EDUCATION: COVID-19 EXPOSING LEADERSHIP DEFICIENCIES

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

azeeznews@gmail.com 

@azeeznews.

The global coronavirus pandemic is described as a leveler. Globally, yes. Locally, especially in Africa, nay Nigeria, it has exposed our leadership deficiencies at various levels. Worst, at the political level.

Two sectors aided the exposure of pretense of leadership; health and education. Should the pandemic lingers more than necessary; and there are indications it may, it will further expose lack of foresight, planning and quality investment in another vital sector, agriculture in addition to the very visible ones in the health and education sectors. 

Any nation that lacks proper and comprehensive plans and investments in these three sectors, is as good as non-existent. Covid-19, if for nothing is fast opening our eyes to the pretense of our leaders and the lip services paid to these sectors.

Before COVID-19 dawned on us without warning, our leaders at various levels, especially those active, with followership on social media, always “wow” those who are gullible with show of heavy investment in the state of the art health facilities they have invested billions of naira on. Never mind that at the slightest diagnosis of headache, the same leaders flew out of Nigeria for medical attention. 

Ironically, if you had told any Nigerian Governor as recent as January 2020, that he will be afflicted by an ailment caused by a viral infection, and he would be treated by local medical personnel, and within his own state capital without as much as not been able to travel to Abuja, he would have, like the emperors some of them have become, directs for a summary punitive measure be meted out to you.

Today, across all the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, Governors and their households tasted and are still tasting the negative positivity of COVID-19. All were and are being treated locally and survived, surviving without crossing the state borders not to talk of flying out for medical attention.

Were coronavirus not dealing deadly blows on their choice destinations of medical tourism and the international boundaries not closed, taxpayers’ money in millions would have been wasted as they would have flown and airlift their families to such places for treatment.

Today, some are of the view that aside COVID-19 exposing the rot in our health system, some states’ prolonged lockdown wasn’t much to protect the poor citizenry against the pandemic spread, but more not to expose further the lies and rot in their health sectors. Some came out and confessed that should the epidemic be more endemic than what was at hand, their states do not have the facilities and personnel to manage it. What they didn’t tell you is that, they do not have, half a quarter of what they said they had on ground or had invested in the health sector before the virus reared its ugly head, in some states, via them as the index cases. 

No doubt, even the nations with the best of medical facilities and personnel are not spared by the pandemic and are still battling to contain the ravaging virus, but you can see sincerity of purpose on their parts.

God has been so merciful to us in Nigeria such that the infection and mortality rate, considering our population of two hundred million plus, has been so minimal. We pray it remains so till we flatten the curve and globally defeat the virus. 

Yes, COVID-19 is a leveler, as today, our elites and leaders cannot travel to choice destinations for medical tourism to treat minor ailments, having destroyed our health sectors, privatised and mortgaged our lives, and now force us all to patronise same medical personnel and facilities they once denigrated and derided. Their families have all flown back home from choice destinations of educational tourism. 

From their take offs from those world class airports, to their arrivals at the various locals airports here in Nigeria, against the old practice of exhibiting ostentatious lifestyle and spitting on the poor with selfie pictures of departures and arrivals, they now even camouflaged and quietly run to their houses. Dare show us your “just arrived” selfies from any foreign nation and move to an isolation centre. 

Few with semblance of sanity left, or any future political aspirations, make bold, in a face saving drama announce the positive status of family members and isolation trips. Even that, not without little drama.

Again, COVID-19 is exposing the rot and pretense in the education sector. It is unravelling the lack of seriousness we accord a sector as vital as education, which is a backbone and foundation of any development. Like other sectors gang raped and bastardised, then privatised out of the reach of the common man, education is now feeling the heat of the long neglect, lack of investment and the non-challant acts of our leaders.

The West African Examination Council WAEC’ West African Senior School Certificate Examination WASSCE and the discordant tunes across the nation, and especially between the regions, states and federal government is a pointer.

