GOV. RAMALAN YERO!! KADUNA POLITICS AND GODFATHERISM!!! There came Ramalan Yero, whom many had thought, going by the circumstance of his emergence, would continue with the projects started by his predecessor, at least infrastructurally. Unfortunately, ever since his commissioning, governor Yero had succeeded in ensuring the state attained a historical feat of been the only state with four governors — three of whom are governing in proxy. Some of the monumental achievements of his first eight months included nominating his father to chair a board of a federal neuropsychiatric hospital in the state. For a system that will appoint Salisu Buhari (Former Speaker Federal House of Representatives), who fogged certificates to win an electoral position, to chair a governing council of a federal university, appointing a governor’s father to chair any board is less a mediocrity. The 560 million naira subsidy reinvestment and empowerment programme (SURE P) funds that disappeared without any sort of explanation marked another turning point in defining the kind of government on board. A money meant, though without any rationale behind it, for complimenting developments. While the state is yet to recover from such abuses of human power exhibited by the governor, another naked cynicism was displayed. Withdrawing state funds (estimated to be around 28bn naira) meant for developmental projects in the name of paying the vice President certain debt the state is owing him is the highest form of political rascality and leadership vulgarity. One shouldn’t be surprised because we are in a country of all possibilities. Impossibility, positively or otherwise, is never greeted with less paucity by must Nigerians. From its inception, Yero’s administration is one that never shows any clear sense of focus nor logical direction, but corrosive servile form of flattery. It has been very slow and inept from the word go. Worst still, even more slower and disconnected from the masses as it matures daily. There has not been notable wills and intentions in justifying the trust placed upon it by the ever reluctant and status quo massaged state citizens. The era of Yero, in the last eight months, had succeeded in serving only the interests of godfathers and elites within and outside the state. Notable amongst is the vice President who, aided by no functional responsibility except attending cocktail parties and commissioning of ghost projects, is always curiously interested on how a cent is managed in the state account. Supported by his lack of political experience and weak disposition as a leader, the governor always succumb to whatever the demands of the vice President are, even if they mean milking the state empty. Recent happenings within the state shows that the governor’s dad must endorse whatever proxy– projects to be issued for one to be sure of his guaranteed share of the jamboree. How low these people had made governance and power intoxicate them is beyond one’s ability to conceive. While states like Kano are putting eternal efforts to advance the state in all angles, Kaduna, which many northern States previously looked up to is fast dwindling economically and infrastructurallly. It’s an abuse of State prowess to state here that as large a city Kaduna is, there are only two major dual road linkages. The third , which billions had been sinked into, is the Eastern bypass which is yet to be fully operational. Even the minor dual roads not linking to other states are less available. For a city that is long due for expansion and which the government, over the years, had maintained reluctant stand to attend to, the pseudo Lagos traffic that’s becoming a permanent imperil in the city should be anything but surprising. The few individuals that had showed the desire to expand the city hardly got any government backing. For example, there were new government layouts at Barakallahu and Rigachikun areas of the State issued to individuals by Makarfi’s administration, but when Namadi came on board, together with the Nigerian Airforce authority, contrived to claimed the lands. Till date, individuals’ properties worth billions are at their custody. Denying the city a chance to be de-congested and expanded for good. The story isn’t any different today, as there are many instances of such where the state government would’ve impacted meaningfully, but have failed to do so on ground of visionless stand and satisfying the elitist class. It’s also the same in Zaria and other suburbs of the state, if not even worst. The furore that rocked the state assembly over the last few weeks, leading to the speaker’s impeachment attempt, is evidence of the crack within the top setup. Yes, the tenure may be young, but the scandals already rocking it are typical manifestations of bleak days ahead. However one may look at it, it’s high time governor Yero get himself out of the cusp of Namadi’s tantrum. Leadership and governance are not a family nor cliche affairs. He must unbond himself from the intoxication his political godfather suffered from while in charge of the state. If all that’s happening within the state, as others are claiming, though not justifiable, are because his government is too young to get its acts together, I wonder how long will it take him to start executing meaningful projects. There’s no better time for the governor to paint himself gold as now, but he must first realize the task ahead of him and by making himself a free civic entity. A word they said, is enough for the wise. Ishmeel Kasim
Posted on: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 20:25:10 +0000
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