Re: Katsina – 2015 governorship separates Shema, Tata

It is on record that by 2015, Governor Shema would have completed his constitutionally approved two terms limit as a governor of Katsina State. What is now the yardstick for competing for the governorship seat with Tata? It is worthy of note that since Tata started his political propaganda, no official response has emanated from […]

It is on record that by 2015, Governor Shema would have completed his constitutionally approved two terms limit as a governor of Katsina State. What is now the yardstick for competing for the governorship seat with Tata? It is worthy of note that since Tata started his political propaganda, no official response has emanated from Katsina state government because he does not deserve any. This is simply because doing so will dignify what has been termed in certain quarters as rascality.

It  should be recalled that on January 6, 2012 edition of Daily Trust,   Tata said in an interview  that he spent N80 million from his personal income to mobilize voters for President Goodluck Jonathan in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area  during last year’s presidential election. According to him, ‘’Jonathan/Sambo campaign committee in my local government was only given N2.5 million to mobilize for vote for the President. I don’t know how you could win election in Katsina state, where Buhari was standing against Jonathan, with that amount of money. I am telling you, I spent over N80 million on that day in my local government, nobody gave me a penny’’.

The propaganda in which Tata is involved in is not about name-calling, or being an apostle of change in Katsina State,  as it was claimed by Tsauri and his cohorts.  The question is for Tata and those who are defending him to come out publicly and tell the people the source of his riches. What the public knows about him is that he is a civil servant, a Level 14 officer, an Assistant Director, currently serving in the Ministry of Defence. Where he got millions of naira which he claims to be spending needs to be explained.

The story about the number of mosques Tsauri has built is not a justification for him not to be investigated; nobody will be allowed again to use religion, either as a Muslim or Christian to commit atrocities. If an armed robber spends money for the public, should we celebrate him as if he were a hero? God forbid!  Never in Katsina State. When a man prepares to dance a naked dance, he should be prepared to endure the shame.

Tsauri, in the publication said, ‘’I don’t know anything that Ibrahim Shema did for Katsina before he became the governor. What qualifies him to be the governor of the state?  If Shema, who contributed nothing to the development of the state can aspire for the seat, I think I also have a legitimate right to contest. I know I am capable of performing better than Shema and that is why I think it is a right for me to aspire for the seat come 2015.’’

Definitely Tsauri is better than Shema in several ways. Shema does not buy votes with money, but to Tsauri, N80 million is a meager amount to spend to win an election in a local government. Before becoming Katsina state governor, Shema was a successful international lawyer, an illustrious son of Katsina state without any blemish in his career of service, which alone qualified him to be a governor of the state. And since he became the governor of the state in 2007, he has lived up to expectation. For instance, the records of Katsina state development from 1987, when it  was created to 2007 [20 years] when Barrister Shema become the governor,  indicate that there were 255 secondary schools in the state, 28 roads totaling 543.3 km were constructed by all the administrations during the period. Also, the total numbers of housing units built during the period were 632. Similarly, 58 buses were purchased over a period of 20 years for Katsina State Transport Authority (KTSTA).

However, within four years (2007-2010) that represents Governor Shema’s first term in office, 142 additional secondary schools were established; 30 new roads totaling 519.04km were constructed; 1,772 houses were built, 84 new buses were purchased for KSTA with insurance for passengers; free education at all levels, payment of enhanced teachers salary structure; and free medical care for dialysis patients, malaria treatment, pregnant mothers, during deliveries and caesarean sections among other laudable people oriented projects.

Also, it is interesting to note that Katsina state government, under the leadership of Governor Shema, has been running a transparent and prudent administration. While other states with lesser achievements are weighed down with debts, internal and external, the reverse is the case with Governor Shema’s administration. He has transformed Katsina state beyond imagination with multitudes of development projects without any debt overhang.

There is the need for the relevant government agencies to investigate Tsauri and his claims. It is only in Nigeria that a civil servant on the payroll of the federal government engages in frivolous spendings without anyone questioning the source of his wealth. It is only in this nation that a serving government worker will embark on political campaign three years to the electioneering period, yet nothing is being done about it.

However Tsauri needs to know that Katsina state is a citadel of learning; the citizens are knowledgeable and are not ready to mortgage their future for money. When the time comes to decide who will succeed Shema as governor in 2015, they would choose another illustrious son who would not offer money to buy their votes.

Aliyu, Katsina Local Government, Katsina Government Area of Katsina State