In Nigeria, between 1.5 to 1.7 million candidates register and sit for this examination annually. With our almost geometric population growth, put the figure for 2020 at utmost, two million candidates. Divide this by the thirty six states and Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja, it will be difficult for any state to have a quarter of that number registered to write the examination. Yet, we are being told that no State in Nigeria can put measures in place for these students to write WASSCE in line with the COVID-19 protocols without hitches.

No state in Nigeria has less than a million registered voters. As we speak, Edo and Ondo are in frenzy to go to the polls with all the attendant crowd-funding, gathering sans COVID-19 protocols. 

As you read this, there are more Mosques and Churches in every community in Nigeria than there are secondary schools. These religious houses weekly host more number of humans who spend longer hours, socialising with less physical distance between them than WASSCE candidates and WAEC staff would ever spend even if they are to write four papers daily.

As you read this, the schools are not just deteriorating, especially with the rains, no signs of making them habitable for any use, should the go ahead be given for the examination to hold in the nearest future. 

As I write, I am seated in Kaduna. Imagine if we are serious with education and know the consequences of over a million of our young children missing this examination. Imagine in addition to all the government owned public schools in Kaduna; nursery, primary and secondary, the state government decided to utilise Kaduna Polytechnic’s three campuses, Nigerian Defence Academy NDA; both old and new sites, Kaduna State University KASU with multiple campuses, Police College, Nigeria Prison Training School, National Teachers Institute NTI, College  of Education Gidan Waya, Ahmadu Bello University ABU Zaria multiple campuses, Federal College of Education FCE, Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology NITT, Nigeria Military School, Depot Nigerian Army, Nigeria Institute of Leather Technology and other numerous multipurpose halls within the state, you can be sure that many halls would at the end of the day, not even have a single candidate even on a day they all have to write English and Mathematics that are general papers; no matter what sort of social or physical distancing you want to practice. This scenario is the same with such facilities available across most of the states of the federation and the FCT.

EDUCATION: COVID-19 EXPOSING LEADERSHIP DEFICIENCIES

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The global coronavirus pandemic is described as a leveler. Globally, yes. Locally, especially in Africa, nay Nigeria, it has exposed our leadership deficiencies at various level. Worst, at the political level.

Two sectors aided the exposures of pretense of leadership; health and education. Should the pandemic lingers more than necessary; and there are indications it may, it will further expose lack of foresight, planning and quality investment in another vital sector, agriculture in addition to the very visible ones in the health and education sectors. 

Any nation that lacks proper and comprehensive plan and investments in these three sectors, is as good as non-existent. Covid-19, if for nothing is fast opening our eyes to the pretense of our leaders and the lip services paid to these sectors.

Before COVID-19 dawned on us without warning, our leaders at various levels, especially those active, with followership on social media, always “wow” those who are gullible with show of heavy investment in the state of the art health facilities they have invested billions of naira on. Never mind that at the slightest diagnosis of headache, the same leaders flew out of Nigeria for medical attention. 

Ironically, if you had told any Nigerian Governor as recent as January 2020, that he will be afflicted by an ailment caused by a viral infection, and he would be treated by local medical personnel, and within his own state capital without as much as not been able to travel to Abuja, he would have, like the emperors some of them have become, directs for a summary punitive measure be meted out to you.

Today, across all the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, Governors and their households tasted and are still tasting the negative positivity of COVID-19. All were and are being treated locally and survived, surviving without crossing the state borders not to talk of the flying out for medical attention.

Were coronavirus not dealing deadly blows on their choice destinations of medical tourism and the international boundaries not closed, taxpayers money in millions would have been wasted as they would have flew and airlift their families to such places for treatment.

Today, some are of the view that aside COVID-19 exposing the rot in our health system, some states’ prolonged lockdown wasn’t much to protect the poor citizenry against the pandemic spread, but more not to expose further, the lies and rot in their health sectors. Some came out and confessed that should the epidemic be more endemic than what was at hand, their states do not have the facilities and personnel to manage it. What they didn’t tell you is that, they do not have, half a quarter of what they said they had on ground or had invested in the health sector before the virus reared its ugly head, in some states, via them as the index cases. 

