Tales of that Jonathan’s visit to Kano

Both leaders, the president and his host, made simplicity their watch word and shocked the administrative bottlenecks that usually accompanies this kind of high profile visits. From the obviously relaxed security arrangements, the use of less sirens and noise, the pace of the convoy on the roads, down to the language of discussions at all […]

Both leaders, the president and his host, made simplicity their watch word and shocked the administrative bottlenecks that usually accompanies this kind of high profile visits. From the obviously relaxed security arrangements, the use of less sirens and noise, the pace of the convoy on the roads, down to the language of discussions at all venues, it was evident that the entire day validated the notion that a leader is nothing but the servant of his people.

Definitely, the visit was not a throw-back to the Kano of our memory, when President Olusegun Obasanjo, the ‘do- or- die’ president visited during the dying days of Governor Kwankwaso. It was not that Kano, shortly before the 2003 polls or thereabout, when there was shooting in the air around the palace simply to ward off anti- PDP variants, who were opposed to the visit of the president. It was a new Kano, a new people and a new governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau.

It is indeed true that before this August visit, some mischief minds or vain minds had contrived the speculation that the people of Kano State were unhappy with the proposed visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the ancient city.

To validate their speculation, they  quickly recalled the immediate past, starting from the battle of succession that marked the ailing days of the Yar’adua Presidency to the current debate on zoning- which they accused Jonathan of seeking to acquire by use of his incumbency, at the expense of northern candidates and the entire northern aspiration. Apart from these speculations, there was nothing really on ground.

What were noticeable, however, were the elements of the internal stress and wrangling among the PDP playmakers, and of course, that which exists between the PDP and the ANPP in the state.

In these two cases, the Dr Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso factor was rabid as he was keen to prove to the universe and in particular, Dr Jonathan, that he was about the most successful PDP member in the state or that the entire party was right in his kitty and anybody who is out to do business with the party would only succeed via his endorsement.

His supporters were everywhere on a day other thugs had elected to stay at home in order to give peace a chance. In fact, persons loyal to him were the only, or the majority of gangs of thugs witnessed throughout the visit of Mr. President. They were sole on the loose on a day it was agreed by common sense that playing thug -politics was inimical to the entire visit.

They were there right from the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport where a brief reception was held for the president, down to the Emir’s palace, the AKTH and the commissioning of the substation at Kombotso.  From the security mess at the airport, where the convoy of the governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, was delayed for a few minutes by the same thugs with their rowdy showings to the other less conspicuous displays.

Thank God, the Presidential visit has ended well, despite all.  A lot of credit, however, must go to the maturity of the host governor, who despite these backgrounds and despite being a fellow 2011 presidential aspirants, and despite being one of the contrary views to the management of the country in the hands of the PDP leadership, he went to every length to arrange a wonderful reception in honuor of the president and in honour of the historical reputation of Kano as a good host.

One of the few remarkable prices Shekarau paid on that occasion was to personally dissuade his own followers from the occasion in the interest of peace. Even the number of aides that partook in the launch at the Government House was limited and few. In fact, a few days before the visit, the government made it clear that the coming of the president was not to be politicized along party lines as it was not a political affair.

The State Government held that Dr Jonathan was not coming to Kano as a PDP officer, but as the President of all Nigerians, hence the need for an environment that is conducive to the purpose of the visit.. This was done to avoid a possible clash between the supporters of the two leading political parties in the state, and stave off anything that will mar the success of the day.

That the visit was so ordinary in colour was not in doubt. It was straight to its purpose. This was not unexpected of the guest and the host given their antecedents and shared history. About a week or so ago, the entire campaign directors of the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organization, led by Dr Sarki Tafida, visited the state and surprisingly, called at the Government House, Kano to pay their due respect- At that meeting, the foundation of the peaceful conduct of the visit was laid.

There, these two politicians reaffirmed their distinctive orders. For, here are two politicians, who had their eyes on the same trophy but could still spare time to consider the worthiness of a greater Nigeria. These men, we were told, still had time to exchange letters intimating each other of their ambitions and wishing each other well.

Today, as we all celebrate the success of that visit, its implications for the peace in 2011 have continued to loomed one of which is that people like Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and Dr Jonathan can in fact, dismantle our hostage mentality with their uncommon simplicity and fair play. That statesmen are made by their painful choices to be on the side of the majority of the people and on the side of history.

And as Malam Ibrahim Shekarau rightly attested in that meeting with Jonathan’s team, “This is exactly what we pray to see and this is what we preach. Regardless of our differences in political platform, we are brothers, we are sisters. Anybody who is struggling to lead is not struggling to lead an empty territory; he is struggling to lead the teeming population of Nigeria. It is the same common poll that we are all struggling to lead, and therefore, the process needs to be neat, respectful and with all the sense of responsibility that it ought to carry”.

Hillary Alechenu, an ANPP member, writes from Brigade Quarters in Kano State