A LETTER TO Malam

Dear Malam,

Congratulation on your well deserved victory as the next executive governor of this great ‘state of learning’. Your coming, I must confess, was timely and viewed by many like me across the state and beyond as a gift from God to this battered beautiful state.

This letter Ranka shidede, is to intimate you of my sudden home return as one of your citizens who had hitherto packed his mat, pillow, stove and bucket, hastily out of this beloved state due to the various katakata and wahala, that over the years have been bedevilling Kaduna- garin gobnor; including the daily decaying of virtually all the social, economy and political structures long enjoyed by the citizens of the once liberal state.

I had to shuffle myself as I could no longer stand all the ethno-religious crises, nepotism and the disgraceful community segregation and myopic division fast gaining strength across the state.  I was sick and tired of seeing the ruins that had became our once vibrant public schools. Our once upon a time popular and resourceful L.E.A primary schools and famous secondary schools now looking faded in their tired colonial paints; just like the colonial roads leading to them.  

My curious eyes could not just keep feeding itself on old relics and the deteriorated state of the various communities and its people due to lack of proper planning or the genuine presence of reasonable government policies. I just could not stand the sight of old towns like Tudun Nupawa, Tudun Wada, Asiko Laye, Unguwar Shanu , Badarawa , Unguwar Dosa, Kawo, Hanyi Banki , Unguwar Kaji, Unguwar Sunusi Unguwar Rimi, Malali, Unguwar Yero, Nasarawa, Kabala Doki. Kabala West, Barnawa, Sabo, Television, Mando and the others still wearing the same dilapidated old roads, the same unorganised markets and outdated hospitals. Even the so-called segregated G.R.A’s are not left out in this decay.

Hope you would understand with me for writing you this opened letter, I thought it would be sensible to pen it out like the famous patriotic letter from Baba Ota to our erstwhile Presido which has thought many of us writers to be open in our letters to top office holders so that the world might know what is going on.   As a writer yourself, I believe you know what I am talking about.

It is important to inform you that part of the reason why I unceremonious left Kaduna was the fact that I noticed that our beloved state was retrogressing shamefully into a third world state. I could not see any reason why we could not surpassed where we were, as other new and old states across the country left us staring in awe at their development.

I have just breezed back into the state after almost three years of self-imposed asylum and could not see all the excitement about the new Keke NAPEP inter-city transport system.  I must admit that I actually felt let down given the fact that not long ago residents of this state had the privilege of boarding clean Taxi right from their various streets.  I vehemently believe that Kaduna State and its people should not be transported in an unbalanced three wheels, dangerously every day, in this 21^st century. I am also consciously of the opinion that Kaduna state deserves the best in anything made by man.

My expectation was further deflated when I noticed that majority of the state residents were now resulting to Mai Ruwa for their daily water supply. Wondering what happened to the effective water supply from the state water board that flows like waterfall across most homes those days.

The excitement of coming back home to see Ahmadu Bello way still looking the same, and the glaring fact that the longest and one of the oldest  streets, Ibrahim Taiwo road still had the same feature and poor drainage system left me unexcited. I am still finding it difficult to understand why the sport complex by the Stadium is still standing disgracefully uncompleted for more than thirty years, creating an eyesore to residents and visitors alike. Or why Magajin Gari, the oldest local government area council in the north should still remain analog and its old structure still reek of the past despite the glaring digital age.  

It will be improper to complete this letter without mentioning the appalling Nnamdi Azikwe Way, one of the gateways into the city. I could not believe my eyes that the express by-pass was still festooned in its cheap cover and death-trap holes, while the communities around still look like something out of the 19^th century.

In fact, there are many areas I would have loved to touch, but time and space would not permit. All the same I hope to draw your attention and curiosity to some of these important infrastructures that might appeal to your judgement as we move through your tenure. I pray that my eyes would be able to snoop out some of the underdevelopment decay and stench emitting across the 23 local government areas that made up this resilient state.

 I am sure your famous ‘Ruso’ bulldozers would do justice to the decays fast eating this heterogeneous state away, in hope that you would use all the necessary tools available at your disposal to bulldoze the strange walls of segregation across the crocodile city. Better a ‘Mai Ruso’ to me, than a ‘Mai Karya’.

Finally, nothing would gladden my soul and I am sure others with same view if you could breakdown the man made barrier separating the northern and southern part of the state, this, I believe you can do by making the people see and comprehend that the so-called north and south demarcation along the famous Kaduna River is just a figment of human imagination. And the only way you can do this is to sever this blinkered line of reasoning through social, economy and political development without religious or tribal colouration. You will be doing service to humanity if you can overlook the retrogressive idea of zoning in carrying out your vision and policy for the state.

Thank you for taking time from your tight cumbersome task in going through this letter.  Please accept the assurance of my sincere consideration.

I remain,

Your obedient citizen

Ahmed Dodo

Yarodangari@gmail.com

ATIKU’S PROFITABLE VISION

Staff writer Ahmed Aliyu, examines the rising profile of APC Presidential candidate and former V.P Alhaji Abubakar Atiku among some electorates across the geo-political divide in the country and his recently released draft policy.