No doubt, even the nations with the best of medical facilities and personnel are not spared by the pandemic and are still battling to contain the ravaging virus, but you can see sincerity of purpose on their parts.

God has been so merciful to us in Nigeria such that the infection and mortality rate, considering our population of two hundred million plus, has been so minimal. We pray it remains so till we flatten the curve and globally defeat the virus. 

Yes, COVID-19 is a leveler, as today, our elites and leaders cannot travel to choice destinations for medical tourism to treat minor ailments, having destroyed our health sectors, privatised and mortgaged our lives, and now force us all to patronise same medical personnel and facilities they once denigrated and derided. Their families have all flown back home from choice destinations of educational tourism. 

From their take offs from those world class airports, to their arrivals at the various locals airports here in Nigeria, against the old practice of exhibiting ostentatious lifestyle and spitting on the poor with selfie pictures of departures and arrivals, they now even camouflaged and quietly run to their houses. Dare show us your “just arrived” selfies from any foreign nation and move to isolation centre. 

Few with semblance of sanity left, or any future political aspirations, make bold, in a face saving drama announce the positive status of family members and isolation trips. Even that, not without little drama.

Again, COVID-19 is exposing the rot and pretense in the education sector. It is unravelling the lack of seriousness we accord a sector as vital as education, which is a backbone and foundation of any development. Like other sectors gang raped and bastardised, then privatised out of the reach of the common man, education is now feeling the heat of the long neglect, lack of investment and the non-challant acts of our leaders.

The West African Examination Council WAEC’ West African Senior School Certificate Examination WASSCE and the discordant tunes across the nation, and especially between the regions, states and federal government is a pointer.

In Nigeria, between 1.5 to 1.7 million candidates register and sit for this examination annually. With our almost geometric population growth, put the figure for 2020 at utmost, two million candidates. Divide this by the thirty six states and Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja, it will be difficult for any state to have a quarter of that number registered to write the examination. Yet, we are being told that no State in Nigeria can put measures in place for these students to write WASSCE in line with the COVID-19 protocols without hitches.

No state in Nigeria have less than a million registered voters. As we speak, Edo and Ondo are in frenzy to go to the polls with all the attendant crowd-funding, gathering sans COVID-19 protocols. 

As you read this, there are more Mosques and Churches in every community in Nigeria than there are secondary schools. These religious houses weekly, host more number of humans who spend longer hours, socialising with less physical distance between them than WASSCE candidates and WAEC staff would ever spend even if they are to write four papers daily.

As you read this, the schools are not just deteriorating, especially with the rains, no signs of making them habitable for any use, should the go ahead be given for the examination to hold in the nearest future. 

As I write, I am seated in Kaduna. Imagine if we are serious with education and knows the consequences of over a million of our young children missing this examination. Imagine in addition to all the government owned public schools in Kaduna; nursery, primary and secondary, the state government decided to utilise Kaduna Polytechnic’s three campuses, Nigerian Defence Academy NDA; both old and new sites, Kaduna State University KASU with multiple campuses, Police College, Nigeria Prison Training School, National Teachers Institute NTI, College  of Education Gidan Waya, Ahmadu Bello University ABU Zaria multiple campuses, Federal College of Education FCE, Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology NITT, Nigeria Military School NMS, Depot Nigerian Army, Nigeria Institute of Leather Technology and other numerous multipurpose halls within the state, you can be sure that many halls would at the end of the day, not even have a single candidate even on a day they all have to write English and Mathematics that are general papers; no matter what sort of social or physical distancing you want to practice. This scenario is same with such facilities available across most of the states of the federation and the FCT.

