Jigawa: Democracy by appointment!
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- Category: Philosofaith
- Written by Shehu Ahmed Ringim
- Hits: 621
Despite his pretence of promoting transparent democratic process in Jigawa State, Governor Sule Lamido is now revealing his true colours. Ordinarily, the people should determine who becomes their representatives in a democratic system. However, a situation where Governor Lamido arrogates to himself the power to unilaterally nominate or appoint Senators and Representatives without allowing the people any voice in the decision is undemocratic and an open abuse of power. Excessive power in the hands of a leader or a clique can lead to dictatorship and the destruction of people’s sovereignty. President Goodluck Jonathan’s commitment to free and fair election is under grave threat from the activities of governors like Lamido who turn the democratic process into appointment rather than election.
In a typical dictatorial fashion, he has reportedly decided unilaterally and arrogantly to replace the three Senators representing Jigawa State in the National Assembly – namely Senators Mustafa Kiyawa, Abdul-Aziz Tarabu and Saminu Turaki. He is replacing them with Abdulrahman Zareku, Abdul-Aziz Malam Madori and Danladi Sankara respectively. Where in the Constitution is a governor vested with the power to appoint or discard Senators according to his whims and caprices? Are Senators and Representatives elected to serve their people or to work as servants of their governor in the National Assembly? In fact, in line with his maddening ambition for absolute power, Governor Lamido is also bent on replacing members of the House of Representatives from Jigawa State with his stooges.Unknown to many people, Governor Lamido is not comfortable working with independent-minded people or those too politically sophisticated to accept the role of yes-men. He wants to work with minions who may owe their offices to his good will rather than any competence or popular support. It is an open secret that all the stooges he appointed as the next Senators are men without any track record of identifying with the ordinary people. What kind of democracy is this, when you known your Senators before election? One of the men he has appointed as the next Senator was prominently indicted by the House of Representatives Power Probe Committee, which exposed underhand deals, disregard for due process and protection of private interest in the award of contracts for the Integrated National Power Projects (INPP).
With the Jigawa State PDP chapter in his pocket, Governor Lamido is now in the position to determine who becomes a lawmaker either at state or national level, regardless of their popularity, competence or integrity. Lamido is a known critic of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso because of the manner he hijacked the Kano State PDP Chapter for personal advantage. Ironically, the Jigawa State governor is now doing exactly what he opposes in the conduct of other party leaders. As the ruling party and given the commitment of President Jonathan to credible elections in 2011, the PDP must set standard at all levels by promoting transparency in the election of leaders.
When leaders hijack political parties and manipulate them to suit their narrow interests, democracy may be jeopardized. Unfortunately, with the rape of democracy by Governor Lamido through the imposition of his stooges, no one should be deceived any more about his commitment to internal democracy. He is politically intolerant and doesn’t respect the basic tenets of democracy such as the freedom of dissent. The Governor is determined to impose those who cannot subject his orders or demands to rational scrutiny. Instead, he wants to send minions to the National Assembly to serve his private agenda. He is not happy with his current Senators because they opposed his double standard on zoning. They are not ready to support the action of a leader who is hunting with the hare and running with the hounds.
When you pursue a private agenda that runs counter to the larger interest of the people, there is always the temptation to suppress internal democracy. According to Thomas Jefferson, “The will of the people is superior to a standing army.” Governor Lamido should stop deceiving us about being a disciple of Malam Aminu Kano. The late Aminu will turn in his grave to imagine that anyone that calls himself his disciple should impose leaders on the people. Without former President Obasanjo’s policy of de-registration, it is most unlikely that Lamido would have achieved absolute control of the PDP through a transparent process.
It is on record that the defection of former Governor Saminu Turaki from ANPP to PDP was principally responsible for the improved fortunes of the party in Jigawa State. Every honest observer knows that Saminu Turaki’s movement into the PDP dramatically changed its political fortunes. Former President Obasanjo and former Governor Adamu Aliero of Kebbi State had frantically wooed Saminu Turaki to leave ANPP and come to the PDP because they knew that was the only way the masses would embrace the party. And the trick worked when he accepted to defect to the PDP.
Ironically, Lamido is now taking absolute control of a party he didn’t build to its present strength and imposing his stooges for elective positions. With the party leadership under Isa Duniya Bahutu in his pocket, Lamido is now an imperial governor who arrogates to himself the power to appoint Senators, Representatives before the election. Nobody in the party leadership dares oppose his choice because they themselves are not the products of transparent process.
While millions are struggling with grinding poverty, the party leadership and a clique of Lamido’s stooges are the ones cornering the resources of Jigawa State through access to juicy contracts. Thousands of Jigawa indigenes have now become economic migrants in Kano, Yobe, Borno and other distant states while Lamido’s yes-men are being rewarded with public funds. Pampered with too much money without hard work, this clique cannot morally challenge Lamido’s current dictatorial control of the democratic process. Denying the people the right to nominate those that deserve to be their representatives is the biggest rape on internal democracy. It is high time the media exposed this duplicity by Governor Lamido. He has not purged himself of Obasanjo’s culture of do-or-die politics which doesn’t respect the will of the people.
Ringim wrote from 98, Sir Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way, Surulere – Lagos. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Articles
Jigawa: Democracy by appointment!