Ask Solomon Ogboh, a 36 year old indigene of one of the states in South- south  Nigeria why he wants Atiku Abubakar as the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the first thing he is sure to tell you is the famous generous character of the former number two man in  the country. The ‘Atiku’s’ windfall’ they call it.

 And believe it, Solomon is not just the only one with this view, many Nigerians cutting across all the geo-political regions subscribes to this outlook.

The Nigerian political history no doubt will not be in full compilation without the name:     Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Nigerian Vice-President and undoubtedly the most popular and undisputable number two man since Nigeria Independence. 

He is widely acknowledged to be one of the champions of democracy in Nigeria and a strong political force; credited with bringing about some landmark judicial rulings in the country’s political system. It was he, who boldly fought his then boss, former President Obasanjo on his unconstitutional third term bid and also thwarted his unconstitutional and vindictive effort to have him removed as the then vice president.

 “Atiku is the only candidate that can solve the current economy problem of this country. He his rich, so he is not after money. He has the international collection and most importantly he his generous. What this country need at this critical moment is a generous, rich and well connected President. “Solomon summed it up with a confident grin.

Collaborating this disposition, Mary Alade a Banker from the southwest says only the Turaki Adamawa ,as the former vice president is popularly call, can chase the ruling People’s Democratic Party out of office.  “Atiku has the money. He has the knowledge and political manifesto to chase the PDP out of Aso Rock in 2015.’’

For Salisu Umar, Atiku’s Presidency would solve the current lack of cash-flow in the country and also create more jobs through his years of experience as a reputable business man.

  Eche Ugo is another great fan of the former VP as attested to on her FACEBOOK post. “Your Excellency you have overtime showcased the parent, Democrat and progressive that you are. Your own politics is different and typifies what our future desperately needs. It is beyond ethnicity, it is beyond politics, you're not just a good leader but also a great person. I wish you the best in your entire endeavour; I'm a big fan of yours. “

While these views are in part a strong endorsement of the Turakin Adamawa few are not. Like Bassey Isoh whose FACEBOOK post suggested that Atiku should throw his rich support behind another candidate. “ Hello sir, with all due respect am sure you would have known or being told that majority of Nigerians want Buhari...You can do a great sacrifice to Nigeria by throwing your resources behind Buhari, God bless you as you do this great sacrifice for country.’’

But why does the name Atiku tickles?  Perhaps no one summed it better than Garba Shehu his professional and loyal media adviser in an interview granted popular online publisher Premium Times in 2013, on his relationship with his boss.

’’He is a man who shoots from the hip. He is not a pretender. He speaks his mind as he deems fit and you know yourself that truth and politics don’t always mix. There are times he speaks and you literally have to put your heart in your mouth. There is always tension with us because Turaki will depart from the written script at public events and tell you what is on his mind.’’

Indeed, this is another popular attribute of the charismatic Atiku noted during the course of this article: a straight shooter with no malice. ’’Those who know Turaki’s modus operandi will say that he is not a man who bandies about sack threats. There was never such an incident. What I find most fulfilling in the work I am doing for him is in the fact that he is trusting and has respect for my professional judgment. He respects my professional decisions all the time, in the same way I respect him as a guru politician. Politics is his specialty and I give the hats to him.’’ Garba Shehu further revealed.

Yes, take it or leave it, Atiku Abubakar is a political specialist with a dream to turn around the fortune of this rich nation and this he has already unveiled through his draft policy, with a vision to create a modern profitable government where the private sector will lead the way to economic revival.

The former Vice President while unveiling his policy agenda said he would use the instrumentality of tax rebates to encourage the private sector to create jobs. According to him “A lot of time people have asked me if my strategy of using tax rebate as a tool for private sector job creation will not reduce the income coming from government.

“My answer is that those people who will be employed in the jobs that are created will be taxable as well and thus government is even going to make more money. The way to run a modern government is to run it as a business. If you do not know how to run businesses, you certainly don’t have any business running government,” Atiku said. Speaking further  “the draft policy was drawn up within the context of the manifesto of the APC and the document provides an overview of our policy position – the main thrust of which is the explicit bid to modify the way the machinery of the Federal Government works.”

The draft policy contains key policy areas which include employment generation and wealth creation; infrastructure and power; education and skill acquisition; security; citizenship and governance; agriculture and food security and Niger-Delta and North-East re-integration.

 Part of the appeal of the Atiku’s policy is the fact that there is provision for sub-components that make allowance for broad inclusiveness which will make the policies have direct impact on ordinary Nigerians.

In the specific area of energy and infrastructure, which are among some of the biggest challenges militating against the proper development of the country, the Atiku draft policy says government will, “create sustainable funding structures to drive infrastructure and power development; invest in local government capacity to develop and expand infrastructural provision and review the federation account and restructure government finances to boost infrastructure development.”

In the area of security, the draft policy promises to: “aggressively combat the scourge of terrorism and insurgency by increased resources and better co-ordination between the security agencies; replace the security adviser with a National Security Council; improved civil-military relations; pave way for the establishment of state police and clarify local government and state boundaries to pre-empt and defuse inter-communal conflicts.”
Whatever way the political pendulum of this great country decides to swing at the end of the day, the name and image of this political gladiator would remain imbibe in the political landscape of the country for a long-time.