Of cause, they would be fast to use dearth of resources; financial and human to carry out this very vital responsibility. But during elections, they spare no resources; human and material to get to power. They utilise government resources, money, civil servants and even state owned transport vehicles to ferry voters from one end of the town to another. But now, that is impossible for education of our future leaders. 

Like the Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF Boss Mustapha said at one of the briefings of the Presidential Task Force, if we don’t learn anything from this pandemic, we would never learn anything. Let me dare add that we would be doomed if we don’t.

For now, COVID-19 has not only succeeded in exposing the rot in our systems, it is exposing the deficiency of the people we call leaders. It is unravelling the pretense and lip service paid to critical sectors of our daily lives. It is and may hit back at all of us, but hit the elites and leaders more, as today, many of them have become prisoners of their own making, living in a reversed life while the poor may be used to scrapping the bottom to eat, even though it is getting harder. 

No one should tell you we have no resources to do the needful. If nothing, the revelations from certain forensic auditing gone awry is a pointer.

Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir writes from Kaduna and be reached via

azeeznews@gmail.com 

@azeeznews.

Kaduna; halt this political violence now

Kaduna; halt this political violence now

As you read this, some people are still squatters; struggling to eke out a living. They are people who used to be, not just house owners, but Landlords and Landladies. As you read this, the approaching presidential election in Nigeria has reawaken sad memories for some.

Sad memories of lost family members, neighbours and friends. Some lost as many as four children, some are today widows and widowers. The orphans abound, all due to no fault of theirs but a result of post election crisis of 2011.

There is no gain saying that the elites who fell victims of that crises are today richer and have almost triple of what they lost to the crisis. They were not only compensated by the powers that be, they were more or less rehabilitated beyond their wildest imagination.

But not so for the poor and ‘wretched of the earth’; though given “succour” by the state government and many non governmental organisations (NGOs), it was far below what could make life a semblance of normal for them. From Kaduna to Zonkwa to Kafanchan, the old wound still festers.

But just as the fourth “anniversary” of that ugly incident approaches, with memories that most would have loved not to remember, pre-election political violence has already claimed lives of two youngsters in Kaduna city centre with property also already being set ablaze due to political differences.

Lest we forgot, the 2011 post election started with the setting ablaze of the property of those alleged to have had sympathy for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and accused of doing one thing or the other to favour the party and its candidates in their respective areas. No doubt, some of the youth who carried out such heinous acts knew their victims so well. And in some places, some of them were “boys” of the victims who had utilised them in the past for apolitical activities but with whom they fell apart.

Fortunately or unfortunately, all the victims in Kaduna city centre and environs were Muslims just as the irate youth who carried out the arsons. But unfortunately, the rumour mill spread otherwise information, and before long, the crises took a different dimension with religious and ethnic colouration. Zonkwa, a settlement that had never witnessed any skirmish before then, remains the worst hit. Till date, four years after, the town is yet to get its swag back.

We are counting days to the same election and Kaduna is already witnessing pre-election violence with trading of blames between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and opposition All Progressive Congress (APC). Already as stated earlier, two lives have been lost with property destroyed.

If you reside within Kaduna city, it was obvious from onset that destruction of posters and bill boards were the harbinger of what is gradually building up to a disastrous exercise and a negative competition between the two main political parties. These destructions came to a head when the state governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero raised alarm about the alleged activities of the supporters of the opposition APC.

He was so enraged that he warned them to stay clear of the destruction of the PDP’s campaign publicity materials. But that seemed to have emboldened them further as the spate, instead of abating rather increased. Incidentally, that was the same period General Muhammadu Buhari warned all his supporters not to engage in any violent act or insult anyone because of him.

At the declaration and flagging off of his campaign in Murtala Square, Kaduna, Governor Yero was so enraged about the alleged acts of the opposition that he challenged not just the supporters of APC in the state, but Mallam Ahmed Nasiru el-Rufai to dare him and his campaign train and face the consequences. At that venue, he made reference to what el-Rufai did to late Justice Bashir Sambo while he was the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja which many alleged led to the death of the elderly Justice.

