Katsina and the challenges of leadership

Twenty four years after the creation of Katsina state all facets of life and activities have greatly changed in the state for better, this has manifested on people and the environment at both urban and rural areas. Everybody is made to believe that Katsina state has the most vibrant leaders since 1999 when democratic governance […]

Twenty four years after the creation of Katsina state all facets of life and activities have greatly changed in the state for better, this has manifested on people and the environment at both urban and rural areas.

Everybody is made to believe that Katsina state has the most vibrant leaders since 1999 when democratic governance resurfaces in the country. To begin with, it is not in doubt that late President Umar Musa Yar’adua has provided solid foundation for the development of the state by creating

structures and providing concrete foundation in the running of the state.

His predecessor, Barrister Ibrahim Shehu Shema was believed to be unique as far as leadership by example is concern in the whole country. He has many attributes, including the unique policy he adopted when late Yar’adua was elected as president.

We tend to believe that lack of continuity stands to be among the factors for our backwardness at all levels because our leaders are always after taking credit. However, Shema was the only governor in the history of this country who continue from where his predecessor stopped, even when Yar’adua’s live terminated, he continue with the precedence set up in the state.

The umar Musa Yar’adua University, initiated by the former president was completed and fully equipped by Shema, and not only that the airport, the educationally oriented programs initiated by the president and even the infrastructural facilities in both rural and urban centers, have been completed and new ones continue to date. I owe nobody apology that Katsina state under Shema has the best educational infrastructural facilities in the country, if you are in double go to any rural or urban center where schools are situated and see wonders. He gives free scholarship to sons and daughters to study medicine, engineering and other related courses in Egypt, Sudan and some notable educationally advanced countries, he created craft village program, in which youths are train different crafts with varying training period depending on the courses, after which the beneficiaries were given capital and machines to set-up their businesses.

Through this he curtails the rate of poverty and unemployment in the state.

Another unique program being adopted by the governor was the rural ambulance clinic program, which has gone a long way in tackling illnesses and provides easy and cheapest access to medical services to the rural dwellers. He provides regular and free drugs and in exceptional cases where the drugs are being sold only 20 percent charges are collected for all categories of drugs.

Katsina state is witnessing yet another landmark with the ongoing modern orthopedic hospital project. The orthopedic hospital, the best in West-African region is near completion. The project was initiated by the present administration in the state purposely to bring easy access to orthopedic services closer to people and at cheaper rate. We all know that orthopedic cases are the most difficult cases as far as finances are concern. Hospitals rendering such services in the country operate beyond the ability of common man, however with this development, people of the state and beyond will find it easy to go for treatment in case of accident or borne related problems.

Ask any Katsina state worker today he will tell you that Katsina state government under Shema gives the best salary package. While some states could not pay salaries regularly and yet to improve their pay; Katsina gives the best and even pays arrears.

Many states more especially those neighboring Katsina envy the state for the roads network, which cut across rural and urban centers, couple with the best transport system. The Katsina State Transport Authority (KTSTA) is so credible, it pays workers salaries and allowances, it purchases vehicles on monthly bases and yet declares surplus with the 50 percent transport fares cut if compared with charges of privately owned commercial vehicles.

Shema was able to inculcate on himself the habit of transparency and judicious utilization of public funds. He doesn’t allow recklessness on use of funds, that’s why the state is making headway on daily basis, though people and even politicians in the state point accusing finger on him for not recklessly spreading monies. He believes that public funds are public trust. This doesn’t mean that he is not spending for the goodness of his people. A good and recent example was what transcended in this year’s Hajj whereby he gives each and every pilgrim from his state 600 Saudi Riyal the equivalent of about 27,000 naira when some states give 50 or 100 riyals. He did this to cater for his people so that non of them could suffer at the holy land.

Agriculturally, we see in Shema a lot of potentialities. He has countless achievements on agriculture. No state in the federation can boost the allocation of fertilizer to farmers than the Katsina state, even though presently the demand of farmers is difficult to meet even by the federal government.

In fact, these are few from the numerous legacies injected by Shema, hence people even the technocrats see wisdom on Shema’s coming out to contest presidential election under the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The north and Nigeria as a whole needed a sound and charismatic leader who will transform all sectors of the economy if Nigeria is to progress. The country experiences poverty, degradation in electricity, heath, education, agriculture, commerce and other services.

Mustapha writes from No. 42 Gangarawa Malumfashi.