Short & Sharp
El-Rufai: ‘Carve-out’ houses still standing in Kaduna? I’m probably the biggest fan of the current governor of Kaduna State, where I was born and bred. I couldn’t be prouder to declare my love for the state, for better or worse. I mean, we survived the political disaster that was the immediate-past governor. But I am […]
El-Rufai: ‘Carve-out’ houses still standing in Kaduna?
I’m probably the biggest fan of the current governor of Kaduna State, where I was born and bred. I couldn’t be prouder to declare my love for the state, for better or worse. I mean, we survived the political disaster that was the immediate-past governor. But I am shocked to see ‘carve-out’ houses still standing! For those who don’t know, ‘carve-out’ houses, a term no doubt coined by corrupt civil servants, refers to the nasty practice of cutting out space/land form GRA houses and selling them off to the highest bidder, most times themselves. Hard-working, upright civil servants suffer most when ‘big men’ buy such land, in most cases leaving them with no space for basic ventilation. Please, dear governor El-Rufai, this problem needs your attention, as it is injustice at the highest level. Thank you.
Mai Shuni Abubakar, Tudun Wada, Kaduna, Kaduna State.
Re: Shema, Masari and a legacy for Katsina
In your edition of the past week, one A. S. Uba who wrote from Abuja, not even from Katsina, “recalled with nostalgia” what he considered as achievements of Shema’s regime, but expressed his apparent disappointment on slow pace of Masari’s government. My prayer from the outset is that such an article is not paid for. I think it is too early for any sane person to start criticizing Masari or praising Shema. It is high time writers respected the ethics and code of conduct of their profession.
Bishir Dauda, Sabuwar Unguwa, Katsina.
Local government workers vs ‘dividends of democracy’
The importance of local government workers in the democratic process cannot be over-emphasized. This very significant population of the citizenry plays a vital role in enlightenment and mobilization of the electorate at the grassroots and participates fully in the voting process among other ad hoc duties. But in spite of all these, local government personnel are totally sidelined in terms of appointments, and other social mobility processes in general. So, I’m pleading with His Excellency, Katsina State Governor, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari and other relevant political stakeholders to be fair to us and carry us along. At least, in our various local positions, let merit, seniority and qualification be the main criteria for occupying local government managerial posts. We look forward to seeing genuine rationalization in line with the ‘change’ mantra, please.
Muhammadu Na Ta’ala Daura, Daura, Katsina State.
Amaechi’s screening and the shame it has brought
To say Nigeria as a country is a veritable madhouse would be a cliché. Then let’s not zoom in on the Senate, where we will find that last week Thursday they finally screened former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi along with four others. The drama that ensued in now legend, but the Senators have embarrassed themselves and betrayed the people’s trust. The least they can do to redeem themselves and the image of the red chamber is to clear Amaechi without any further delay. The headache that the issue has unleashed on Nigerians must stop. To well-meaning Nigerians, the failure to confirm Amaechi is the highest level of double standards. Even if he is cleared by the time this sees print, it wouldn’t reduce the shame the whole scenario has brought upon us.
Collins Okoye, Gwarinpa, Abuja.