By: Sa’idu Mohammed Sanusi
Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankaso has not sought power for selfish reason. His government is neither guided by blind material pursuit nor senseless aggrandizement. He is not in government to trample on the ordinary people’s rights, especially his presumed electorate. The governor belongs to the rare breed of political leaders that care much about public good and transformation of his immediate environment, which is clear from the way he has organised his government, enunciating progressive and people-oriented policies within a short period of his re-emergence.
It is no wonder that Governor Kwankwaso has entrusted execution of his pro-people projects in the hands of committed lieutenants and associates who were presumably appointed as commissioners, advisers, special assistants and heads of agencies in respective ministries and departments to supervise smooth completion of numerous development programmes. The governor is seemingly in control as the captain, steering the ship to a pre-determined development destination that can be sustained for years to come. He is, indeed, out to engrave a permanent landmark in the political landscape he occupies as the principal actor, impacting on the lives of Kano electorate.
For years, Kano state has not witnessed a political tenure in which the chief executive has demonstrated commitment to public good and rendering selfless service to the people as in the second tenure of Dr (Engineer) Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso. The governor has come, seen and has conquered. Political watchers are convinced that he means well for Kano state and its citizenry, which is evident in the number of development projects he executes. Who else could have touched the people where it matters within a short period of time? It is only the one with rare determination, dexterity and vision.
One area in which Governor Kwankwaso’s style of leadership distinguishes itself is in the selection of people who will assist him in executing his programmes. Looking at the caliber of people he assigned public duties, one could not help concluding that most of them are of impeccable character, selfless and equally determined to goal achievement, qualities engendered by purposeful leadership. One has no choice but to identify with the governor’s sterling leadership qualities. The moment a member of the team derails from the course or begins to exhibit anti-people traits, one would be spotted standing odd. Undoubtedly, Governor Kwankwaso is a very meticulous leader that observes and monitors the conducts of political appointees and public servants alike. But he is only human who can make mistakes or fall short of detecting what could pose a problem in the administration’s people-oriented programmes.
Governor Kwankwaso’s re-emergence is a cogent lesson to the sane, showing that only God the Omnipotent that giveth power to whomever He so chooses at the pre-destined time. One should therefore attribute his electoral success to the Almighty and to the progressive Kano electorate who overwhelmingly voted for him and his progressive programmes. It is therefore immodest for anybody to claim credit for the governor’s re-election. No single individual, even if one is a special assistant should make a bogus claim of either “making” the governor or his government, not to those of us that witnessed Kwankwaso’s re-election in 2011. But this was the alleged outburst of one of his special Assistant, Hajiya Maryam Kofar Mata in a bid to justify presumed selfish interest.
The “honourable” Special Assistant was reportedly reacting to a sound of caution handed down by a close elderly relation on a disputed parcel of land she was said to have encroached on in her ancestral home in Kofar Mata. The Special Assistant has, according to an eye witness who craved anonymity, boasted that nobody could stop her from putting the structure she is building comprising of corner shops on a parcel of land commonly belonging to the extended family. She was quoted saying, “I did not do this before when we were not in control. I contributed in no small measure to the emergence of Governor Kwankwaso. This is our government in which I can do anything, and no power, no matter how big, can stop me.” Even if one wields political power and clout, as Hajiya Maryam Kofar Mata does, should one say it publicly and in the quoted manner? It is impolitic and counter productive. What baffles one most is the seeming complicity or complacency of KNUPDA to either act or intervene.
According to this writer’s investigations, the other party in the dispute had complained to KNUPDA time and over, but to no avail. This being the case, only one conclusion may suffice. Some people in KNUPDA might be in the know or are in cahoots with the Special Assistant. But this is a mere conjecture, any way. If one may ask, is one’s appointment into a public office a guarantee to pursue one’s selfish agenda or “collaborate” with people of questionable character to achieve same? These are questions that beg for quick answers from KNUPDA as the government agency in charge of building plan approval and alleged land encroachment, especially in urban areas.
The conduct of Hajiya Maryam Kofar Mata, Governor Kwankwaso’s Special Assistant, left much to be desired. Could she be one of the saboteurs within the administration who are busy smearing its reputation? Her misadventure is capable of damaging the good name of the progressive governor. As one of the leading lights in the administration, Special Assistants are supposed to be exemplary. Public office is sacred to which if one is appointed, one is expected to make a lot of sacrifice, especially when one’s personal interest conflicts with the demand of the office one occupies. The lady in question is supposedly a reference point of the administration. Her private conduct should not diametrically oppose the posture of her political leader. When a person of her standing and caliber could not amicably settle a minute family dispute because of suspected selfish interest, how could she dispassionately discharge her official duty to the teeming people of Kano state? Your guess is as good as mine.
Email: ahsansi59@yahoo.co.uk