On Saturday 11 October, members of the Forum of Chairmen of Opposition Political Parties flew into Kano to decorate the state Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, as the ‘Defender of Democracy’. The event which took place at the Kano Government House threw up Shekarau’s popularity at a time detractors of the dark-complexioned Kano Chief Executive were intent on marring his political image.
“This is a clear indication that Mallam’s political fortune is ordained by Allah; and I tell you that there is nothing anyone can do to bring down a rising star. Mallam Shekarau is the people’s governor and Allah is hearing the prayers of millions of Kano people who put him on that seat. We are proud of him because he has brought back home a glory that no politician in Kano has ever brought to us… We are happy for him and we know that more testimonies will come his way before his tenure ends in 2011,” Alhaji Shu’aibu Darki, a Shekarau supporter enthused.
Interestingly, the award came at a time a caucus within the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, loyal to the party’s presidential flag-bearer in the 2007 elections, General Muhammadu Buhari, launched an offensive against him. The Buhari Organisation, TBO, in Kano and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, recently picked on Shekarau’s government over what they described as needless waste of public fund. Top on their list was the state government’s car gift to the Emirate Council and other traditional rulers in the state. Though the government has justified the gift, the opposition believes that the millions of Naira spent on the cars should have been used for other developmental projects.
However, leader of the Forum, Chief Maxi Okwu, testified that Shekarau’s regime has been faithful to the Kano people in terms of fulfilment of election promises and provision of infrastructure and social amenities. The Forum commended Shekarau’s human development policy and creation of relevant agencies such as the Anti-Corruption Directorate, Project Monitoring Directorate and Directorate of Societal Re-orientation (A Dai Daita Sahu), which it said has succeeded in impacting positively on the development of the state.
In the citation, the Forum celebrated Shekarau’s administration for its commitment to the wellbeing of pensioners in the state and described him as the “emancipator of pensioners”, commending his release of about N13billion to offset allowances owed pensioners before the inception of his administration.
Receiving the award, the governor expressed gratitude to the Forum for appreciating his efforts and noted: “This is the way true democrats should behave. It is sad that some politicians still criticise blindly, despite the numerous achievements on the ground.”
Twenty-four hours after collecting the ‘Defender of Democracy’ award, Shekarau, on Sunday 12 October, was again honoured by the Northern Youth Awareness with the ‘Best Performing Northern Governor’ award at the Arewa House in Kaduna.
Report By Madubuachi Nmeribeh
Comment