Nigerian politicians always think they are smart. They usually take the people for fools and for granted also. This was because, the people are generally gullible, ignorant and religiously compromised to view issues critically. This is exactly what Uba Sani has capitalised on doing and is still doing to gain undeserved sympathy from the Kaduna public. People should be wise enough and strongly refuse to fall for the antics of these selfish and greedy men.
He thinks Kaduna people are naives who cannot keep records or read in between the lines of emerging frosty relationship and political crisis between the godson and godfather. Lately, the governor has complained of the heavy burden of financial debt left behind by former governor Nasir el-rufai which hovers above $500m. This has slowed down development while salaries cannot be paid, the governor said. People of Kaduna should be informed of the repercussion of the debt incurred by one man on behalf of the people which generations living and unborn will pay for many years to come.
Nobody should have any iota of sympathy for Uba Sani or his political ilks in this their murky waters of Kaduna politics. They knew the truth but chose lies above decency when chasing political relevance. He saw the raging inferno but decided to jump in simply to fulfill a life ambition of occupying the position of a governor. Uba Sani has the audacity to talk about debt burden when he was aware of the negative financial books of Kaduna before now. What was he thinking when everything humanly and inhumanly possible was done to make him governor?
Has he forgotten so soon that he is there to cover the mess created by his predecessor? This same issue of high debt profile was not hidden before he was handed the governorship ticket of All Progressive Congress (APC), but his ambition compelled him to keep mute like a humble servant. Now that he had achieved his political aim and gained little political ground, he is pretending to be a new creature.
Senator Shehu Sani was denied reelection to represent Kaduna Central in the National Assembly in 2019 because he kicked against this same loan. When Uba Sani eventually took over representation he obidiently and blindly supported all the loans taken by el-rufai which he is currently complaining of because he wanted to be governor to the detriment of progress and development. Below was his submission on the loan when the going was good with el-rufai: “I have assured my colleagues in both the Senate and the House of Representatives that it is not possible for the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, to fail on the promises of his administration regarding the use or disbursement of the loan from the World Bank. I even insist that I, Senator Uba Sani, be held liable if the Governor fails or disappoints. But of course I know el- Rufai will never fail the people of Kaduna State. I am extremely happy and proud of the role some of us played in securing this loan for Kaduna State” – Uba Sani’s comment on March 5th, 2020.
It is ironical that the same man has forgotten so soon the role he played in setting Kaduna twenty years backward. As for the State House of Assembly angling to prove a point or assert it’s oversight authority, where was the house when el-rufai reigned supreme? The house was an appendage of the governor and as such could not bark let alone bite. In fact, the people of Kaduna knew that nothing tangible will come out of this investigation. It is a smokescreen aimed at lining the pockets of the legislature and most importantly diverting the attention of the people from glaring poor governance leading to the suffering of the masses.
The current speaker of the State House of Assembly was also a member of the house when the loans were taken. Did he raise an eye brow even when a section of Makera Constituency he represents was sidelined in allocation of project and execution? They were all part of the joint conspiracy to defraud Kaduna people on account of their political interests. Nigerians should pity the uninformed minions who go about making a fuss about the good intention of Kaduna State governor when in all honesty, he had an opportunity to save the bad situation but differed.
There is no gain restating the fact that el-rufai was the Lord of the manor during his tenures as governor. Nobody has the temerity to questions his actions and decisions. It was illuminating to all including Sani that; governance will be very tough when he made himself available to be used as a pawn in the hands of politicians. Therefore, pretending now to buy public support is unconscionable.
Uba Sani has started the war which he cannot finish. He should take a lesson in the brutality of godfathers from Sim Fubara of Rivers State. Leaving staunch loyalists of the former governor like Hadiza Balarabe, the deputy governor who served under el-rufai behind to remain in the same capacity and electing Bello el-rufai as member representing Kaduna North in the House of Representatives are politically strategic.
These people are the former governors eyes and ears who are capable of deploying their joint political arsenal to fight back and distabilise Uba’s government if care is not taken. The governor should watch his back before the fate of Balarabe Musa befalls him. Already, the Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly had cried out concerning alleged intimidation of Bello el-rufai. Leadership is a continuum with an offer to serve and affect lives.
Great leaders do not fret in the face of adversity. They find answers to societal problems and leave the past to dwell in the past. The governor cannot feign ignorance of the high handedness, endemic corruption and bad leadership witnessed by Kaduna people during the past administration. The best he should do is to provide answers to the problems of Kaduna people especially in the areas of rising cases of insecurity and increasing cost of food and essential commodities or shut up and bury his head in shame instead of whining like a little flogged puppy.
Sunday Onyemaechi Eze, a Media and Development Communications Specialist writes via sunnyeze02@yahoo.com, and can be reached on 08060901201
