Of vengeful missions in Nasarawa
In the heat of the electoral campaigns, his thugs in a maniacal frenzy pelted the convoy of President Goodluck Jonathan in Lafia on February 7th this year, the state capital, an offence for which he (Al-Makura) was detained and grilled by security agents. A day after the gubernatorial election and just as he was about […]
In the heat of the electoral campaigns, his thugs in a maniacal frenzy pelted the convoy of President Goodluck Jonathan in Lafia on February 7th this year, the state capital, an offence for which he (Al-Makura) was detained and grilled by security agents.
A day after the gubernatorial election and just as he was about being pronounced governor-elect, his thugs (or is it supporters?) invaded Government House, Lafia seeking to forcibly oust the PDP-led government. A week to the hand over date, CPC miscreants as usual descended on the PDP-dominated House of Assembly and ransacked the entire building.
That was not all. At the inauguration of Al-Makura on May 29, his rabble-rousing supporters unleashed mayhem on the state when the Emir of Lafia and the Andoma of Doma, perceived supporters of Akwe Aliyu Doma were roundly humiliated with the Sports Utility Vehicle of the Andoma destroyed beyond repairs.
Since he assumed the reins of power, there has been growing apprehension, palpable fear and general outcry over political persecution, molestation and victimization of those perceived to be acolytes of the former governor.
There must be something terribly wrong in the foundation and character of this country that glorifies and promote error. Or is the nation permanently rigged against sanity? Or how else can one explain the kind of mindless opportunism cum vendetta that currently holds sway in Nasarawa State under the superintendence of Tanko Umaru Al-Makura.
Al-Makura who told the whole world on assumption of office that he inherited a debt of N27billion from the Doma administration, reversed himself last week by saying that the debt was no longer N27b but N30b. So, which one do Nigerians believe? What manner of inconsistency is this?
For the government to deflect all forms of criticisms, often well-founded, and dismiss all queries raised on matters concerning the welfare of the people without any prior considerations, only qualifies it as an aloof, non-responsive entity far removed from the expectations and needs of its electorates.
Those who believe that Al-Makura is on a vendetta mission perhaps premised their conviction on the fact that his administration has been busy upturning some of the well-conceived policies and programmes of the Doma administration so much so that the questions are being asked: what happened to continuity in governance?
In pursuing his vendetta mission against his predecessor, Gov Al-Makura has been frantically weeding out of government those perceived to be close to Doma. So far, about 20 permanent secretaries have been sacked from the state civil service that is badly in need of experienced hands to fast-track the wheel of governance.
Stretching the Doma vendetta to ridiculous heights, the administration has carried out a staff audit exercise targeted at those perceived to be loyal to the former governor. In this politically-motivated exercise, about 7,000 LG staffers have been fired from service, thereby exacerbating the level of poverty and unemployment in the state. Yet, the governor wants the people to believe that he is on a rescue mission.
While other first time governors are busy confronting the challenges of their states and delivering democracy dividends to the people, Al-Makura has been looking for shortcomings of the former administration.
The governor’s inability to come to terms with the overwhelming demands of state matters might not be unconnected with the fact that he has become a personification of confusion, a development that has exposed his soft underbelly. With all his grandstanding during the elections epitomized in fantastic promises, he is beginning to realize that it is easier to make promises than to fulfill them.
It is shocking that the administration’s victimization policy is an all-inclusive one as it does not spare the revered traditional institution. Several traditional rulers whom Al-Makura promised to respect have suddenly become objects of ridicule in the hands of his rabid supporters. With this, the governor has succeeded in alienating himself from a vital segment of the society.
Al-Makura must be reminded of the old adage that says the ‘koboko’ used in flogging the first wife is hanging in the rafters waiting for the second wife. Let him squarely face the task of governance for which he was ‘’elected’’ by the people of the state instead of dissipating energy pursuing vendetta because one day, he too will become an ex-governor.
Mohammed, a public affairs analyst is based in Akwanga, Nasarawa State and can be reached at [email protected].