 

A LETTER TO Malam

Dear Malam,

Congratulation on your well deserved victory as the next executive governor of this great ‘state of learning’. Your coming, I must confess, was timely and viewed by many like me across the state and beyond as a gift from God to this battered beautiful state.

This letter Ranka shidede, is to intimate you of my sudden home return as one of your citizens who had hitherto packed his mat, pillow, stove and bucket, hastily out of this beloved state due to the various katakata and wahala, that over the years have been bedevilling Kaduna- garin gobnor; including the daily decaying of virtually all the social, economy and political structures long enjoyed by the citizens of the once liberal state.

I had to shuffle myself as I could no longer stand all the ethno-religious crises, nepotism and the disgraceful community segregation and myopic division fast gaining strength across the state.  I was sick and tired of seeing the ruins that had became our once vibrant public schools. Our once upon a time popular and resourceful L.E.A primary schools and famous secondary schools now looking faded in their tired colonial paints; just like the colonial roads leading to them.  

My curious eyes could not just keep feeding itself on old relics and the deteriorated state of the various communities and its people due to lack of proper planning or the genuine presence of reasonable government policies. I just could not stand the sight of old towns like Tudun Nupawa, Tudun Wada, Asiko Laye, Unguwar Shanu , Badarawa , Unguwar Dosa, Kawo, Hanyi Banki , Unguwar Kaji, Unguwar Sunusi Unguwar Rimi, Malali, Unguwar Yero, Nasarawa, Kabala Doki. Kabala West, Barnawa, Sabo, Television, Mando and the others still wearing the same dilapidated old roads, the same unorganised markets and outdated hospitals. Even the so-called segregated G.R.A’s are not left out in this decay.

Hope you would understand with me for writing you this opened letter, I thought it would be sensible to pen it out like the famous patriotic letter from Baba Ota to our erstwhile Presido which has thought many of us writers to be open in our letters to top office holders so that the world might know what is going on.   As a writer yourself, I believe you know what I am talking about.

It is important to inform you that part of the reason why I unceremonious left Kaduna was the fact that I noticed that our beloved state was retrogressing shamefully into a third world state. I could not see any reason why we could not surpassed where we were, as other new and old states across the country left us staring in awe at their development.

I have just breezed back into the state after almost three years of self-imposed asylum and could not see all the excitement about the new Keke NAPEP inter-city transport system.  I must admit that I actually felt let down given the fact that not long ago residents of this state had the privilege of boarding clean Taxi right from their various streets.  I vehemently believe that Kaduna State and its people should not be transported in an unbalanced three wheels, dangerously every day, in this 21^st century. I am also consciously of the opinion that Kaduna state deserves the best in anything made by man.

My expectation was further deflated when I noticed that majority of the state residents were now resulting to Mai Ruwa for their daily water supply. Wondering what happened to the effective water supply from the state water board that flows like waterfall across most homes those days.

The excitement of coming back home to see Ahmadu Bello way still looking the same, and the glaring fact that the longest and one of the oldest  streets, Ibrahim Taiwo road still had the same feature and poor drainage system left me unexcited. I am still finding it difficult to understand why the sport complex by the Stadium is still standing disgracefully uncompleted for more than thirty years, creating an eyesore to residents and visitors alike. Or why Magajin Gari, the oldest local government area council in the north should still remain analog and its old structure still reek of the past despite the glaring digital age.  

It will be improper to complete this letter without mentioning the appalling Nnamdi Azikwe Way, one of the gateways into the city. I could not believe my eyes that the express by-pass was still festooned in its cheap cover and death-trap holes, while the communities around still look like something out of the 19^th century.

In fact, there are many areas I would have loved to touch, but time and space would not permit. All the same I hope to draw your attention and curiosity to some of these important infrastructures that might appeal to your judgement as we move through your tenure. I pray that my eyes would be able to snoop out some of the underdevelopment decay and stench emitting across the 23 local government areas that made up this resilient state.

 I am sure your famous ‘Ruso’ bulldozers would do justice to the decays fast eating this heterogeneous state away, in hope that you would use all the necessary tools available at your disposal to bulldoze the strange walls of segregation across the crocodile city. Better a ‘Mai Ruso’ to me, than a ‘Mai Karya’.

Finally, nothing would gladden my soul and I am sure others with same view if you could breakdown the man made barrier separating the northern and southern part of the state, this, I believe you can do by making the people see and comprehend that the so-called north and south demarcation along the famous Kaduna River is just a figment of human imagination. And the only way you can do this is to sever this blinkered line of reasoning through social, economy and political development without religious or tribal colouration. You will be doing service to humanity if you can overlook the retrogressive idea if zoning in carrying out your vision and policy for the state.

Thank you for taking time from your tight cumbersome task in going through this letter.  Please accept the assurance of my sincere consideration.

I remain,

Your obedient citizen

Ahmed Dodo

Yarodangari@gmail.com