Lagos — After the launch of Sharia in Zamfara State, the Governor, Ahmed Sani, was seen as a hero, not only by the people of Zamfara, but by the whole of the Muslim North.

The teeming masses of the North, especially the Ulamas, saw "Yerima" as another messiah, who had roused Nigerian Muslims from a deep slumber. Ahmed Sani was hailed and praised wherever he went. His colleagues envied him. It was his moment and nobody could deny him his glory.

And no one, no matter his status politically or otherwise in this country dared to "spoil" it for him.

You can criticize Yerima or his administration only at the risk of being branded an "infidel." His popularity was equal to none in Nigeria's democratic history.

When Sheikh El-Zak-Zaky, the Nigerian leader of the Brotherhood Movement, expressed his fears about Ahmed Sani's type of Sharia, the Muslim Ummah descended on him and told him to shut up, accusing him of being absolutely jealous because Yerima had succeed where he had failed. When President Obasanjo, from as far away as United States, was pressed by journalists to comment on Sharia in Zamfara State, and he said without mincing words that the real Sharia had always been there, but the Sharia motivated by politics "will fizzle out", the president's statement was also dismissed as that of an "infidel".

Atiku Abubakar, Obasanjo's V.P., also suffered when he announced to the nation, the Council of State's decision that all the governors that implemented Sharia in their various states should return to the "status quo ante." For quite sometime, no one dared to express caution over sharia implementation. The Muslim North would absolutely not accept that. And so, Ahmed Sani, who led that field had sat back, wearing his broad grin and enjoying every bit of it, while the envious so-called northern elite surrendered their power and kept mum, though with their eyes opened.

And everyone of them was patiently watching. The whole world was watching. And it came to pass. All that is over now. It is over because, for almost five years now Ahmed Sani has failed to govern Zamfara State exemplarily.

Sharia, in its divine concept is supposed to have all the answers to society's problems, but the Ummah of Zamfara State are only being subjected to more austerity, more squalor, more disillusionment. Every sector of the state is now in shambles: the civil service, education, health, agriculture, social infrastructure and what have you. While the state's resources are completely mismanaged and squandered, the economy is on the decline.

The governor spends billions of naira on poverty eradication programme without any improvement on the lives of the poverty-stricken citizens of Zamfara State.

He spends hundreds of millions of naira on foreign trips without a single foreign investment in the state to show for it. Not a single development project in Zamfara State is consistent. Only Yerima's lies, lies and more lies are consistent. He makes empty promises almost on a daily basis, making his people so completely disenchanted that they are asking: "Where the hell is all our money going?" Despite the fact that from 1999 to date, Ahmed Sani has received an estimated fifty six billion naira (N56b), from the Federation Account, he cannot pinpoint a single development project worth one hundred million naira, that has direct bearing on the Zamfara masses. Or can he?

On the political scene, Ahmed Sani is no better. He not only hacks down potential political opponents, but also disparages his own supporters. Ask about Alhaji Ibrahim Ruwan Doruwa, Abubakar Dakingari, Ibrahim Garacci, Nabature Nahuce, Senator Saidu Dansadau, to name but a few. These people were staunch supporters of Yerima and some of them even died in frustration. Many, including the brilliant youth leaders who had stood by him in his hours of need, are victims of his malicious back-stabbing. He surrounds himself with unrepentant sycophants who sing to him only the songs he desires to hear.

On the part of Islamic Scholars and Imams in Zamfara State, the situation is quite unfortunate. While the Ulamas have come to realise (as indeed most political observers) that Ahmed Sani is in fact not what he pretends to be, the governor, unfortunately, has cornered them. Immediately after the famous launch of Sharia, the governor quickly recruited most of the Ulamas, lavishly enticing them with money, power and restricted responsibilities, knowing that, coming from the pit of poverty, in this austere times, they would most likely fail his test.

He gave them juicy carrots and mischievously urged them to take their bites. Just as he is doing now with his Zamfara State Integrated Development Programme, ZASSIDEP, popularly tagged by the populace 'Zamfara State Stealing of Industries and Deception Programme' in which he involves all traditional rulers across the state, so that after pumping huge money to them, he will later catch them for stealing public funds! This way, he will put them where he wants before 2007.

