Re: Dear Kano, my city, my state

Much as I appreciate the love and concern exhibited by Mrs. Binta Abubakar on the progress and development of Kano State, via her letter to the editor which appeared in the Daily Trust newspaper of Wednesday, September 27, 2017, I wish to humbly disagree with the main point raised which calls on Kano political gladiators to sheathe their swords in the interest of peace and tranquillity within the ruling party.

Of course, without fear of contradiction, Hajiya will agree with me that most of the incumbent APC state governors have failed to align their priorities with the cardinal objectives and aspirations of the president. She would also agree with me that in many states, the APC has been unable to deliver dividends of democracy to the electorate. What confront the common man nowadays are baskets full of betrayal, failed and unfulfilled promises, dashed hopes and theft of common patrimony.

Based on that, my sincere prayer, and I believe most Kanawa share the same, is that the present political brouhaha and in-fighting among the APC stalwarts in Kano shall continue because it has nothing to do with the common man. In truth, the common man on the streets who has been subdued by hunger and diseases does not care whether the APC wins in subsequent elections or not. Indeed, why should he bother, when as ordinary citizen, he has been left at the mercy of God Almighty, endlessly hoping for divine succour and grace.

Hajiya, what policy implementation and dividend of democracy are you talking about when nothing seems to be working in Kano State at the moment? Are you not aware that majority of Kano people have been subjected to multiple taxations, dilapidated infrastructure, and lack of basic social amenities? A casual visit to the Murtala Muhammed Hospital, emergency section, will be an eye opener to the pathetic and sorry state of our hospitals and the grievous condition ordinary citizens are being made to endure.

Indeed, I’m of the view that calling our elders, including our revered emir of Kano to intervene in the on-going political hullabaloo to avoid a looming disaster (electoral defeat) is far off the mark as far as ordinary citizens are concerned?

And to cut the long story short, the APC has woefully failed in Kano State. So, whether as you stated, the two elephants continue to fight or not is immaterial for the grass has been suffering since the advent of the present political dispensation. In fact, that statement is an overused cliché lacking any substance to the subjugated masses.

Again, your observation that Kano is important in Nigeria’s political scheme of things, especially in election matters is not true going by the body language of the party stalwarts who have been showing contrary perspectives. Otherwise, we could have observed greater empathy about anything to do with the well-being, progress and development of Kano State; but so far, that is not the case.

At the moment, other political parties stand a good chance of taking over the mantle of leadership in Kano and elsewhere if they can capitalize on the general misgivings among the masses, because a house divided against itself cannot stand as you rightly observed. Any party, therefore, can take over in the subsequent election in Kano, because our sacrifices and massive votes have so far meant nothing to the APC both at the state and federal level.

Let those who genuinely love Kano pray to God for divine intervention.