That single acts and pronouncement seemed to be a bait for the governor and the PDP by the APC, its candidate and the supporters. From then on, it has been throwing of tantrums and trading of blames.

It climaxed with arrival of General Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign train to Kaduna. On the said day, Buhari did not arrive Kaduna until past midday because he was in Minna, Niger State before coming to Kaduna. But as early as 8:00am, the whole of Kaduna was agog with APC campaign materials and activities with commotion in many parts. Major streets witnessed blockades not by security agents but APC supporters and sympathisers mainly made up of youth.

For almost the whole day, the youth in motor vehicles, tricycles and motorcycles, made Kaduna city centre an APC haven. But by the time the rally ended, on major streets, round about and other structures, anything with the semblance of PDP was brought down. It took the presence of security agents, mostly soldiers to safeguard most PDP strategic structures such as campaign and secretarial offices.

Most Kaduna residents expected a repeat or near rehearse of such the day President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign train was in Kaduna last saturday and they stayed in-door. The APC also sponsored announcement on various radio stations urging its supporters not to venture out, claiming security agents were given ‘shoot-at-sight’ order. This went a long way in making sure the saturday was peaceful with security agents in all nooks and crannies of the town and beyond.

But that was not to last long. Badiko in Kaduna South, Unguwan Sanusi also in Kaduna South and Rigasa in Igabi Local Government Areas of the state are known for youth group rivalry which often result in fights within and among the groups often leaving some with life-long injuries.

This came to the fore and reinforced with the PDP and APC rivalry. Most of these youth are always easy prey, vulnerable and often used for political thugry. In Badiko, a fourth night ago a young man less than 25 years old; Tijani popularly called ‘Nani’ was sought out by other youth alleged to be sympathetic to the opposition APC for his mobilisation and support for PDP. The young ‘Nani’ was murdered in cold blood. His group members mobilised and burnt a campaign vehicle of el-Rufai.

Few days later, the motorcade of Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, after a campaign tour of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area was on its way and somewhere around Bakin Ruwa, a group of mostly youth blocked the highway on realising it was the Governor’s campaign train, chanting “bama so” meaning we don’t want you.

In a bid to clear the way, security agents have to scare the youth by shooting into air. But as against scampering to safety, that seemed to emboldened them. They persisted with some vehicles in the convoy having their glasses smashed. In the process, another young man: Faisal Umar Getso got hit by life bullet and died later.

About 24 hours later, another set of youth stormed the resident of
Yusuf Umar Garkuwa, a PDP House of Assembly candidate for Unguwar Sanusi Constituency late at night. They were said to have demanded for his younger brother who unfortunately did not come back home after a PDP rally he attended. His crime? They accused him of mobilising for the PDP and making a success of it. They told the family members to warn him to desist.

As the young man was not home, they set ablaze one of his elder brother’s campaign vehicles. It took the help of neighbours who fought the fire to ensure it did not engulf the whole house and neighours.

Till date no one has been apprehended for any of these ugly scenarios by the security agents. And to say the Commissioner of Police Kaduna State Command, Alhaji Shehu Usman recently summoned a meeting of the major political contenders with both Yero and el-Rufai in attendance where they all agreed and endorsed the Abuja accord.

No ones’ political ambition is worth the life of any individual. It is time for the two main political parties; APC and PDP to rein in their supporters and ensure the people of Kaduna and beyond have a peaceful poll. No level of political violence can help anyone win or lose election.

Incidentally both candidates belong to the same faith, ethnic group and even local government. They also stress that they intend to take Kaduna to the next level positively. Will they be willing to rule or lead over mass graves? They should know that God Almighty has already written who will be the next Governor and who will not. So, if they believe in fate and have faith in their creator, they should fear Him and remember that they will give accounts of their actions and or in-actions before Him.

Above all and before then, the security agents need to walk the talk, up their acts and bring culprits to book to serve as deterrent to others. They also need to identify flash areas, improve on intelligence gathering to nip such acts in the bud.

