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04 Jan 2012 By Usman Aminu Sani
Naming public utilities after one's interest or
oneself by some self serving government officers has
been on the increase with reckless abandon and
impunity. For any government property to be named
after any leader means that such leader has immensely
contributed to the growth and development of the
society. This is why we have had such public edifices
as general hospitals, airports, general motor parks,
public buildings, stadiums, roads, etc named after
great leaders who have impeccably distinguished
themselves to the services of the people. This means
that such great men have used their leadership acumen
to improve the lots of the people and therefore, they
ought to be remembered for their great services, so
that both the present and future generations can
appreciate the value of selfless service to the
society and for emulation.
Unfortunately, this culture of naming public edifices
and utilities after great men and women in remembrance
of their genuine commitments to the service of the
people is now being abused by desperate political
leaders who have nothing to offer other than using
public utilities or government properties for their
self serving interest. In other words, the naming of
public utilities by political leaders after themselves
irrespective of their contribution to the development
of the society has become apolitical.
It would be recalled before the end of Shekarau eight
years administration; he ordered and launched some
long school buses for public use. The immediate past
government was almost putting the vehicles to use when
its second term ended on May 29, 2011. As soon as the
Kwankwaso government took over, it went on vengeful
mission and began castigating the good and marvelous
achievements of the past people's governor Shekarau.
All sorts of lies and innuendoes were immediately
adopted to tarnish the image of Shekarau
administration, forgetting the axiom that says, he who
goes for equity should go with clean hands. The
present government led by Governor Rabi'u Musa
Kwankwaso never knew that time would come when it
would swallow back its vomits. The day has now come,
just less than five months, the posture of holier than
thou by the present administration cannot be sustained
and here is the latest about the government.
On page two edition of the state newspaper, Daily
Triumph of October 13, 2011, a photograph of a
long bus with inscription "KWANKWASIYYA, GIRL –CHILD
INITIAVTE 014" and captioned by the editor as follows:
"The newly purchased long school bus by the Kano State
government to ameliorate transportation problems in
female schools." Ironically, this was the same long
bus already ordered and launched by the immediate past
administration of ANPP, which the present government
of PDP in Kano State has now converted into the so
called KWANKWASIYYA. But those who do not know this
fact would tend to think otherwise.
The bone of contention therefore, is not the adoption
of Shekarau government initiated well-thought out
transport plan by the present government. But why
should governor Kwankwaso administration name the
public utility after his KWANKWASIYYA? Kwankwasiyya
means the followers of Kwankwaso. Does it then means
that the long school bus purchased by the government,
using tax payers' money is now meant for those who
believe in Kwankwaso or wuju-wuju government? What is
the exemplary contribution of Kwankwasiyya in the
state that made it to deserve the self-serving
recognition? Why is governor Kwankwaso shying away
from recognizing the immeasurable efforts of his
predecessor who first initiated the long buses? Is it
not an act of corruption for the ‘newly purchased long
school bus by the Kano State government' to be
inscribed as KWANKWASIYYA?
Indeed, we all remember that when Shekarau ameliorated
transportation problems in the state and not just "in
female schools", he was in the best position to have
written on the three-legged motor as "UP SHEKARAU"
instead of ADAIDAITA SAHU, which has become popular
today in every nook and cranny of the Kano state
transport system. I think in my honest and valid
opinion, it is grossly wrong for governor Kwankwaso to
name the long school bus after his political interest.
This clearly shows that the governor Kwankwaso is more
interested in what he can use the government property
to achieve for himself and not what he can achieve for
the good people of Kano State. It is not surprising
therefore that the editor of the state newspaper,
Daily Triumph aptly captioned the photograph of
the long bus as "the newly purchased long school bus -
old wine in a new bottle- by the Kano State government
and not by Kwankwasiyya.
If Shekarau administration had ordered and launched
the long bus for the government before it left and now
Kwankwaso administration has claimed the same
government vehicle in his name, KWANKWASIYYA, it is
hoped that the present government will not in any way
shortchanged the people. It is however unfortunate and
too bad that governor Kwankwaso fails to allow
posterity to immortalize his wuju-wuju way of
governance. In any case, one is yet to see any drastic
detachment of Shekarau administration polices from
that of the present government, in spite of what the
government wants the people to believe. So, Shekarau
administration has really and marvelously done well
for the state.
Usman Aminu Sani, Gyadi Gyadi, Zaria Road, Kano,
email:
usmanaminusani@yahoo.com |
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