Already, not a few Zamfara citizens think that the relationship between Mr. Sala, his company, ITALCO NIG.

LTD. and Yerima is more than meets the eye. The foreigner has his fangs deep in the state's fibre, with the single approval of the governor. A whole Ministry of Water Resources is said to have been handed over to this "infidel," something many concerned citizens think to is "unfortunate," coming from someone who claims supremacy over Sharia implementation in Nigeria.

Word even goes round from the ruling party's (ANPP) elders that this same foreigner has in his kitty, contracts worth over six billion naira! And this is not all. The more the governor tries to convince Zamfarawas that Mr. Sala and ITALCO are saving the state a lot of money with utmost efficiency and sincerity of purpose, the more the citizens spit in disgust.

Sala was a friend and business associate to the former Liberian leader, Samuel Doe, who died in the hands of a rebel leader, Prince Yormie Johnson. The whole world knows that Samuel Doe was, among other things, accused of looting his country's treasures.

Today, the Zamfara State Ulamas have realised their costly mistake. They are now seeing the governor's true colour. They now know that he has used them only to gain popularity and power, albeit, in the garb of religion. It is a fact that Ahmed Sani could be the worst governor in the whole nation. He has disappointed Zamfara citizens, and surely his misadministration is a big slap on the Muslim world in particular, and Islam in general.

Obviously confused, now the 'Sharia Governor' is hatching another plan to arrogate to himself undeserved power ahead of 2007. Now, he has embarked on organising preaching sessions and fora consisting of various Muslim sects across the country. First, the Izalahs, the Tijaniyahs, the At-Tajdids. Then all of them together. His main motives? Political power in 2007! And expectedly, he has publicly said that much. At what was supposed to be a religious (preaching) gathering, on 10 April, in Ali Akilu Square, Yerima came out to say that "we Muslims all over the country ought to unite and rally round any Muslim who will uphold our faith in 2007". The reader's guess on who the governor was referring to is as good as mine. Of course, he was referring to himself!

If you doubt, then wait and see. He further castigated the United States of America and Britain for killing "fellow Muslims" in Iraq and supporting Israel against Palestine, urging all concerned Muslims with the means to volunteer to go to Iraq and help the Muslims. I believe if Ahmed Sani is not something of a paradox, he will be the best person to lead this cause, since he claims to champion the "just cause" in the Nigeria Muslim society.

With his strong faith, of course he has the means in abundance to pack his lieutenants and lead them to the Jihad, instead of the globe-trotting that he enjoys with members of his family.

The bottom line is that Governor Ahmed Sani is eyeing the presidency in 2007. This much his close associates say, and it can easily be read from his own lips. And he seems to be determined to use religion as a weapon, for his selfish political ambition.

And if care is not taken and he gets his way, only God knows what will happen to Nigeria. Our multi-ethnic and multi-religious co-existence can be further threatened. God forbid, but perhaps the Kaduna and Jos riots could be a child's play.

Despite his poor performance in his state, Ahmed Sani wants to use, the Northern Muslims especially, so that he will be a factor by 2007.

However, our Muslim clerics in this country should be wary of this extremely deceptive governor. Since he has caged and silenced the Muslim clerics in Zamfara State, (and he often brags about that), his aim now is to extend such across the nation. Therefore, Islamic Sheikhs -Dahiru Usman Bauchi, Sani Yahaya Jingir, Yusuf Sambo, Abubakar Gire, Ustaz Mujahid, etcetera BEWARE! If not you will become a shame to Islam.

Nigerian Muslims should never be pawns in the hands of Yerima, or any one like him who thinks he has the right to determine where our political compass should be. The people of the North may be naturally sensitive when it comes to matters pertaining their religion, but they are no fools.

Yerima should rather face the problems in his domain. He should look at the tears in the eyes of Zamfara citizens.

He has a lot of work to do, and time is definitely not on his side.

Meanwhile, all we are saying is, Yerima, fear Allah.

Bilyaminu Yahaya, a Political Science student, wrote from Bayero University, Kano.