Going round certain communities within Kaduna, the graffitis on walls points to thoughts and actions of youth in such areas that are enough information for the security agents and leaders at various levels. But unfortunately many, especially security agents and political leaders do not take such graffiti serious to rein in imminent perpetrators of heinous acts.

Please halt this political violence in Kaduna now before it spirals into something else and get out of hand.

END.

2015; as Yero throws his hat into the ring

2015; as Yero throws his hat into the ring

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir azeeznews@yahoo.com @azeeznews

Between 2007 and 2012, he was highly withdrawn, seen to be almost brittle to the point of being too weak with little or no mind set of his. He was the most unlikely candidate for the land-lorship of Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna. Mention his name few years back for the position and many would have dismissed it with the wave of the hand. He today remains the youngest Governor among his 35 peers coming after and nest to the sharp minded Kashim Shettima of Borno State.

Muhktar Ramalan Yero, recently turbanned Dalatun Zazzazu and before that Sardaunan Jemma’a has thrown his hat into the 2015 gubernatorial race for the re-occupation of Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna the seat of power. For many who know Kaduna and her political dynamism, the ring for Yero is not going to be a knock out and easy ride. But, that is going to depend on those who can get into the ring either above, between or under the rope to challenge him.

The first to obtain the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial form of intent out of the 36 states. Long before that action by Yero, some people have written him off based on what they term non performance since succeeding his late boss; Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa. Others still see him as no match to some old familiar names in Kaduna political turf. But like his emergence from ‘insignificance’ to commissioner, Deputy Governor and now Governor, 2015 may be another brace to the notch for him.

This writer has known Yero for all his political life. As the Commissioner of Finance under the administration of Arc. Muhammed Namadi Sambo, Yero was highly taciturn. He avoided publicity like the moth loves flame. All of the three years on the saddle, Yero had a parley with selected media just but once. That even was at the peak of the criticism of the administration on the state debt profile. This writer was among the selected few.

He gave the government’s side of the issue with information on the Fitch rating of the state then which was B+ and the best in the country among the 36 States.

Then from no where, Arc Muhammed Namadi Sambo followed his ambition and embraced the Vice Presidential slot thrown into his lap on the platter of gold following the demise of President Umaru Musa Yar’adua after allowing his supporters screamed “daram dam dam” to their demise politically. Yakowa got rewarded with upward mobility and same with Yero. Even as Deputy Governor, Yero was even more taciturn; reclining into his shell completely.

Again in a chart in his office when we went to congratulate him, Yero opened up on why he kept sealed lips and avoided the media as the state commissioner for Finance. According to him, after the Governor, no one faces much pressure like the Finance Commissioner in a state like Kaduna. He said any statement coming from a Commissioner of Finance often takes lot of weight, sometime believed even more than one coming from the Chief Executive of the state.

He stressed that coming out to speak often especially to the media, would have sent the wrong message and he would not want to be seen as competing wih his boss or trying to outdo him. He then assured of carrying out his constitutional role in such a way to make the youth across the state and beyond proud.

But few days before that encounter, I penned an opinion in New Nigerian on Sunday in my column “From Inside Sir Kashim Ibrahim House” telling Yero that his phobia for the media has ended and he had no hidding place anymore. In his characteristic candour, he sent for me and enthused; “is this the way we are going to start with you”? I answered by elaborating times and places he had come on collision with the media. Again, he took it in his stride and moved on.

The most telling for Yero as Deputy Governor was during his tenure as the state’s Amirul Hajj to 2011 pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. The assignment set him on collision course with some elites from the state who were used to business as usual even to the detriment of the poor pilgrims. He stood his ground and insisted things must be done the right way. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, against all odds he braced it, and ended up even with awards from the Kingdom in Makkah for his outstanding performance to the admiration of the downtrodden and bewilderment of those who wished he had failed.

