Zamfara: Let the truth be told

I watched with keen interest, recent interview with the executive governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Abdul Azeez Yari Abubakar over a popular Hausa television channel, the Farin Wata, via Startimes platform last week. The forty five minutes interview which was anchored by an arch journalist, Shuaibu Mungadi, raised very critical and fundamental issues that should […]

I watched with keen interest, recent interview with the executive governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Abdul Azeez Yari Abubakar over a popular Hausa television channel, the Farin Wata, via Startimes platform last week. The forty five minutes interview which was anchored by an arch journalist, Shuaibu Mungadi, raised very critical and fundamental issues that should be of serious concern to every citizen of Zamfara State.

Prior to that interview, I could be qualified as one of the most tenacious critics of governor Yari who I always love to hate with passion. My dislike for Yari was born not out of any personal grounds but due to the widespread and incessant outcry and condemnation of by a section of the citizenry. He was severally described by his critics as pompous, insensitive, arrogant, wicked and unfriendly. Consequently, policies of his administration were outrightly made unpopular irrespective of their substance and people oriented posture.

Abdul Azzeez Yari was accused of truancy; he was accused of insensitivity to the sufferings of his people; he was accused of highhandedness and bastardization of the civil service, twisting and manipulating the legislators; he was accused of sidelining the politicians and short changing the masses among several other acts of political dictatorship and aggrandizement.

Interestingly, unlike most of his counterparts who constantly dominate newspapers, Radio and Television headlines either blowing the trumpet of their stewardship or responding to allegations, Governor Yari decided to keep mum and ignore the critics. However, that rare interview with Mungadi did not only took his critics to the cleaners, it also succeeded in shading a beaming light that bares the mischievous tendencies of his critics for all to see. On the other hand, even his staunchest critics, including myself were made to grasp the facts and realities on ground.

For the very first time, we all understand the wisdom behind his frequent journeys outside the state which actually, accorded him the opportunity to meet with stakeholders to discuss the modalities on how to tackle the persistent insecurity tormenting the citizens of the state. We all know that the Service Chiefs of all security segments in Nigeria are not based in Zamfara State hence the need to constantly travel to meet them in Abuja.

We have also understood the facts surrounding the labor disputes with the government. That while workers in Zamfara embarked on strike over non implementation of annual increment of their wages, minimum wage to local government employees and nonpayment of pension and gratuity, their counterparts in Kogi Benue, Imo, Abia, Osun, Nassarawa States among others were busy negotiating with their respective governments over several months of unpaid salaries.

It has become clear that all the condemnations, the calumny, the innuendos the blackmail and false alarms were actually the handiwork of few unpatriotic and disgruntled political imbeciles who tend to capitalize on the gullibility of Zamfara masses to polarize the state with a view to distracting the leadership.

We therefore urge our governor to remain focused and intensify such media appearances in order to address every contentious issue affecting the state. He should also support and empower his public relations and image makers to operate more efficiently. The state media outfits should also be encouraged and supported to bridge possible communication gap between the government and the governed.

 

Iliyasu Maikano Anka, Sokoto.