Gov. Masari with fake result? Mere hallucination
Governor Aminu Bello Masari is the third governor to superintend over the affairs of Katsina State since the emergence of this democracy in 1999; the 10th since the state was created in 1987. Before Masari became governor of the state, he had at one time, Speaker, House of Representatives, the 3rd to ever be in […]
Governor Aminu Bello Masari is the third governor to superintend over the affairs of Katsina State since the emergence of this democracy in 1999; the 10th since the state was created in 1987.
Before Masari became governor of the state, he had at one time, Speaker, House of Representatives, the 3rd to ever be in the 20-year uninterrupted democracy and the 7th since Nigeria became independent. His emergence was unexpected. He was not the most popular. But his leadership brought the most remarkable change in governance in the country. From a representative of Malumfashi/Kafur Federal Constituency and one the 15 Reps in the state, to becoming the fourth citizen in the country. His exalted office placed him in the class of statesmen where issues of national interests and development are known for.
He left office in 2007, scandal free. He returned to Katsina to play the local politics with the hope of having the executive power as governor so that he could make more impact in the lives of his people. That adventure didn’t end well and he was edged out by the state government controlled party excos.
He joined forces with the defunct party, founded by President Muhammadu Buhari, Congress of Progressive Change, CPC. The party, together with Action Congress, AC, All Nigeria People’s Party, ANPP later metamorphosed into what is the All Progressives Congress, APC, today.
What however stood out for Masari while in opposition in the state politics was the team spirit he exhibited with and among his fellow politicians and colleagues. It was no surprise that the APC party excos have been with him till today. Masari can be purposeful especially on something he strongly believes in. for example, salaries and pensions of retired workers were some of the issues he campaigned on before he was elected. However, by the time he was sworn in, he found it difficult to pay salaries and pensions as the treasury was barely empty. He had promised the workers that what he would do differently during the campaign. Of course, his predecessor made it so-the financial mess of the state. Again, he rose to the occasion as his managerial quality came to fore, he not only paid salaries but shortly after, the pensions followed suit. At the inception of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, before the Federal Government started dolling out bailouts to financially incapacitated states, Katsina was one of the very few in the country that was paying salaries and pensions as when due.
Still, on education, the so-called fake result being peddled against the governor in the media is something that baffles me. Perhaps a little enlightenment would suffice. Most of the names, surnames that is, in the North, is a reflection of the names of where they are born. The name Masari is a town in Malumfashi. The former Head of service in the state, Auwalu Lawal Daura got his name from his Daura town where he was born. There is also a friend, a member of House of Representatives, from Kebbi State, Shehu Koko, his town where he was born, is Koko. Some even bear the names of their uncles who mentored them. Some discard the names later in life while others live with it. “To Whom It May Concern” is usually a letter explaining to the public what the holder of the letter is all about. It is mostly used when the original certificate is either lost or not yet ready. Beyond politics, does it make any logical sense that Masari would fake a result more than 30 years before joining politics? One thing is certain, the honorable justices at the tribunal are persuaded by facts only, not the media trial the peddlers have been doing of recent. If indeed the opposition has genuine case, you bring it to the court, not on the pages of newspapers with the aim of whipping up undeserved sentiment. It is only hallucinating peddlers that would spreading such unsubstantiated fabrication. Law is about facts, not sentiment.
Agriculture is a passion for Masari, perhaps because he was or is it still is? His investment in the agric sector of the state saw him inviting investors, both local and foreign to invest in his state. Dangote is presently doing something in the agric sector in the state. There is virtually no sector of the state that has not felt his impact. Though he can still do more. Unfortunately, the administration only showcases little of the success story currently going in the state. He needs to cultivate the media more, especially as he enters the second term.
Above all, Masari’s idea of government of inclusiveness is something this writer wants other states to imbibe. Presently, there is really no top politician in Katsina state that has not crossed over to APC. That is largely because of Masari. Shortly before the last general election in March, Masari reached out to everyone who was anybody to help build the state together. That was really unsual for incumbent making overtures to opposing camps. First of all, he had performed creditably well that the people were ready to give his administration another term of four years. His party is at the centre, controlling the Federal Government. Also, the President, Muhammadu Buhari, is from his state who has a cult like followership across the country. So, he had everything going for him that he didn’t have to curry favour of any opposing figures in the state. But Masari had a different mindset about meaning of governance and nation building. For him, both his ruling party and other opposition parties are all stakeholders in any and everything about the state. For him, working as a team, irrespective of political differences is what will ultimately take the state to its desired destination. And faster too.
Among notable names from the PDP stock are: Engineer Musa Nashuni was former commissioner during the reign of Shehu Ibrahim Shema administration and the state PDP guber candidate in the 2015 election. Ya’u Umar Gwajo Gwajo was the House of Assembly Speaker under PDP. Former deputy governor, Abdullahi Garba Faskari, former commissioner for agricture, Musa Adamu, even Shema’s personal assistant on empowerment, Nasiru Salisu Ingawa has since left the party, to join hands with Masari. When there is unity of purpose, progress is faster achieved. Not only that, such unity makes such society impregnable to intruders. As the state awaits him to name his cabinet, it is hoped that his pace of governance will even be faster than what it was in his first term.
Adedayo Ola wrote in from Gwagwalada, Abuja