Then on 15th of December, 2012, sitted and enjoying the elitist game of Polo in Murtala Square, Kaduna, the news filtered in as a rumour that his boss along with General Andrew Owoye Azazi has died in copter crash in far away Bayelsa State. Barely 24 hours later, he took the oath of office finding himself at the reigns of leadership of the third most populous state in Nigeria even at the most critical time in history when IEDs were exploding everywhere and attacks on rural communities were at the peak.

Then shy and taciturn Yero changed mode and re-engaged the gear with focus only known to him. He is no more the man who stealthily count his steps, but he now stomps. Where in the past he kept sealed lips he now says it as it is. Where in the past he hid in his shells he now stand at the highest vantage point to be visible and this had led some to arrogate to him pride.

Since making his intention known to test his popularity at the polls, many “analysts” have given reasons why he may or may not chest the tape in the first position victory strides.

First is the party. Since 1999 the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has being at the helm of affairs in the state. Even in 2011 when the majority of electorates voted General Muhammadu Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) at the presidency, the same majority voted the PDP with the duo of Yakowa and Yero. The arithmetic has not changed much since the last time. Rather some advantages have even been added for the present team it seems.

Some have alluded that Vice President Muhammed Namadi Sambo is not in support of Yero’s aspiration. They also alleged that the zone III of the state would not support him just as they raise ethnic and religious sentiment which many see as minus for Yero. And the most talked about across board is lack of physical achievements to bolster his image coupled with aides who are more loyal to their pockets than anything Yero.

Those alleging that Namadi does not favour Yero’s candidacy averred that President Goodluck Jonathan had earlier told the Vice President to persuade Yero to jettison his aspiration for another choice person as a condition to carry him (Namadi) along in the presidential ticket.

But instead of seeing through the veil as when he was picked to be Vice President which paved the way for late Yakowa to be Governor, Sambo was said to have confronted Yero with the proposal. Yero was said to have disagreed and that marks the beginning of their rumoured disagreement.

But pundits are always quick to ditch Sambo’s influence. Since the election that produced him as the state governor in 2007, the PDP has lost all the subsequent elections in his polling unit, ward, Local Government et al. It is that discerning that today the Councillor, LG Chairman, House of Assembly, House of Representatives Member and the Senator representing Sambo are all on the platform of the opposition party.

So, many see the purported feud between Yero and Sambo as an advantage to the former’s aspiration to re-occupy Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna. But of cause, this will not be without fight from some Sambo cronies and benefactors.

But even that seems to be a smoke screen because the chairman of PDP Board of Trustee who is alleged to have told Katsina State Governor to go seek Senatorial seat and stop eyeing Sambo’s (VP) seat was in Kaduna on wednesday 22 October, 2014 and met with party bigwigs some who were alleged not to be in tandem with Yero’s aspiration.

At the meeting hosted by Yero in Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Anenih was quoted to have said they were in “Kaduna to make peace among ourselves to be able to accommodate even those that are sitting on the fence, so that at the end of the day, our load will be very light. Even when you are chewing your tongue, the teeth and tongue remain together.”

Anenih who described Yero as a ‘performing Governor’ averred that “I want to appeal to you that he (Yero) needs to succeed. He is a young man and the sky is his limit, but he needs a solid foundation built on unity hard work and loyalty. I am very pleased with what I saw on arrival this morning and also from the conduct of the meeting. I am satisfied that all is well in Kaduna State as I return to Abuja.”

To buttress his loyalty and faith in the party’s support for him, Yero said “this visit is very important to unite the party and to end the complaints within the party and it will surely help the success of the party. We are known for respect for party leadership as has been shown by all leaders and this is an indication that we shall remain united in facing the next general elections.”

But the surprise of all was the presence of the godfather of the state politics whose most allies decamped to the opposition APC, former Governor, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi who in his words said they “are one family and will continue to be one family and whatever problem we have, we are able to solve them as family and to work together to return PDP to power at all levels.

