10 January 2011

By Saka Raji Audu 

Kano is one of the progressive states in Nigeria. Most of the progressive forces come from this part of the country, beginning from the late revolutionary leader, Malam Aminu Kano of blessed memory. Aminu Kano progressive ideology of Democratic Humanism was down to earth against the pro-establishment. It preached justice, fairness and egalitarian society, a society where leaders should be accountable to their subjects. Aminu Kano progressive ideology was so popular that the respect and popularity of Kano as progressive state are hinged on this basic principle. 

The formation of the proscribed Peoples Redemption Party, PRP in the second republic was also based on the grass root acceptance of Aminu Kano political ideology that is mass oriented. Based on this indisputable fact, PRP won most of the elective positions, including governorship in the state, in spite of the powerful might of the party at the centre, the National Party of Nigeria, NPN.  Indeed, after the 1979 general election, the PRP had a landslide victory that produced the late Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed Rimi as the first executive governor of Kano state.  

The progressive record of achievements under Rimi was outstanding. After the completion of his first tenure preparatory for the second term, he had problem with Malam Aminu Kano. As a result of the internal bickering, Rimi left PRP along with other four progressives to join Nigerian Peoples Party, NPP, which according to political observers was not in concomitant with Malam Aminu Kano principle of Democratic Humanism. This triggered political impasse between the disciples of a godfather and a godson. The crisis made Rimi not to see the second term of his governance in spite of his progressive achievements in the state. Likewise, the popularity and respect of Aminu Kano suddenly dwindled in the hand of the same die-hard followers that supported him. Even the late Rimi who was so much cherished and loved as "chanji" could not also come out unscathed. Whatever happened thereafter is now a history and every one knows better. 

It then came to the turn of stultified third republic in 1991 when the proscribed Social Democratic Party, SDP and National Republican Convention, NRC were registered as the two main political parties in Nigeria. The progressives that survived past onslaught jam-packed themselves more in SDP than NRC. Ordinarily, SDP ought to have produced the leadership of the state because of its alleged progressive disposition. However, this was not so. As a result of its consistent internal squabbles, occasioned by anti party activities, some internal forces within the SDP paved the way for its rival, NRC to win that year governorship election on the platter of gold and not minding the unprepared nature of its governorship candidate in the person of Alhaji Kabiru Gaya who is now a serving Senator. As soon as Governor Gaya started his administration with "Inshallahu", the progressives again became disenchanted and disinterested in him. The 1993 political crisis in the country subsequently cut short of Kabiru Gaya administration.  

In 1999, the train of Fourth Republic started again in Nigeria. The Kano Progressives jam-packed and polarized themselves again in both ANPP and PDP. In any case they were more in PDP than ANPP. In May that year, they entrusted the leadership of Kano state in the hands of PDP government under Alhaji (Dr) Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. At the end of Kwankwaso's first tenure, the same progressives that brought him were up in arms with him. In the case of Kwankwaso, the progressive gang up against him because they believed he was not up and doing for the state.  

In April 2003, after another general election, it was not surprised that Kwankwaso could not secure a second mandate, in spite of all the promises made to him by the same progressives that brought him to the corridor of power to deliver Kano to him. In contradistinction to all show of bravados, Kwankwaso lost his second term to a peaceful honourable gentleman of God in person of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau.  

Since Shekarau took the mantle of leadership in 2003, he has been able to inject positive changes in the life of the state. As the people's governor, Malam (Dr) Ibrahim Shekarau is able to entrench people oriented programmes, which have tremendously accelerated peace and progress of the state. In 2007 when Shekarau sought to continue with his good work, some self serving people hiding under the garb of progressives tried to use the same style of "use and dump" politics, which they applied against the late revolutionary leader, Aminu Kano, the late Abubakar Mohammed Rimi, Alhaji Kabiru Gaya and Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso against Malam Ibrahim Shekarau but they could not succeed. In fact, there was nothing 'fetish' they did not do to ensure that Shekarau did not go beyond his first term as in the case of others before him. Still, they failed woefully.  

Now that with God's assistance, Shekarau is at the verge of completing his two terms as the first Kano State democratic governor to achieve such feat, some of the close associate that claim to like him have now come out with their true colour of political treachery and betrayal. Indeed, some of these uncertain followers of Malam who believe they have cornered 'enough' resources to themselves through his influence are daily 'stabbing' him from the back as reward of being honest with them. But why should the good people of Kano that are so much respected by the outside world for their political sagacity allow the treacherous elements in the state to sometimes have their ways in the name of politics often beats one's imagination and knowing full well that politics without principle is like tea without sugar.  

Treachery, in whatever way one looks at it, is evil and unacceptable in Islam. It is nothing but deceit and betrayal of trust of which the Glorious Qur'an describes the actors as "Munafiqoons", meaning "Hypocrites." This ten letter word is religiously frowned at and it is better for a man to show you that he does not like you than to pretend he does while he stabs you from the back. After all, it is often said that the enemy one knows is better than the saint one does not know.   

Hypocrite is a person who pretends to have moral standards or opinions that they do not actually have. The character traits of hypocrites are like that of an envious person who spends his days destroying himself by feeling sorry for that which he could not achieve but others have. He feels sorry and regretful and desires all people to live in misery and infliction while plotting to deprive them of their happiness. Envious make the fortune of others their goal. They apply every method to deprive others their fortune or talents. They are prey to their lonely wants without realising it. The envious manifest their evil intentions by spreading rumours, accusations and lies about the envied ones. If they feel that their lusts are not satisfied by doing this, they may even go as far as to encroach upon their freedom or even deprive them of the right to live just to fulfill their endless want. 

Again, As a matter of fact, we should not forget in hurry what our Glorious Qur'an says about the hypocrites (Munafiqoons). They are indeed liars and truly evil are their deeds. They believed, and then they rejected faith. So, a seal was set on their hearts because they understand not. They are as worthless as hollow, unable to stand on their own. They think that every cry is against them. They are the enemies and so beware of them. The curse of Allah is on them. How are they deluded from the truth, only to now pretend that all is over? 

Finally, the good people of Kano should understand that between them and God, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has done wonderfully well for them and they must ensure that such wonderful achievements do not diminish soon when he leaves. The only way these could be preserved is to elect a man that has no trace of betrayal and treacherous intent against the outgoing hard working Governor Ibrahim Shekarau. The future of Kano is in the hands of her people. They can decide to mar or make it, depending on the person they decide as the next Governor of the state. A stitch in time, they say, saves nine.

Saka Raji Audu writes from Kano and can be reached on his email: sakaraj@yahoo.com

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