Politics without bitterness, please

This nobleness was what initially drew the attention of the late President Umar Musa Yar’adua to lure him (Shema) back to Katsina State in order to tap his abundant excellence for the development of the state. In fact, before the 2007 elections, the governor never indicated his interest to run for the governorship of the […]

This nobleness was what initially drew the attention of the late President Umar Musa Yar’adua to lure him (Shema) back to Katsina State in order to tap his abundant excellence for the development of the state.

In fact, before the 2007 elections, the governor never indicated his interest to run for the governorship of the state. It was the late president, having observed his competence, through his contributions to the success of his government (late Yar’adua’s) that he decided to drag him into the race; the rest is now history.

Ever since his emergence in 2007 and subsequent landslide victory recorded during the 2011 elections, the people of the state have found a reliable leader whose pre-occupation has been development, development and development.

From one of the educationally backward states, within the first four years Katsina came under him, it has metamorphosed into one of the fast developing states in terms of education, agriculture, infrastructure, and peace.

But governance as we all know is never a one man business. It is a combination of like minds working for a single purpose, towards a single direction. In 2007, like many other enterprises, Governor Shema experimented with several hands to ensure the attainment of the goals he set for himself and the state. An experiment that was successful despite the transgressing of some of the principal actors during that era, a matter every Katsina man is aware of when some of these lieutenants, so- called close associates, nearly caused the government its victory and goodwill from the people.

This manifested during the recently concluded elections when except for the governorship, 90% of other elected offices went to the opposition party. What caused this was not the failure of the confidence the people had in the governor, it was simply a message that those components that were voted out have been thorns in the path of the visions the governor had for the state, and they were therefore voted out.

It is in this light that the recent outburst and campaign of calumny by some selfish groups in the state came to the fore. After the election victory that heralded the emergence of President Jonathan, each state was asked to present nominations for ministerial appointment, Katsina was not an exception.

Like many states, the struggle to be part of the ministers came with controversies, but unlike other states, in Katsina the governor decided after lots of consultation that immediate past minister, Muhammed Sada, be re-nominated to continue. His choice was not a selfish one. Even before the 1999 elections, and subsequently in 2007, Sada was one of the pillars of political movements that became an emerging force within the political space in the state.

This did not go down well with a group of people in the state, hence the launching of campaigns of calumny against his person and the personality of Governor Ibrahim Shema. But a poser to this group, the Katsina network is: is there contribution during the recent campaign an investment that must be reaped with the sweat of the good people of Katsina State, or was it a genuine contribution to a cause they believed in?

Should the confidence reposed on the governor and Minister Sada not be a pride to all Katsina people that for once a president has found confidence in the ability of one of them? Should Katsina network not be in the fore front of being identified with a great son whose vision and contribution is recognized by none other person than the first citizen? Or was Katsina network the only NGO that worked for the enthronement of democracy in the state?

For those who did not follow the campaign, many prominent organisations such as the Shema Concerned Civil Servants Forum, Shema Foundation, Shema Partnership which is available in each local council, apart from elders, party exco, traditional institutions, academia, non indigenes, students and religious scholars, all these have worked harder for the success of Governor Shema without recourse to blackmail and intimidation.

This is because their contribution was borne out of their beliefs in the ability of the governor to further better the lives of their people through the various development activities he has started, and not because they want to be considered for any political appointment.

It therefore behoves on all, that while democracy embraces the right to express ones opinion, it however expects constructive, productive and selfless contribution that could help attain greatness and not destruction.

The recent stand of the Katsina network is merely selfish, unproductive and destructive in nature. Their stand over the re-appointment of the minister and subsequent opposition to the government of the state can best be described as the outburst of relevance- seeking group lacking legitimacy and support.

Kagara can be reached@ [email protected]