Category: Philosofaith Written by Shehu Ahmed Ringim Hits: 621
Despite his pretence of promoting transparent democratic process in Jigawa State, Governor Sule Lamido is now revealing his true colours. Ordinarily, the people should determine who becomes their representatives in a democratic system. However, a situation where Governor Lamido arrogates to himself the power to unilaterally nominate or appoint Senators and Representatives without allowing the people any voice in the decision is undemocratic and an open abuse of power. Excessive power in the hands of a leader or a clique can lead to dictatorship and the destruction of people’s sovereignty. President Goodluck Jonathan’s commitment to free and fair election is under grave threat from the activities of governors like Lamido who turn the democratic process into appointment rather than election.
In a typical dictatorial fashion, he has reportedly decided unilaterally and arrogantly to replace the three Senators representing Jigawa State in the National Assembly – namely Senators Mustafa Kiyawa, Abdul-Aziz Tarabu and Saminu Turaki. He is replacing them with Abdulrahman Zareku, Abdul-Aziz Malam Madori and Danladi Sankara respectively. Where in the Constitution is a governor vested with the power to appoint or discard Senators according to his whims and caprices? Are Senators and Representatives elected to serve their people or to work as servants of their governor in the National Assembly? In fact, in line with his maddening ambition for absolute power, Governor Lamido is also bent on replacing members of the House of Representatives from Jigawa State with his stooges.Unknown to many people, Governor Lamido is not comfortable working with independent-minded people or those too politically sophisticated to accept the role of yes-men. He wants to work with minions who may owe their offices to his good will rather than any competence or popular support. It is an open secret that all the stooges he appointed as the next Senators are men without any track record of identifying with the ordinary people. What kind of democracy is this, when you known your Senators before election? One of the men he has appointed as the next Senator was prominently indicted by the House of Representatives Power Probe Committee, which exposed underhand deals, disregard for due process and protection of private interest in the award of contracts for the Integrated National Power Projects (INPP).
With the Jigawa State PDP chapter in his pocket, Governor Lamido is now in the position to determine who becomes a lawmaker either at state or national level, regardless of their popularity, competence or integrity. Lamido is a known critic of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso because of the manner he hijacked the Kano State PDP Chapter for personal advantage. Ironically, the Jigawa State governor is now doing exactly what he opposes in the conduct of other party leaders. As the ruling party and given the commitment of President Jonathan to credible elections in 2011, the PDP must set standard at all levels by promoting transparency in the election of leaders.
When leaders hijack political parties and manipulate them to suit their narrow interests, democracy may be jeopardized. Unfortunately, with the rape of democracy by Governor Lamido through the imposition of his stooges, no one should be deceived any more about his commitment to internal democracy. He is politically intolerant and doesn’t respect the basic tenets of democracy such as the freedom of dissent. The Governor is determined to impose those who cannot subject his orders or demands to rational scrutiny. Instead, he wants to send minions to the National Assembly to serve his private agenda. He is not happy with his current Senators because they opposed his double standard on zoning. They are not ready to support the action of a leader who is hunting with the hare and running with the hounds.
When you pursue a private agenda that runs counter to the larger interest of the people, there is always the temptation to suppress internal democracy. According to Thomas Jefferson, “The will of the people is superior to a standing army.” Governor Lamido should stop deceiving us about being a disciple of Malam Aminu Kano. The late Aminu will turn in his grave to imagine that anyone that calls himself his disciple should impose leaders on the people. Without former President Obasanjo’s policy of de-registration, it is most unlikely that Lamido would have achieved absolute control of the PDP through a transparent process.
It is on record that the defection of former Governor Saminu Turaki from ANPP to PDP was principally responsible for the improved fortunes of the party in Jigawa State. Every honest observer knows that Saminu Turaki’s movement into the PDP dramatically changed its political fortunes. Former President Obasanjo and former Governor Adamu Aliero of Kebbi State had frantically wooed Saminu Turaki to leave ANPP and come to the PDP because they knew that was the only way the masses would embrace the party. And the trick worked when he accepted to defect to the PDP.
Ironically, Lamido is now taking absolute control of a party he didn’t build to its present strength and imposing his stooges for elective positions. With the party leadership under Isa Duniya Bahutu in his pocket, Lamido is now an imperial governor who arrogates to himself the power to appoint Senators, Representatives before the election. Nobody in the party leadership dares oppose his choice because they themselves are not the products of transparent process.
While millions are struggling with grinding poverty, the party leadership and a clique of Lamido’s stooges are the ones cornering the resources of Jigawa State through access to juicy contracts. Thousands of Jigawa indigenes have now become economic migrants in Kano, Yobe, Borno and other distant states while Lamido’s yes-men are being rewarded with public funds. Pampered with too much money without hard work, this clique cannot morally challenge Lamido’s current dictatorial control of the democratic process. Denying the people the right to nominate those that deserve to be their representatives is the biggest rape on internal democracy. It is high time the media exposed this duplicity by Governor Lamido. He has not purged himself of Obasanjo’s culture of do-or-die politics which doesn’t respect the will of the people.
Ringim wrote from 98, Sir Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way, Surulere – Lagos. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.