THE SHAME OF A NATION
How Sule Lamido Betrayed Aminu Kano At every opportunity, Governor
Sule Lamido of Jigawa State brandishes the credentials of being a
proud disciple of the late Mallam Aminu Kano. However, the best
tribute any self-claimed disciple of Aminu Kano should pay to his
memory is to live by his example of humility, modesty and genuine
commitment for public interest. In all honesty, can Sule Lamido be
in the class of genuine defenders and promoters of Aminu Kano’s
principles of accountability, modesty and fear of God in the
discharge of public responsibility? Governor Lamido has all along
hoodwinked the gullible minds who failed to realise that all his
geese are swans. Lamido recently gave himself away as a
pseudo-comrade when he condemned the on-going probes into the power
sector, warning that the elite will destroy itself by subjecting
itself to public scrutiny. Why is Governor Lamido nervous about
the power probe? Is he a beneficiary of the contract for the supply
of PHCN transformers awarded under the former Minister of State for
Power and Steel, Alhaji Ahmed Abdul-Hamid Mallam Madori, who is his
political protégé? Could Mallam Aminu Kano have been happy at the
idea of his disciples kicking against exposing rogues? Was Sule
Lamido’s interview in the Saturday Sun (10/5/2008) a protection of
self interest or public interest? There are widespread allegations
that, indeed, Lamido benefited from the Power Contract under the
tenure of his political minion, Alhaji Ahmed Mallam Madori. Let Sule
Lamido deny that he didn’t benefit from these contract scandals.
How much did he collect for the supply of the transformers? Was
there due process in awarding him the transformer contract by a man
he nominated for public office? Governor Lamido should be honest
enough to deny or confirm his connection to the power contracts.
Any genuine believer in the philosophy of the late Mallam Aminu Kano
would be grievously shocked at the suggestion that the power probes
are unnecessary. If truly Lamido is a credible disciple of Aminu
Kano, why must he kick against holding public office holders
accountable? Leadership is a sacred trust between those in power and
the people they govern. Public faith in the institution of
government will be damaged if leaders like Lamido question the
wisdom of holding elected and appointed officials accountable. In
fact, Mallam Aminu Kano must have turned in his grave that one of
his disciples was kicking against probity. Lamido is so concerned
about the elite destroying themselves through probes that he wanted
a halt to such waste of time! In effect, Lamido is suggesting a
conspiracy against the masses (talakawa) in whose name he purports
to govern. The so-called political class, which derives its
authority from the people, can only guarantee its survival by
protecting the interest of the people. Governor Lamido is telling
us that crooks should be allowed to enjoy their loot or shielded
from justice. His trashy logic is evidently at variance with the
principle of open government and the ideals of the late Mallam Ainu
Kano. Throughout his life, Aminu had preached the gospel of
accountability. And therefore, the greatest disservice to his memory
is to suggest that the political class should conspire against the
ordinary people. Lamido forgot that a fairer society is a safer
society and his perverted ideas of protecting the elite against
scrutiny will be the main factor against their survival. Does Sule
Lamido appreciate the consequences of corruption and diversion of
public funds on the future of Nigeria and her citizens? Is it not
curious that as a supposed crusader for the Talakawa interest, he
lacks the moral courage to support the investigations into the shady
contracts and deals undertaken by the former Obasanjo
administration? In his desperation for publicity and hunger for
relevance, Sule Lamido has finally revealed the mask on his face.
Those who know him closely enough already raised doubts about
Lamido’s sincerity to follow the footprint of Mallam Aminu Kano.
He is just an attention seeker and a disgusting pretender. He
recently wasted public funds sponsoring newspaper adverts
self-servingly called Lamido on the marble. Lamido’s recent
affectation of philosopher-king has further exposed his limitation
and misconception of power. A poor state like Jigawa can ill afford
the large-scale waste of lean resources to promote Lamido’s
ambition of a philosopher – king. Corruption should be a dirty
word in the dictionary of any genuine disciples of Aminu Kano but
Lamido is telling us crooks should be allowed to get away with their
atrocities against the people. In order to save themselves from
humiliation, philosopher Lamdio advocated a halt to the probes
because they pose a threat to the political class. Does that sound
like a language coming from the friend of the masses? If anybody
ever doubted that Lamido is a deceiver, his recent interview with
the Saturday Sun has exposed him in his true colours. One is pained
that Lamido continues to use Aminu Kano’s name to achieve his
self-seeking ambition. If he had no dark motives, why is he nervous
about the on-going probes? He has ulterior motives for wanting a
halt to the probes. Do we need any more proof that Lamido’s
credentials as Aminu Kano’s disciple are dubious?
BY DAUDA IBRAHIM JAHUN, a political activist and advocate for
transparency B20, KATSINA ROAD , KADUNA