The tragedy of Zamfara politics
- Details
- Category: Comments
- Written by Bilkisu Aminu
- Hits: 1209
2011 is around the corner and the stakes are even higher for the state than it was when Dr Adamu wrote his article. It is because of this that I decided to write this article in order to voice my concern as a citizen of Zamfara State.
Every objective observer of what is happening in the state is aware that the state is in shambles. The state lacks direction, and is seemingly futureless. There is massive corruption and stealing of public treasury and both politicians and bureaucrats are only after getting monies from the state treasury. ‘Ka ja kaya’ is now a common phrase in the mouth of everyone from kids to old people. What it means in real sense is that ‘you have stolen from public treasury.’
There is mass poverty in the state. The state is in the pocket of few cabals who are selfish and greedy. This is the situation in the state where their only concern is Siyasa (politics).
The tragedy in the state is that most of those contesting for political posts, especially the governorship race in the state are people that I consider not fit for leadership. The kind of leadership Zamfara State needs at this point in time is leadership that can command and inspire men towards achieving set objectives. These objectives must be for the common good.
We need leaders who can be trusted to lead others. Who have good character and are honest with integrity and who can set directions. Leaders who are passionate about their work, leaders who need to display order in chaos. We need leaders who strive to be the best and are able to think analytically keeping the end result in mind. Leaders who can remain calm and composed in the face of uncertainty because other people will look to him/her for assurance during times of difficulty. A leader who can be decisive and follow through on his/her own. This is the kind of leaders that we want in Zamfara State.
At state level, that leader is the state governor. Now looking at the two major contenders for governorship, His Excellency Mahmuda Shinkafi of the PDP, and Abdulaziz Yari of the ANPP, we can argue that they do not really meet this criterion.
Let’s look at each of them closely. Mahmuda Shinkafi was a deputy governor during Governor Sani Yarima’s eight years administration. He was an experienced banker and graduate. When he became governor, he apparently came with a lot of enthusiasm to transform the state, but along the way he derailed. Dr. Adamu’s article has said it all. Now Shinkafi is confused, incapacitated politically and has lost vision. The state has no future under his style of leadership and the team he works with.
The other one, Abdulaziz Yari, former ANPP chairman is apparently incompetent. He is not well educated; he has few years working experience as a junior staff and is 100% Yarima boy. His election is just another come back for Yarima. Yarima is a politician but not a leader. Under Yari the state will go back to its former Father Christmas era again. There is also Ikira Bilbis former Minister of State Information, I don’t know much about him but I doubt if his credentials are anything to celebrate.
The internal crisis in the PDP and the incompetent candidate being imposed by Yarima in the ANPP may give other parties an opportunity to file in a more credible candidate. This may give CPC a chance no matter how slight. I learnt that Alhaji Muktar Lugga is one of the CPC candidates. I made some inquiries about him and what I got is somehow impressive.
I learnt that Lugga is a graduate of Geography from the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto. I also learnt that he is seriously rallying the support of Zamfara professionals who live in the state or in Diaspora. He is young and most likely progressive. I know it is going to be difficult for Lugga because he doesn’t have money to spray, he has no control of thugs (throwaway) and he is new and young. But if Lugga works very hard and get the support of credible Zamfara indigenes, the politics of the state will change for the better.
I believe having young educated people to join politics in the state is a good omen. I hope Lugga will have a strong team of credible and good people to support him; this will make his politics productive. He should not worry whether he wins or lost, but should make plans to form a strong, viable and credible opposition so that governance in Zamfara State will not be business as usual.
Finally, it is my hope that Zamfarawa who have passion for the state will support credible candidates from any party so that the state can regain its focus and help the poor in the state to have some relief.
