Democracy thrives in Kano?
The letter to the editor by Abdu Mutallib Mukhtar titled ‘democracy bleeds in Kano” which appeared in the Daily Trust of October 4th, 2019, can only be described as mere lamentation of a loser. For how can the re-election of Governor Ganduje be said to be: ‘rape of democracy’, and described as day-light robbery of a stolen mandate? Was Abdul trying to say that those who freely voted for Baban Abba including my humble self are mere ghosts?
Haba Abdul, I wonder why you likened Kano to being: ‘ruled by force and never by the choice of the people’. This is your own opinion only and it should be left as such, since it smack of feeble attempt at twisting fact and distorting history about the combined efforts of the over one million conscientious Kanawa who patriotically voted for continuity, maturity, respect for elders, level headedness, and humility.
According to the writer, democracy bleeds in Kano. But this also is just a misnomer as the phrase have failed in all honesty to justify and project the true picture of contemporary politics of Kano. Instead, Mallam Abdul ought to have said that: democracy thrives in Kano in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the vast majority of the people of the state.
How can someone residing in Kano so easily forgot the atrocities perpetrated by the Kwankwasiyya adherents on innocents, and law abiding citizens of Kano in the name of championing the course of democracy? However, those who have been held in bondage and terror as victims by Kwankwasiyya multitudes have not and will never forget the psychological trauma, physical abuse and daily rampage in the name of democracy they are being subjected to, almost on daily basis!
And if Abdul cannot see anything wrong with how Kwankwasiyya have hoodwinked and caged the pretentious minds of our young ones, turning them into cannon fodders, often fighting, maiming, killing, and dying for somebody; those who truly loved Kano will never allow that to continue.
But let me remind Abdul that Kano was so fortunate to have been the place where legendary Aminu Kano once lived. The complex nature of its politics wasn’t mere serendipity, or a matter of chance occurrence. But rather, a conscious effort involving serious personal exertions, energy, sufferings, bloodletting & death!
Let me also put it at the back of his mind that politics of god-Fatherism can only flourish somewhere else, not politically conscious Kano. The state is too big and sophisticated to be saddled with a governor like Abba Zaman Gida who will be dancing to the dictate of; and kowtowing to the whims and caprices of someone else!
Indeed, in the game of life, one cannot be under somebody’s shadow in all ramifications and expect to be free! And that was why Kano voters freely gave Ganduje their mandate having critically weighted the two options at hand. Our choice was predicated on the desire and premise to safeguard and respect our moral and cultural norms and values. We voted someone who on many occasion, demonstrated greater power, independent thought and capacity to do things without fear or favour!
The latest court ruling affirming the mandate freely given to Ganduje by millions of Kano citizens who are so much pained by the steady decline in the moral architecture and values among our youth is a clear demonstration for all those who seek power for its own sake; not as responsibility and beckoning to serve the people faithfully. By that, we hope to halt and save Kano and by extension our youth from further descending into social decadence!
But I quite agree with Abdul that in other to save time, effort, resources, and energy in the fruitless venture of appealing the ruling, it is better for Kwankwasiyya to resign to fate and let the matter rested, because what would follow in the appellate courts would only be mere re-affirmation of the same mandate freely given by Kano elders, Ulama’s, rural dwellers, and conscientious youth to Governor Ganduje to take Kano to the next level!
And surely, when the time comes for another election in 2023, the same trends would repeat itself, as real Kanawa who genuinely love Kano shall rise up to the occasion and do the needful again, to save Kano and its people from the threat of Kwankwasiyya and all her negative attributes. Thank You.
Kabir Tsakuwa, Kano yahoo.com tsakuwa2000@