Memo to Governor: How to manage Kaduna’s expectations

But when we heard that before your inauguration you went round the Makera area where the industries in the state are sited, we all heaved a deep sigh of relief because, as we all know, you are a man of unrivalled capacity for work, with the mastery of administrative leadership. We also took a look […]

But when we heard that before your inauguration you went round the Makera area where the industries in the state are sited, we all heaved a deep sigh of relief because, as we all know, you are a man of unrivalled capacity for work, with the mastery of administrative leadership. We also took a look at your five-point agenda (Education & health, security, public service reform, development of infrastructure and promotion of agriculture and food security) which was encapsulated in your “let’s make Kaduna great again” campaign mantra.
Your appeal was overwhelming that even the nickname ‘Rusau’ (a version of ‘Demolition Man’) that was invented to blacken you was converted into positive sloganeering. However, it is how you manage people’s expectations that will make or mar your administration. The manner in which PDP governed the state in the last 16 years discomfited the people of the state because the regime did not improve lives or even attempt to facelift the architectural features of the state.
Your Excellency, it might interest you to hear this conversation which I eavesdropped on. A week after your victory, I overheard a colleague in the office telling another that their house rent was due since March but she and her husband decided to halt the renewal since they know definitely that you are going to demolish part of that house to expand the road. This woman leaves in Badarawa. Again, the next day when I came to the office looking a little dusty, some people in the office noticed and declared that the era of muddy or dusty roads is over because you are going to tar all the roads and pave walkways. That is the extent of people’s expectations of your regime. People living in the slums and shanties across the state all harbour this view.
I am much concerned about how you will be able to manage these expectations, given the bleak nature of the state’s treasury. It’s not everybody who will understand that you took over during difficult times, when the state is hugely indebted, when federal monthly grant which the state solely depends upon is no longer forthcoming as the price of oil has crashed. And the leakages in the state’s revenue are too porous and too many that requires a systematic approach to block it and which cannot happen overnight.
There is another channel, social media, and among whom are mostly youth like me who don’t know the meaning of guarded utterances because of exuberance. I believe you won’t make the same mistake made by your predecessor, who couldn’t manage the expectations and interests of this sector and which contributed to, among other things his downfall. You have to be ready for criticism and divergent views because the ability to be amenable consist in giving due weight to people’s needs, expectations and their critique.
There are some immediate issues. Engaging in serious construction of flyovers, overhead bridges and culverts for drainage and generator-powered streetlights is something of priceless value. Also as you know, Kaduna is in dire need of roads, not the ostentatious one we are seeing presently from Kawo to NDA, but serious projects that will unchain the habitual gridlock that has become the norm in the metropolis. Another is the Zaria water project, which I would like to humbly request you hasten the completion, unlike the previous administration which over the years had been giving false promises.    
It is my considered view that out of those lofty and ambitious plans and programs contain therein your manifesto, if these issues I raised can be prioritized and addressed in the shortest time, everybody in the state will be happy and I can assure you that by 2019 you will have a nod to carry on, both on social media and in the real world.
Maigamo wrote from Kakuri, Kaduna State.