Ms Aminu can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Articles
The tragedy of Zamfara politics
Category: Comments Written by Bilkisu Aminu Hits: 1209
Sometimes last year Dr Yusuf Adamu of Bayero University Kano wrote an article on Zamfara State that some see as controversial. The article titled The Stakes in Zamfara State raised some fundamental questions about the future of the state which Dr Adamu argued was bleak. In the said article, he accused the Yarima government, the Shinkafi government and accused the politicians, Ulama, elders, bureaucrats and intellectuals for inaction. His article elicited a bitter rejoinder from one Adamu Bungudu. Since then, I was waiting to hear about the progress of Dr Adamu’s idea of starting an intellectual movement that he and his colleagues in the universities will spearhead to checkmate the state leadership and fight for good governance. A year has passed since and nothing has come up concerning that, at least to my knowledge.2011 is around the corner and the stakes are even higher for the state than it was when Dr Adamu wrote his article. It is because of this that I decided to write this article in order to voice my concern as a citizen of Zamfara State.
Every objective observer of what is happening in the state is aware that the state is in shambles. The state lacks direction, and is seemingly futureless. There is massive corruption and stealing of public treasury and both politicians and bureaucrats are only after getting monies from the state treasury. ‘Ka ja kaya’ is now a common phrase in the mouth of everyone from kids to old people. What it means in real sense is that ‘you have stolen from public treasury.’
There is mass poverty in the state. The state is in the pocket of few cabals who are selfish and greedy. This is the situation in the state where their only concern is Siyasa (politics).
The tragedy in the state is that most of those contesting for political posts, especially the governorship race in the state are people that I consider not fit for leadership. The kind of leadership Zamfara State needs at this point in time is leadership that can command and inspire men towards achieving set objectives. These objectives must be for the common good.
We need leaders who can be trusted to lead others. Who have good character and are honest with integrity and who can set directions. Leaders who are passionate about their work, leaders who need to display order in chaos. We need leaders who strive to be the best and are able to think analytically keeping the end result in mind. Leaders who can remain calm and composed in the face of uncertainty because other people will look to him/her for assurance during times of difficulty. A leader who can be decisive and follow through on his/her own. This is the kind of leaders that we want in Zamfara State.
At state level, that leader is the state governor. Now looking at the two major contenders for governorship, His Excellency Mahmuda Shinkafi of the PDP, and Abdulaziz Yari of the ANPP, we can argue that they do not really meet this criterion.
Let’s look at each of them closely. Mahmuda Shinkafi was a deputy governor during Governor Sani Yarima’s eight years administration. He was an experienced banker and graduate. When he became governor, he apparently came with a lot of enthusiasm to transform the state, but along the way he derailed. Dr. Adamu’s article has said it all. Now Shinkafi is confused, incapacitated politically and has lost vision. The state has no future under his style of leadership and the team he works with.
The other one, Abdulaziz Yari, former ANPP chairman is apparently incompetent. He is not well educated; he has few years working experience as a junior staff and is 100% Yarima boy. His election is just another come back for Yarima. Yarima is a politician but not a leader. Under Yari the state will go back to its former Father Christmas era again. There is also Ikira Bilbis former Minister of State Information, I don’t know much about him but I doubt if his credentials are anything to celebrate.
The internal crisis in the PDP and the incompetent candidate being imposed by Yarima in the ANPP may give other parties an opportunity to file in a more credible candidate. This may give CPC a chance no matter how slight. I learnt that Alhaji Muktar Lugga is one of the CPC candidates. I made some inquiries about him and what I got is somehow impressive.
I learnt that Lugga is a graduate of Geography from the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto. I also learnt that he is seriously rallying the support of Zamfara professionals who live in the state or in Diaspora. He is young and most likely progressive. I know it is going to be difficult for Lugga because he doesn’t have money to spray, he has no control of thugs (throwaway) and he is new and young. But if Lugga works very hard and get the support of credible Zamfara indigenes, the politics of the state will change for the better.
I believe having young educated people to join politics in the state is a good omen. I hope Lugga will have a strong team of credible and good people to support him; this will make his politics productive. He should not worry whether he wins or lost, but should make plans to form a strong, viable and credible opposition so that governance in Zamfara State will not be business as usual.
Finally, it is my hope that Zamfarawa who have passion for the state will support credible candidates from any party so that the state can regain its focus and help the poor in the state to have some relief.
Ms Aminu can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.