The CPC maelstrom in Kano
Admittedly, both the ANPP and PDP appear to have exhausted their good will and the emergence of the CPC appears to be the long-awaited opportunity for change. Ever since he ditched the PDP and joined the CPC as a gubernatorial aspirant, the son of the late Military Head of State, Mohammed Abacha, has been pulling […]
Admittedly, both the ANPP and PDP appear to have exhausted their good will and the emergence of the CPC appears to be the long-awaited opportunity for change. Ever since he ditched the PDP and joined the CPC as a gubernatorial aspirant, the son of the late Military Head of State, Mohammed Abacha, has been pulling crowds across the 44 local government councils of Kano State. The aspirant, who has so far visited five councils in continuation of his campaign tour, found himself literally mobbed by thousands of supporters that trooped out to welcome him. At a point, Mohammed was speechless because he was openly overwhelmed by such demonstration of love for him by the people. In fact, the youths are among his major political support base. They have a strong political faith in him as their perceived symbol of generational change, which is now a global reality. Women, small and medium-scale businessmen are also among those rooting for his aspiration to become the next democratically elected governor of Kano State.
The fact that the youths, women and small-scale business groups rank among his support base significantly underscores the challenges of survival facing these social groups. With the death of middle class, it is not hard to notice why Mohammed’s agenda to address the needs of these vulnerable groups is winning their hearts. As part of his commitment to tackle the challenges of poverty, Mohammed Abacha has appointed a committee of experts to advise him on the strategies to effectively meet the needs of these social groups. The CPP gubernatorial aspirant is particularly worried over why the vast majority of the people are wallowing in abject and grinding poverty.
Kano State is traditionally the centre of commerce and trade and even before the advent of Western education, it remained their primary source of incomes. However, with the introduction of the so-called economic reforms of the former Obasanjo administration, which was a text book approach to the realities of the challenges facing ordinary Nigerians, the people of Kano State began feeling the pinch. According to a recent report by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), 835 industries have closed down in the country as a result of the harsh operating economic environment caused largely by the so-called economic reforms introduced by the former President Obasanjo administration.
As a historical centre of commerce and trade, Kano State took a direct hit from the consequences of these hostile economic policies. With the collapse of many small and medium scale industries, thousands have been rendered jobless while hardworking entrepreneurs saw the policy taking the bread out of their mouths. With majority of the people reliant on trade for a living, you can imagine the implications of collapsed textile and other industries in the state. Government contracts are not an alternative either because they usually trap small businessmen into bank debts from which they may hardly recover.
Since he declared his aspiration to run as a gubernatorial candidate, Mohammed has focused on how to tackle these social and economic challenges facing the people of Kano State. In fact, it is in line with these commitments that he set up experts committee to carry out feasibility studies on how to tackle these issues by comparing the methods used by other countries that succeed in this regard. As the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy remarked, “If you cannot provide for the many that are poor, you cannot protect the few that are rich.” Indeed this fact clearly informs the decision of Mohammed to commit his agenda to addressing challenges of poor education, collapsed industries, unemployment, poverty, hunger, disease and lack of access to good and affordable medical care by the ordinary people.
Speaking during his campaign tour that so far took him to Gwale, Garin Malam, Kura, Warawa and Dawakin Kudu local governments, Mohammed openly expressed regret that there are cases where patients sleep on hospitals floors because of overcrowding. According to him, a healthcare system that deteriorates to this level is not a comfortable situation in any country that professes to practice democracy. Apart from access to good drugs, he is also concerned why many patients give up the hope of going to public hospitals because of these frustrations and instead submit themselves to quacks who may endanger their lives even further.
On education, which is another area of his priority, the CPC gubernatorial aspirant said education is the foundation of development and any nation that ignores this reality is doing so at its own peril. He expressed concern at how in some cases a single class is crowded with 500 pupils or students instead of 32. Describing this situation as unacceptable, Mohammed said education is one of his critical areas of focus and that he is working with experts on the most effective strategies to restore the quality of education.
However, he acknowledged that the quality of education cannot be detached from the quality of the teachers that can make or mar the system. Addressing his supporters, Mohammed Abacha told them of his unwavering commitment to reverse the sorry state of education, not only in terms of poor infrastructure but also the quality of teachers that run the system. With the CPC platform and well-laid out strategies for change, Mohammed seems poised to represent the mood and momentum of change, which makes his aspiration appealing to thousands of youths who feel galvanized by his personal commitment to their cause.
Fagge wrote from 104, Yahaya Road, Kaduna