. Those who have no business in governance should not be seen in government. The Masari-led government should beware of sycophants, praise singers, political jobbers and smugglers, who always seek to take advantage of their closeness to the governor for their personal gains.
Governor Masari should borrow a leaf from the progressive and dynamic former governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola who once declined the honour of a chieftaincy title from a royal father in Lagos. He told him politely: “Kabiyesi and his chiefs can continue to lead us, let them deal with all those traditional and chieftaincy issues. At appropriate time, we will come and join them, but for now, leave us in our suits, boots, overalls and helmets, because this Agbada is not good for clearing refuse and tarring the roads”.
It is our hope that the Masari-led administration would remain committed and focused in addressing the staggering socio–economic challenges facing the state.
This is the season of change. This is the season of hope. Welcome Masari.
- Ibrahim Sani
Kofar Bai, Katsina