By Abdu Labaran, DG Media, Government House, Katsina
Sometime in the 80’s, General Babangida, then Head of State, appointed a committee to repair all Teaching Hospitals in the country.
In its Wisdom, the committee then appointed General Remawa (rtd),now late, as chairman and Alhaji Garba Mani ‘Yangora as Secretary. Nothing wrong with that, or so it would seem, especially as Alhaji Garba was then working as a budding Head of Department in Kano Government House. But not to a Bakane, as both appointees are Katsinawa in the eyes of the Kanawa, not minding that Alhaji Garba Mani ‘Yangora was born and live all his life in Kano.
His father and Mother moved to Kano long long before he was born. The Kanawas raised all hells over the constitution of the committee because, in their worldview, it was dominated by Katsinawas. Alhaji Garba Mani ‘Yangora was eventually dropped, and retired General Remawa, remaind the Chairman of the Committee.
Back to the present, a Bakatsine and a Bakane, representing the two biggest political parties in the country, want to be Governor in Katsina State. In Kano State, every body can become Governor of the State, as long as you’re not a Bakatsine. Why is that so? I do not have the answer, I only know it is so.
Let me from the beginning of the narration make a confession. I have nothing against Kanawa, as my mother was a full blooded Bakanuwa. She was born in Kano, and came to My ‘neck of the woods’ with her parents as a teenager. Also, my second wife is a Bakanuwa. I therefore have no reason to hate Bakane. Back to the present. As someone who wants to be a governor in the state, that person must stick with the people thick or thin.
However, a gubernatorial candidate of one of the big political parties is from Kano, and has moved ALL his relatives to Kano at the on-set of the irritating ‘insecurity’ in the state. Himself never sleeps in Katsina whatsoever the situation maybe. As I pen this narrative, the candidate in question always goes back to Kano no matter what time his business lasts. Of course, he will claim not to be alone in forsaking the place he wants govern, as his Superior in the country is also known to be in the habit of abandoning Nigeria, and only returns when there is ‘a big political event’ in the country, and they don’t come any bigger than ‘a Presidential election’ in the the country.
He was sent to the National Assembly to spite the people of the zone he represented, because the ‘world’ would wonder if that is all it can send to the National Assembly to represent them. His only concern is how to make more money. He was never heard of in the National Assembly as a Senator, being a Governor will only leave the state in perpetual embarrassment, as Katsina will count as ‘one of the worst place to be in Nigeria, since it’s ‘a government not a business hub’.
Let me digress a little and disagree with a failed Gubernotorial Candidate who alleged that his supporters were being hounded out of office. He told the world, in an interview with the BBC, that’ his supporters were being targeted and dismissed from their positions ,in Government.
For the purpose of putting the record strait, let it be known that Gorvernor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State is NOT a vindictive person. That tittle is held by him in the nealy Eight Years he held sway as the number 3 person in the civil service of the state. He it was who was known to always hold the ‘big stick’ in the state. This Writer can confirm that the former Number 3 person was the executioner in the civil service of the state, even without the ‘say so’ or even knowledge of Governor Masari.
By the way, how is he going to improve security in the state, when it was he who managed the security as the Chairman of the Security Committee in the nearly Eight Years he held sway as number three person in the state? He even cherished being referred to as the Governor, instead of remaining the humble Number Three person that he actually was.
