General
By Abdullahi Idris Saukan Zuru
As our nascent democracy gradually develops, so also the consciousness of the public, particularly the electorates of their legitimate rights for dividends of democracy from their elected representatives.
The development has apparently put many aspirants for political offices in dilemma, while others considered it as a healthy political development for patriotic politicians.
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, a former Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is the first among possible aspirants that may indicate interest in aspiring for governorship candidature of some political parties in Kebbi state.
The political development is unfolding at the time the stakeholders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) have endorsed the incumbent governor, Comrade Nasir Idris for a second term with a vote of absolute confidence in view of the unprecedented development achieved in all sectors within two years of his stewardship.
Prior to that, prominent leaders including all the three Senators,three members and three members of the House of Representatives and state Assemblies respectively all of the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP),majority of the membership of all the opposition political parties in the state have expressed their conviction of Governor Nasir Idris’s capacity of transforming the state’s socio-economic and political development and thereafter massively defected to the All Progressive Congress.
Other factors believed to have influenced their decision included Comrade Nasir’s humility, generosity, regards for elders regardless of political differences and compassion.
However, the former Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami who claimed to be a founding member of the All Progressive Congress and served for eight years under late President Muhammadu Buhari hurriedly resigned last month and rushed to join the coalition of mostly highly ambitious politicians under the new African Democratic Congress ( ADC).
His decision must have been necessitated by the All Progressive Congress stakeholders forum’s endorsement of Comrade Governor Nasir Idris for a second term tenure and the apparent acceptance of the decision by the people of the state, the beneficiaries of Governor Kauran Gwandu’s so far executed development programmes.
Ordinarily, the All Progressive Congress (APC) and its controlled state government that are not only in a comfortable position of political stability but also committedly promoting true democracy, will have no issue with anyone aspiring for the governorship candidature of any political party in 2027 as long as the people of Kebbi State are to decide.
However, what prompted this analysis was the need to alert the people of the state of a clear devise initiated out of hopelessness to mislead the innocent people into believing his political gimmicks
It couldn’t be imagined that a person that served as minister of a critical federal ministry of justice for eight years could resort to demonstration of unimaginable desperation to achieve political ambition.
Considering the displayed act of frustration, it becomes obvious that he has nothing to visibly showcase as his contribution that impacts the well-being of the people throughout the eight years
Be that as it may, it can comfortably be said that the people of Kebbi State benefited little or nothing from the relationship between Abubakar Malami and late President Muhammadu Buhari as the bulk of the benefits were accumulated among family and friends, as could be seen in the way and manner investment have been displayed in different states.
It is needless, reminding the the people of Kebbi State that the only empowerment programme the former Minister can boast of bringing to the state was the federal government’s covid-19 palliatives material and cash he collected on behalf of the people of Kebbi and distributed.
It can, therefore, be understood that his introduction of a N300,000 cash transfer to individuals in the name of a loan is aimed at pacifying the people over his failures over the years.
The former Minister should be reminded that Comrade Governor Nasir Idris has, within the last two years, supported more than ten thousand members of the business community with more than ten billion naira, free fertiliser, irrigation pumps,power tillers and financial support for increase agricultural production.
This is in addition to the completion of inherited, abandoned critical capital intensive projects, restructuring of dilapidated schools, and health care delivery centres, new valuable infrastructure in the health, education, and skills acquisition centres for identifying and utilisation of individual potential, among others.
Worthy of note is the allegation already in the public domain that the former Minister has started negotiating with some government functionaries and party members believed to be close to Comrade Governor Nasir Idris on the possibility of planting them within the government to serve as imformers to him and saboteurs to Comrade Governor Nasir kauran Gwandu’s administration.
Although it remains an allegation, the government has the capacity and an intelligence network of tracking such move and the mechanism to handle it decisively.
However, it is advisable for politicians aspiring for any elective position in Kebbi State to compile and showcase their respective record cards of valuable contributions(if any) that have directly impacted the well-being of the people in the past.
This would be better than embarking on fruitless campaign of calumny through sponsorship of blackmail, fabrication of falsehood, and mischievous allegations against the demonstrated wishes of the people in 2027.
Sadaukin Zuru is the
Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy to Kebbi State Governor.