After failing in his bid to emerge as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kano state governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso resolved to contest for the seat of Kano Central in the Senate. However, as a maverick politician who elicits the extreme emotions of love or hatred from people of the state, no one can say for sure that he can achieve his ambition to go to the Senate this year.
Yet in view of the general impression of him as popular, and with the “Buhari craze” now making waves in the state, people may tend to believe that it would be a walkover for him. May be; the man has as many admirers as he has adversaries. Indeed, there are those who can give their lives to ensure that he wins the election, just as there are those who will do their utmost best to neutralize their efforts.
Those who admire him point to his charisma and obstinacy towards achieving his set objectives, as well as his domineering personality that makes even his political associates look like minions. Conversely, other people dislike his combative manner of politics, alleged snobbishness, arrogance and impudence. He is yet abhorred by others because they are alienated by his adverse policies or programs. All these people would not be disposed towards voting for him.
This piece therefore intends to look at the factors or obstacles that may foil his Senate ambition with the purpose of explaining what has been amiss should the unexpected happen. The truth is that during his two terms Kwankwaso stepped on so many toes. With some of the victims still licking their wounds, many are reportedly poised to take their pound of flesh.
His first term victims include politicians and prominent citizens, among them are some technocrats, an ex-banker who is now a Royal Father, and a former Speaker of the House of Reps. Add these to the thousands that are alienated during his second term and you would see why his success at the polls is doubtful. The latest victims include marketers, owners of demolished houses, those whose plots were either revoked or confiscated by powerful politicians, victims of KAROTA, civil servants, pensioners, sections of the political class and the traditional institution.
Thousands of artisans and traders who sold their wares along the streets were forcefully removed, thereby losing their means of livelihood. They are said to be so irked by the action that they are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to revenge. The cash squeeze being experienced in town since 2011 is also attributed to the governor by the marketers, who said they hardly make as much sales as before. They blame him for awarding big contracts to people from Lagos and Abuja at the expense of indigenous ones, who would have ensured money circulation locally.
Due to inadequate or no compensation at all, many of those whose houses were demolished now live in misery with their families as they “squat” with relatives or friends. The callous act occurred in many parts of Kano town and the headquarters of some council areas. Many of the victims are said to be looking forward to the “pay-back” time. So are over 1,000 citizens whose plots were revoked at Kofar Naisa, with no alternative plots given to them as the law provides. Some even lost properties at the site. In the same vein, at Tudun Yola some people complained that some red-cap politicians had confiscated their plots but despite appeals to government for justice nothing was done.
Also bitter are victims of the Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA), an agency that is viewed more as a distortion outfit than a corrector of bad driving habits. Simple offences such as crossing the line at traffic lights attract N10,000 fine. This caused dismay among motorists, especially chauffeurs who could not pay fines on the spot. The KAROTA agents also got the additional duty of ‘arresting’ goats and sheep belonging to housewives and other poor people, purportedly for roaming on the streets. The victims are now grumbling because they are made poorer by this undue policy of government.
Civil servants, too never had it so bad. Besides habitual late payment of salaries some ‘welfare’ allowances introduced by the previous government and paid during Ramadan and Eid-el-Kabir were flagrantly cancelled. Also, overhead allowances paid to ministries, departments and agencies for the maintenance of vehicles and other facilities have been drastically reduced. This affected the functions of the ministries negatively to the disappointment of the civil servants.
Pensioners also complained about the colossal amounts diverted from the Pensions Fund Trustees for the construction of Kwankwasiyya and Amana estates. This rendered the fund ineffective in discharging its duties of prompt payment of pensions. What is even more pathetic, they said, is that 250 of the expensive housing units (plus 41 hectares of land) which the people of the state could not buy, have now been sold to a Chinese company!
Various political camps, even within the APC, are similarly up in arms against the governor. There are those that are aggrieved even among his Kwankwasiyya disciples. Among them are the appointed and ‘elected’ council chairmen. They charged that he treated them like kids by refusing to release funds that are statutorily meant to be spent in their respective areas.
But by far the most vehement in their opposition to the governor’s candidature and that of his anointed governorship candidate, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, are members of the legacy parties and supporters of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the APC presidential candidate. They accuse him of doing injustice to them by refusing them the deputy governorship slot, and vowed to sabotage his election.
Some traditional rulers have also not forgotten how he disrespected their patriarch; the late Monarch Alhaji Ado Bayero, the 13th emir who died last June, who was a benefactor to most of them. The royal fathers are aware that it was the governor’s impudence over the choice of a new Waziri that helped to deteriorate his health condition just before his death.
Coming a distant second in the presidential primary election after spending so much money with only 974 votes to the winner’s 3,430 could be awfully demoralizing. Winning the Senate and keeping himself relevant will hence be a consolation. Would Kwankwaso benefit from the Buhari ‘magic’ against all odds at the polls? Or will his determined opponents be able to put paid to his ambition to become a Senator this year? Only time will tell.
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Mandawari wrote in from Kano. <saminumanda@ymail.com>
