Remembering Shekarau remarkable achievements in Kano State

Published: 07/13/11 Re membering Shekarau remarkable achievements in Kano State By Usman Aminu Sani It all started on 29 th May 2003 when a gentleman of impeccable quality in person of the immediate past governor of Kano State, Malam (Dr) Ibrahim Shekarau, Sardaunan Kano was overwhelmly voted to power with round ovation. The tremendous joy that trailed Shekarau's election in 2003, which has never happened, knew no bound. As soon as he assumed the mantle of leadership in his first term assignment, he did not leave any one in doubt of his mission and vision. He was very systematic and focused in his avowed determination to create enabling environment for the people of Kano state. The zeal at which Shekarau started as soon as he assumed office in May 2003 gave the positive impression that he is indeed the man of the people and truly, he became known as the People's Governor. His first term performance was so promising that he needed no much campaign for a second term to consolidate. In spite of all odds, Shekarau recorded another feat of electoral victory that ushered him into second term. This made him to be the first executive governor of Kano State to break the most dreaded political jinx of continuity and second term in the governance of Kano. Whoever achieves this feat after Shekarau exit can only be rated second as none will be first again. Shekarau's political sagacity reached a crescendo when it is remembered that his socio-political and economic reforms truly impacted on the lives of the people. These reforms also translated into lofty achievements that are indelible and have cut across all strata of deliberations. These achievements, which envy, jealousy, hatred, vengeance, political mischief, cannot easily get destroyed or manipulated no matter how cunningly maneuvered are establishment of societal reorientation, initiation of independent Power Plant (IPP) project, rehabilitation of rusted water pipes, rehabilitation of rural and urban roads, leading to urban renewal, establishment of Hajj Commission, promotion of the Islamic legal system, Shari'ah, introduction of dress code in schools, establishment of anti-corruption agency in the state, checking out social corruption through the State Censor's board and creation of employment opportunity in the civil service. The immediate past governor Shekarau also did a lot in upgrading the status of Malams and Ulamas, rehabilitation of roads in Sabon Gari areas, enhancement of human development drive, provision of adequate fertilizer/subsidy to farmers, rehabilitation of ten rounds about within the metropolis, successful conduct of the local government election in November, 2007, none interference of media contents, leading to freedom of expression, rehabilitation of mosques across the state, enhanced the status of traditional rulers and teachers in the state, sponsoring of indigent students abroad for further studies, provision of working tools to security outfits in the state for maintenance of law and order in the state, establishment of Hisbah guards/commission, free feeding for the less privileged, trade conflict resolutions in the state, abolition of hospital cards, establishment of urology centre, sitting of new singer Market, distribution of laptops to secondary teachers and members of the State Government House Press and renovation of General Hospitals in the state. Malam Ibrahim Shekarau administration did wonderfully in the promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, hosting the first Kano Business submit, settlement of entitlements of PDP councilors, which the previous administration of PDP refused to pay, sanity to urban planning and management, financially prudent through publication of monthly revenues and expenditures, settlement of heavy outstanding pension to pensioners in the state, inclusion of non-indigenes in his government by appointing three non-indigenes as Special Advisers, his successor, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has also followed this footstep. Shekarau's tremendous efforts in the employment of medical doctors, nurses and paramedical staff, establishment of women affairs and social welfare ministry, decongestion of prison through review of cases, prompt and regular payments of salaries, pensions and gratuities, renovation of many health centres and initiation of mass-housing scheme with outside experts to undertake are quite remarkable. The Shekarau administration equally did well in the supply of rural electricity to  villages, sponsoring patients abroad for medical treatment where the need arises, renovation of Government House to its befitting status, renovation of Director of Press Office after 40 years of negligence, donation of Permanent Orientation Camp to NYSC in the state, accreditation of all the thirteen (13) Academic Programmes of Kano State University of Technology, KSUT, provision of basic health equipment, drugs and renovation of many health centres in the state, increase in Students Scholarship, settlement of about N1billion debt inherited from KASCO during Kwankwaso's first coming, establishment of Rural Electrification Management and State Environmental Board, establishment of Project Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate to enhance probity and accountability, distribution of electric transformers to villages and creation of enabling environment for growth of business in the state. Shekarau was able to inject positive changes in the life of the state. As the people's governor, Malam (Dr) Ibrahim Shekarau was able to entrench people oriented programmes, which have tremendously accelerated peace and progress of the state. Nobody in Kano State can rightly claim ignorance of not being a beneficiary of Shekarau's good governance, directly or indirectly, looking at his above enumerated achievements. Even the present spokesman of governor Kwankwaso, Jaafar Jaafar who played double role of hypocrisy cannot claim ignorance of his tremendous benefit from Shekarau's administration. This was in spite of his deliberate negative reports against Shekarau government, which did pave the way for his present assignment. Reacting to one of the many well calculated stories against Shekarau by Jaafar Jaafar, one Ado Umar Mohammed wrote inter alias," All those who know the antecedent of the reporter, however, would not be surprised as they must have noticed that Jaafar Jaafar, because of his previous political affiliation, has been unable to extricate himself from partisanship in his reportage of political events, even though he currently works for a national newspaper that is supposed to be fair to all shades in the political divide. Years back, as a stringer Jaafar was used by ex-governor Rabiu Kwankwaso to peddle malicious allegations of corruption against Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, with a view to tarnishing his image, which they posted in the internet." Incidentally, Jaafar Jaafar is known for his terrible partisan views against Malam Shekarau and his administration. Unfortunately, most of his views on the activities of Shekarau government were figment of his own imaginations.  He had baselessly accused Shekarau government, which he could not substantiate with documents, proofs or witnesses. In March 2007, just a month to his second term election, Jaafar Jaafar posted an invective piece on Sahara Reporters website, with the aim of deliberately 'destroying' the integrity of former governor Shekarau. Jaafar Jaafar's concocted and fabrications of fantastic lies about Shekarau administration abound. When the present governor eventually appointed Jaafar Jaafar as his media assistant, the latter must have seen the appointment as a fulfillment of his vaulting ambition. It is not surprising therefore that whatever the media assistant of Kwankwaso says about Shekarau is never taken seriously as it is usually thrown to the dog and relegated to the background as carry over of his known partisanship by his readers. On this note, we have seen the great achievements of Shekarau administration and until subsequent leaders of the state clearly showcase their own, it is the collective resolve of the Kano people not to forget in hurry what Shekarau did towards the greatness of the state and would not bother about the ongoing attempt by the incumbent administration and its pocket of sympathizers to pretend against such wonderful achievements of its predecessor. Usman Aminu Sani, No. 101 Zaria Road, Gyadi-Gyadi, Kano, email: usmanaminusani@yahoo.com