Task before Katsina APC

Now the question is, has this change really permeated down the corridors of other sectors of the political divide either nationwide or in Katsina state? The history of the merger of political parties that formed the APC in Katsina state will be written after the upcoming baptism that will follow in years to come as […]

Now the question is, has this change really permeated down the corridors of other sectors of the political divide either nationwide or in Katsina state? The history of the merger of political parties that formed the APC in Katsina state will be written after the upcoming baptism that will follow in years to come as PMB’s anti-corruption crusade manifests with its attendant consequences across board. Before that time however, history will not be kind to those who know and keep mute while the change mantra is grubbing to identify masterminds of the evil acts that characterized past administrations.
In Katsina state, the gladiators are like the combination of ironic participants that rocked the past and institute corruption, under development and arm twisted processes for their personal interests. Many of these gladiators, now ramming on the throats of innocent voters as promoters of change is quite disturbing and requiring earlier warning from men of conscience.
Prior to the emergence of former President Umar Yar’dua for instance, and during his campaign trail that saw him transverse the width and length of this nation clamoring for votes, he left billions of funds in the coffers of the state under the watchful care of his deputy governor and a more powerful secretary to the government. It is a fact that then former Deputy Governor, Abdullahi Aminchi allowed the then SSG Dr. Mustapha Aminu to steer the realm of affairs of the state unhindered. So many things happened that when PDP won the 2007 elections with former Governor Ibrahim Shema as winner reports of the 2007 transition committee raised several questions that are yet to be answered. Amongst these questions are alleged mismanaged funds which up till date those responsible have not been brought to book.
According to the report released in 2008, fake projects under upgrading of
56 day secondary schools in the state were contracted and the work was never carried out. These fake projects include – apart from the 56 schools – fencing of army barracks in the state and construction of some projects at the Umar Musa Yar’adua University.
Although no sanction was given despite the promise by the former Governor for further investigation and prosecution where necessary, bringing the guilty to book is significant for any change to occur.
Other similar but more damaging atrocities committed within few months during the 2007 campaign were mismanagement of another N2bn funds under so many flimsy and uncorroborated expenditures that were yet to be identified and proven despite the fact that these monies were nor accounted for. This brazen abuse of power will manifest again within the APC in the state. This time around, coercive politics, candidate imposition and direct and outright manipulation of processes became order of the day that the only APC win was the mass popularity of its Presidential candidate than the perception of the party or its candidates at the local level. So pervasive was this corrupt manipulation of processes that today the state is in danger of being misled by the same clique that nearly render it incapacitated during the 2007 campaigns.
Although the danger does not begin and end with the current APC leadership in the state, recent events including the composition of the transition committee, actions or inactions of the current government and other variables in interplay within the state have all combined to paint to worrying picture of what await the destiny of Katsina people in the next four years. Let me begin by asking for the reasons behind the recent order freezing the accounts of the 34 local government council in the state.
Although many may superficially see nothing wrong with that, the questions arises because same government that orders for the freeze has lifted a partial restriction to enable it use N4bn in local government funds for dubious fertilizer and Ramadan feeding. This is not only criminal and diversion of funds; it negates the much propagated promise of change the APC sold to Nigerians.  The worst was the fact that only N4m worth of Ramadan feeding was released to the 28 councils who agreed to sign for the removal of the N120m directive, six councils refused to abide by the illegal directives.
One is left to therefore wonder where the change mantra promised is, as actions like what we are witnessing in Katsina today not only negate the hard earned patriotic stand of President Buhari but it exposes the inculpable damage that his home state may face with a party leadership that has an unexplainable influence on a  Governor they so intentionally worked hard to install. The President owes Katsina people a duty by not allowing such daytime misuse of public resources under his watch.

Abubakar wrote from Danmusa local government secretariat and can be reached at [email protected]