“We all have to be our brothers’ keeper and unity is important and we shall all continue to remain united. We discussed important internal party issues and we are not fighting each other. The meeting is for us to forge greater unity and to ensure the victory of our party in 2015.”

In attendance included Senator Caleb Zagi, known strong late Yakowa loyalists Alhaji Lawal Samaila Abdullahi Yakawada who was removed as SSG by Yero following the demise of Yakowa, Mr. Abokie Galadima also removed as Chief of Staff. Others are Rep. Yakubu Barde. DG NEMA and close friend of Yero, Alhaji Sani Sidi, former GMD NNPC, Mr Andrew Yakubu who was rumoured to have been annointed by the presidency for the state governorship before his sudden ouster, Mrs Charity Shekari, former PDP State Chairman, Yau Usman Sa’in Jama’a among other key stakeholders of the party at State and Local Government levels.

On zone III issue, it bring to mind what late Yakowa went through. No zone so despised and opposed Yakowa like many from there. But today, they are the same people that talk about him in glowing words; but after he is gone eternally. It is on record that zone III has never voted the opposition; it has always been the ruling party which in this case is PDP.

If the zone would ever vote the opposition, they would have voted Senator Caleb Zaggi who has done much for them especially among the youth and students who benefitted immensely through
Scholarship as against Mrs Esther Nenadi Usman who they now denounce. Same can be said of the recent House of Assembly by-election where the PDP trounced the APC despite all the hell raised and the grandstanding to the effect that APC has taken over the zone.

Again, the zone would always go with a sitting, experienced Deputy Governor like Audu Bajoga in this case than gamble on a new aspirant who may never get there. It happened in 1999, 2003, 2007 and even 2011. This is coupled with the fact that the same zone always record the highest number of voter aparthy.

For now, the zone also boast of the highest number of gubernatorial aspirants across all the political parties. But pundits are quick to point out that most aspirants especially on the platform of the PDP from there are paper weight; no match for Yero but just out to inflame the crowd and spoil the soup for some. This is coupled with the demise of the zone’s three most prominent and influential political icons; Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, Isaiah Balat and Garba Ali Madaki.

On the expectation of the opposition party APC to turn the apple cart, especially with Mallam Nasir el-Rufai being touted as the likely candidate, observers are quick to say that most of those in the party are PDP old timers who defected and may be moles in the APC.

Political watchers in the state always make role calls of former Governor Ahmed Muhammed Makarfi’s aides and allies who moved to the demised NewPDP and now APC while the Senator still remains in the PDP and with little notice of what his next moves are politically.

The same also applies to the likes of Suleiman Hunkuyi; a former Commissioner of Finance in the state under Makarfi’s administration. He is known since leaving office to always oppose the sitting governments, especially close to election only to decapitate the opposition and return to support the same government to win election by mobilising the grassroot for the ruling party. As a result, many always see him as a mole in the opposition party and he is about one of the closest allies of el-Rufai now.

Religion has always been a factor in Kaduna politics and exploited in the past by some. Just like ethnicity and other sentiments. But so far the most discerning candidates are all Muslims and all from Zauzau Emirate Council out of whom Yero is the highest tittle holder. Again Yero is the first Governor to be produced by Zaria and pundits are quick to point out that influential Zazzau sons and daughters will do all within their strenghts to ensure his victory at the polls.

But even the most ardent of Yero’s supporters are worried about what they tout as the non challant attitude of most of the governor’s aides and political appointees. The bulk of them are seen to have little or no political prowess in their wards, LGA and zones. Some can’t even deliver the polling units in front of their houses. As aides who are supposed to bolster the governor’s image and be his ambassadors with their people, some are rather busy amassing wealth as insurance to take care of their political future at the detriment of their present jobs and boss’s interest.

All these and other factors may decide the fate of Yero on his bid for the race to retain his occupation of Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna. As he throws his hat into the ring, barring any last minutes intrigues, clinching the party’s primary election may be as good as clinching the gubernatorial contest for 2015 in Kaduna, especially as Tony Anenih has spoken.