Yarima’s deadly agenda in Zamfara
But whereas in those days it was a majority ANPP resisting the siege mentality of a PDP minority, this time the equation has been reversed. Following a master stroke of political sagacity by Governor Mahmud Shinkafi soon after succeeding Ahmed Sani Yarima, the PDP became the party of the people of Zamfara, bringing together the […]
But whereas in those days it was a majority ANPP resisting the siege mentality of a PDP minority, this time the equation has been reversed. Following a master stroke of political sagacity by Governor Mahmud Shinkafi soon after succeeding Ahmed Sani Yarima, the PDP became the party of the people of Zamfara, bringing together the mainstream of the old ANPP and PDP and leaving the ANPP a mere shadow of its former stature under a bewildered Senator Ahmed Yarima. Since then, the senator has been at wits end adjusting to the reality of being out of power.
It is remarkable that despite his previous messianic command of the hearts and mind of the people of Zamfara, the former governor has no answer to his successor’s subtle strategy of replacing populism with development-oriented politics, thereby discrediting Yarima as a promoter of personality cultism. Perhaps out of exasperation, Senator Sani Yarima has resorted to destabilizing the Shinkafi administration as if to destroy what he cannot control. Potentially riotous incidents have erupted around the senator on most of his visits to the state since 2007. In the latest incident, Senator Yarima was the spearhead and ignition spark as he mobilized irate mobs all the way from Sokoto and environs in a provocative procession into Gusau, instead of keeping to the route by-passing the town centre to the airstrip venue outside the town approved by the police.
Video coverage of the deadly mayhem in Gusau showed a preponderance of irate youths wielding all manner of dangerous weapons and shouting abusive slogans in the procession he led into the state capital. It was tempting to conclude that the stated purpose of launching the ANPP exco and presenting Abdulaziz Yari as flag-bearer was secondary.
There was also no attempt by Senator Yarima and even the supposedly elderly and responsible Chief Ume Ezeoke, among other ANPP chieftains in the mob procession, to discourage or disarm the hordes of thugs before or after their forceful invasion of Gusau. It was as if they derived sadistic satisfaction from unleashing anarchy. For most citizens of Zamfara State, what is disturbing is the apparent refusal of Senator Yarima to acknowledge the qualitative advantage of development politics over his own legacy of material welfarism.
At his rallies, Yarima repeatedly reminds people of his bus and motorcycle hand-outs. Impoverished people would always prefer such instant but temporary palliatives but this cannot be a sincere or sensible approach to the entrenched underdevelopment which has made Zamfara State among the most backward in Nigeria.
It is also inhuman to adopt a violent method of rejecting the new political dispensation in the state, especially when it is the lives and property of innocent people that will be jeopardized.
The fact that Yarima has relocated his family to Sokoto and Abuja adds a selfishly sinister dimension to the adoption of anarchy to challenge the Shinkafi PDP administration. But the peace dividend provided by Governor Shinkafi’s pragmatic consolidation of Zamfara State into one political vehicle which also connects to the national grid of governance, patronage and development is the perfect environment all citizens of the state have been cherishing since 2008.
The development of the state’s vast mineral resources now in progress will surely create considerable job opportunities apart from generating revenue. As the supposed initiator of revival of Shari’a in the state, Yarima should be aware that our people have always been pious Muslims and have jealously upheld their spiritual heritage for decades. Today, people look back and conclude that the problem in Zamfara State has been the absence of God-fearing leadership, rather than irreligious citizenry.
It should be instructive to Senator Yarima that Governor Shinkafi has earned the voluntary endorsement and encouragement of virtually all respected and prominent political leaders in the state, leaving for Yarima an unimpressive clique of cronies and misguided youths who cannot see beyond their noses.
It seems that Yarima regarded these meaningful transformations in governance as a threat to his personal political empire and is determined to make it difficult, if not impossible, for Governor Shinkafi to succeed by undermining his political authority and the security of the state. As the 2011 elections approach, the people of Zamfara State must brace up for more acts of desperation from the Yarima group but they must pray hard and remain steadfast in supporting the Shinkafi administration to sustain the welcome focus on people-oriented development which will ensure future posterity for all. Senator Yarima’s politics of personality and intimidation cannot stand the test of time.
Hassan writes from Gusau