KWANKWASIYYA: CRITICS AND PROSPECTS

WRITTEN BY NAJIBULLAH A.NUHU

The swearing in of the newly elected Public Officials on 29^th may, 2011 usher in a fresh public Agenda namely, calculation of gains and loses. This is especially after the three mouths of these elected Public Officials in office. The modest objective of this piece is to closely examine some of the activities of the State Government to improve its leadership where there is slip-up and further strengthen its credit side.

After the Federal Grants, internally generated revenue is the most significant source of State Government income that is contributing an appreciable amount of money to finance its activities. However, many states in Nigeria (Kano inclusive) are known for their incapacity to fully realize such revenue and this consequently hamper the socio-economic transformation of such state. It is on record that, immediately after the swearing in of Governor ‘Kwankwaso’, he made an attempt to meet with his colleague of Lagos who is known to be the best Governor in revenue collection in Nigeria on how to improve the internally generated revenue of Kano State. Kudos to kwankwaso. His visit have materialize as the money that is now been realize per month is far beyond that of previous administration

Other credit sides of the current administration include; the revival of the important but abandoned monthly sanitation, ongoing construction classes in some selected primary schools across the state, lightning of main roads in the State at night, procurement of new vehicles for police force to enhance security in the state, prompt disposal of refuse from public places, provision of employments opportunities to the teeming youth of Kano to mention but few.

Having briefly discussed some of the prospect we have recorded let me turn to some of the critic. The most topical and tragic lose the good people of Kano state experience since the Inception of the present administration is the rapid transformation of the full-fledged democracy that has been in existence in the state for long to democracy without freedom of speech particularly democracy without opposition.to this end the government is employing all the means at its deposal to silence the voice to enlighten critics and subdue politicians who dare subjects the administration to scrutiny. The Government abandons the suppose search for more legitimacy but instead concentrate its energies in liquidation its rivals as anyone who stands up for opposition is its enemy and must be crushed. To paraphrase the words of Nnoli, the government has surrounded itself with its henchmen.

The government erroneously believed that because it can pass out  outlandish laws in the state House of Assembly and also be going round the State to speak to public in a style of Political Comedians that they can muzzle opposition it is because of this wrong belief that the Head of the Government called for his predecessor to take political asylum somewhere on the pretext that his presence in the State is not only a treat to security but also signifies the existence of two (2) governors (His Excellency as the Governor of the People and his Predecessor as the Opposition Governor). This really sound comedian and baseless! After this call has failed to survive public and judicial hostilities, the State House of Assembly on 30^th November, 2011 attempt to pass a law which will prevent Traditional title holders in the State from participating in politics especially sardaunan Kano (the immediate past governor) this notwithstanding several politicians that are expressing their political views over radio (popularly known as ‘sojojin baka’) were taken to court and imprisoned for the crime of criticizing the present administration!

It is the responsibility of the press, scholars, and opposition parties and of course the whole fellow ‘Kanawa’s’ to wake up from our slumber and fight against tyranny and dictatorship regardless of all the dangers this may involve only then each of us can be truly free. Your excellency, in the words of sunusi lamido sunusi  ‘…the best of leaders are those who welcome criticism and use it as basis of improving the institution of governance.’ Sir, please remember it is opposition that brought you back to office  without which you will have been somewhere else by now. Besides, what is most surprising to every painstaking analyst is that, you are seriously claiming to be one of the disciplines of the late Mal.Aminu Kano far from being anti-opposition he died as opposition politician and vehemently fought for the rights of opposition during his lifetime. May I remind you that any attempt muzzle opposition in a politically vibrant state like Kano will make people to be even more critical instead of being deterred? Thus be warned, don’t unnecessary steer your administration to its waterloo!

Another critic, the good people of Kano is suffering from the continuous personalization of Government and its properties by His Excellency under the name of kwankwasiya. Let me cite some vivid examples to support this assertion: the government pledged to build a model village which was a name kwankwasiyya village, the ongoing construction of class’s bear the name of kwankwasiya in some selected primary schools across the state is another clear example. Thirdly, the cars that were purchased to transport secondary school students to and fro school also are not only bearing the name kwankwasiyya but also bear a drawing of the red cap of His Excellency. Similarly, the table water that is given to primary school pupils under the so-called feeding program of the Government is again carrying the name of kwankwasiyya. This is a clear manifestation of the monarchical political culture of the ruling clique. Please sir, remember all the above mentioned projects and many others are not carried out with your personal money rather with the public treasury of Kano state government. In this way, why not all projects bear the name kano state government? I think the year in which the projects are or will be executed is enough to tell that is done under your leadership. Please think about it!

Educationally speaking, the good people of Kano record huge loos. Why? Because throughout the 8years of the past administration female secondary schools students were not paying school fees but this is now history with the coming of this administration as such many students drop out of school and go back to hawking! Please sir, remember that education is a tool of mental liberation and a gateway to civilization and prosperity. Therefore, please stop being skeptical about our education.

Health wise, the present administration in its campaign promised the people of Kano an improved and free maternal care but this is still more of hope than reality. However, instead of pursuing the above and several other promises done with respect to the health sector the government have recklessly and disdainfully reduce the 22million that is used to be given to the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital quarterly to maintain it maternity section to just 9million! On the other hand, 7million that has been given quarterly to some hospital to maintain its emergency section has also been drastically reduce to just 1 million! In the same vein, the government set aside over 3million to produce drugs and vaccines for the immunization of mad dogs in the state! This is inhumane.

Lastly, my advice to the present administration is to go back to the drawing board and think about its weakness for self-correction and also open its ears widely to the voice of enlighten criticisms which can be harness to improve the machinery of government. With regards to your strengths keep it up and try to be more sensitive to yearning of people of Kano. I wish you a successful tenure throughout your stay in government.