Yahaya D. I. Muye
20 February 2008
opinion
One Ndazuru Mohammed in an advertorial placed in Daily Trust of 12th February, 2008 expressed disappointment that Kure's friends and boys have abandoned the former governor.
But who is a friend? Oxford Advance Learner's Dictionary defines a "friend" as a person you know well and like, and who is not usually a member of your family, while the web defines a "friend" as a person you know well and regards with affection and trust. Who is a boy? Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary also defines a "boy" as a group of young men who does a particular job, in mostly offensive way, while the web defines a "boy" as an immature or inexperienced man, especially young men. Going by these definitions, one would wonder who among the friends or the boys will come out to defend Mr Kure.
Are they really friends that regard Mr Kure with affection and trust? Are the boys who are inexperienced and immature able to defend their boss? It is unfortunate that those people the former governor enriched so obscenely have today left him in the lurch. Indeed, Kure's friends and boys are now struggling for their own survival. They have all gone the way of former President Obasanjo's boys. Boys like Femi Fani-Kayode, Akin Osuntokun, Julius Oyavaire, Nasir el-Rufai and a host of others who in their hey days had no scruples to attack even people like the personality of retired General Gowon.
Mr Mohammed is probably the only "friend" of Kure's that's left, and wants to pay back the former governor favours that he received. Hence, it pains him so much that "Kure allowed himself to be misguided by some so-called professional politicians who definitely snatched the show away from him. The government of Babangida Aliyu, which commenced only eight months ago, has recorded tremendous achievements in many areas. For example, in Suleja town, the popular Field Base-Kaduna Road, which used to be the most unwanted township road, has been reconstructed to the delight of the inhabitants.
In my own Lapai Local Government Area, the electrification projects in Lambatta-Kwara, Gupa, Favu, Yelwa, Gbage and Checku villages were awarded to Kure's cronies, but they pocketed the money and abandoned the jobs. These contractors have since returned to sites, fearing that the dragnet of Governor Aliyu's Commission of Inquiry will soon catch them. The inhabitants of those villages had resigned to fate without the hope of enjoying electricity in their lifetime. Governor Aliyu's actions, therefore, are neither "empty threats" nor "mere bravados" as the advertorial claimed. Even in my district, a prominent public figure who's also a politician was given a contract for the construction of a feeder road to his own village during Kure's tenure but he abandoned it. The fear of the Commission of Inquiry has forced him back to the site.
The former governor in his insatiable lust to appropriate the people's property sold all the state government's properties to himself and his cronies. For example, Mokwa Ranch, Suleja and New Bussa motels, the low cost houses in Suleja, Minna, Kontagora and Bida. The same administration of Kure was unable to construct and complete less than 500 units of houses throughout his eight years in power. Travellers along Abuja-Kaduna expressway would agree with me that Zuma Rock and Madalla housing projects are such examples. Kure's administration did not stop there, it destroyed government forest reserve in Maje-Suleja and tagged it industrial layout. Today, the said layout has been invaded with filling stations by his friends.
To win the sympathy of the populace, the writer challenged the chief servant for embarking on the urbanisation policy, that Minna must not necessarily assume the status of Abuja. I wonder if the writer and his sponsors really know the consequences of cities that lack urban planning. Does it mean state capitals shouldn't adhere to their structural plans? Should state capitals turn to shanty towns or ghettos? If Engineer Kure had failed as a structural engineer to address the problem, kudos should therefore be given to a trained administrator that knows the consequences of urban degradation.
The writer went ahead to address the chief servant by derogatory name of Yan Chirani (seasoned migrant). I say to hell with an indigene who will be elected and misappropriate the wealth of his own people. I, like many indigenes of the state, will prefer a Yan Chirani who is dedicated to the development of the state in every sector. The administration of Governor Babangida Aliyu in less than ten months in office is about completing 40-bed hospitals in Gulu, Wuse and Nasko. The 500 unit housing project in Minna is also at the completion stages. Dualising of two street roads in Minna is also in progress, while Minna township streetlights that had ceased to function have been rehabilitated.
Kure's eight years administration received more than 280 billion naira, far much more than what the state got in all previous years combined from its creation in 1976. Despite the instability in the economy, the cost of exchange and raw materials, the amount received by his administration is quite enough to put some physical and developmental structures on ground. I challenge Kure's friends and boys to tell us the number of roads constructed, hospitals built or renovated, towns and villages electrified, communities provided with potable drinking water, number of schools built, renovated or provided with learning equipment.
Mr Mohammed did not only attack the personality of the chief servant, but also of the highly respected traditional rulers and religious scholars. He accused them of supporting the incumbent administration. The administration of Engineer Kure in his bid to return to office for second term in 2003 solicited for the support of traditional rulers, mosques and churches. It will be interesting to readers that Kure's administration purchased more than 100 Mercedes Benz VBOOT cars for all district heads in the state, those he felt had the power to ensure his re-election in 2003. If there is anyone that needs support and prayers, it must be leaders; I see nothing wrong for the chief servant soliciting for the support and prayers of traditional and religious leaders in the state.
Mohammed wants Kure's friends to come out and defend their former boss. The fact is that they cannot come out now given the ignominious roles they played in plundering the state. These people have since buried their heads in the sand. Ndazuru's call to them to come and defend their former leader is nothing but Dutch courage which will soon fizzle out. Sincere Nigerlites, those who wish the state progress and prosperity will only urge Governor Mu'azu Aliyu to pursue with greater determination the course he has charted for thes.
Mr Yahaya wrote from the Department of Economics, Katsina State University
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Nice write up but, the writer is not just by claiming that the contractors handling electricity project in Lambata Kwara, Gupa, favu, Yelwa, Gbage and Cheku have return to sites as a result of Goernor Aliyu Bagingida's threat. The fact is that little or nothing has been done in respect of those projects. As claimed by the writer, if actualy Governor Aliyu's action is what force the contractors to resume work in those sites (if actualy they have resume), why is it that the contractor handling Lapi - Gulu - Ebbo - Muye road project has not resume? I want the writer to always justify his write ups by balancing the administrative equation of Governo Kure and Babangida Aliyu for instance, looking at the socall "jama'a Forums" organised so far by Governo Aliyu Babangida, what has he achieved? nothing rather than westing both human and material resources of Nigerlites. why is it that the writer does not want to advice Governo Aliyu through media to redefine "Jama'a Forum" and let his actions speak for him.
Nice write up but, the writer is not just by claiming that the contractors handling electricity project in Lambata Kwara, Gupa, favu, Yelwa, Gbage and Cheku have return to sites as a result of Goernor Aliyu Bagingida's threat. The fact is that little or nothing has been done in respect of those projects. As claimed by the writer, if actualy Governor Aliyu's action is what force the contractors to resume work in those sites (if actualy they have resume), why is it that the contractor handling Lapi - Gulu - Ebbo - Muye road project has not resume? I want the writer to always justify his write ups by balancing the administrative equation of Governo Kure and Babangida Aliyu for instance, looking at the socall "jama'a Forums" organised so far by Governo Aliyu Babangida, what has he achieved? nothing rather than westing both human and material resources of Nigerlites. why is it that the writer does not want to advice Governo Aliyu through media to redefine "Jama'a Forum" and let his actions speak for him.