Shettima’s Wise Choice

of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to senior government officials and party leaders in the state, my critical appraisal of the tax administration in Lagos did not elicit the negative response I expected. More shocking was that all the people who should ordinarily be angry with the piece were actually praising me for being ‘bold to tell the governor the home truth’. Almost everybody who called put the blame on Ambode who was said to be running a one-man-show in the state and would not listen to any advice. One particular refrain that kept coming from the reactions was “If he (Ambode) thinks Asiwaju can save him, he is making the mistake of his life”.

What the responses suggested was that Ambode was behaving like the foolish Yoruba wife who goes into marriage with a “me-and-my-husband” attitude that discounts the in-laws. In the event of crisis, such a wife will have nowhere to run for succour. But even at that period, I could also sense a feeling of frustrations from the camp of the The foregoing excerpts is from my column, godfather. I tried to gauge the mood in Bourdillon ‘Tinubu, Fashola, Ambode and Nigeria’ and the feedback was that Ambode “is a loudmouth, published on 19th November, 2015 and it serves always bragging that he is now in charge. He as a background to the defeat on Tuesday of sidelines any official known to be connected Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at the ruling to Asiwaju (Tinubu) like the SSG and Chief All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries in of Staff among others and any commissioner the state. While most people may be surprised, known to be visiting Bourdillon regularly is I am not. Although it is commendable that the in trouble”. governor finally yielded to common sense Until then, I had assumed the relationship yesterday by gracefully accepting defeat, he between Tinubu and Ambode to be very cordial must, on introspection, realise that he is the but the governor must have been given a false architect of his own downfall. I knew as far sense of security. I was therefore not surprised back as March this year that Ambode would when the story broke recently that a certain Jide find it difficult securing a second term. Sanwo-Olu had been endorsed as the preferred

Following public outcry over provisions of the APC candidate in Lagos ahead of Ambode. By 2018 Land Use Charge (LUC), I wrote a piece then, the governor had not only lost many of the titled “Between Ambode and Lagos Landlords” critical constituencies in the state, he had become where I warned about the underlying subterfuge more a political liability than an asset to Tinubu. in the repeated use of ‘law’ to legitimize extortion There are several stories of a governor who would as taxation in Lagos State. “In history, some sack officials at the slightest provocation and gloat of the greatest outrages against humanity about it with the refrain, “Mo bee lorun” (I cut off have been committed under ‘laws’ passed by his neck). From the LASTMA boss to 18 permanent manipulated parliaments. But history is also secretaries, Ambode spent his first weeks in office replete with empires that crumbled under the dismissing Lagos State officials he suspected were weight of their own contradictions” I wrote loyal to Fashola without any evidence. before I concluded that “The glaring abuse of Ambode’s human relations is another issue the legislative process (with names of private altogether. Generally regarded as arrogant and companies even being written into laws) in a distant, even by peers, there is hardly any prominent revenue-generating gambit that fails to take into citizen in Lagos who speaks well of him. Besides, account the prevailing economic situation in unlike most other states where commissioners the country can only lead to one inevitable are glorified errand boys, Lagos has always been conclusion: Hubris!” different with commissioners that had the authority

Quite naturally, I expected reactions from of their ranks. That was until Ambode came. Lagos. What I did not bargain for was the A commissioner told me as far back as March nature of the reactions. From close associates this year: “Our Exco meetings are nothing but

a joke. The governor is the only thinker and he THISDAY Newspapers Limited. doesn’t like debate. He comes with pre-conceived ideas and any contrary opinions would be met with a stern ‘I am the governor here’ rebuke. The person I pity most is the deputy governor. Contrary to what has been established over the years in the state, it took Asiwaju’s intervention for her to be given approval to control the education ministry. But she can’t go beyond that ministry so effectively, the governor has reduced her to a commissioner.”

As if all these were not bad enough, Ambode dared his godfather by dissolving the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Sector Emergency Flood Abatement Gang (EFAG) structures. Incidentally, several of the experienced officials who were posted out were trained by the governments of the United States, Finland, Netherlands and Germany, including those that I have had several close interactions with the Governor of Borno State, Mr Kashim Shettima and I come out of every encounter impressed not only by his grasp of issues but also by his passion. I am therefore not surprised by the rigour with which he took the issue of his likely successor by endorsing his Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, Prof Babagana Umaru Zulum as his preferred candidate for the APC gubernatorial ticket in the state. Yesterday, I was with Dr Mairo Mandara, until recently the Country Representative of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and she could not hide her delight at the choice of Zulum who is at the heart of the efforts to rebuild after the devastation of Boko Haram. But she is not alone as many of the respected members of the Borno elite I have spoken to believe it is a wise choice. Zulum therefore comes highly recommended and he is nobody’s puppet.

In a season when many of the outgoing governors and sundry godfathers are settling for their sons-in-law and lackeys, it is commendable that some would still put their personal interest aside in pursuit of public good for their states. And nobody could have put the situation better than Governor Shettima himself. This is the way he explained his choice: “Of our 21 aspirants, if I were to support and handpick what some people might call any of my closest boys as successor; I most certainly would go for Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan or Adamu Lawan Zaufanjimba. If, on the other hand, public service is the only consideration, none of the aspirants can be more qualified than our elder statesman, Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda. If loyalty to political association is my main consideration, Senator Abubakar Kyari has proved unalloyed loyalty to political association with me. If years of sincere and mutual friendship are my main consideration, Senator Baba Kaka Bashir Garbai and Alhaji Mai Sheriff are my closest friends amongst all our aspirants. If the consideration is about humility and ability to carry people along, His Excellency Shettima Yuguda Dibal is legendary. I have relationship and so much respect for majority of the aspirants, the likes of Hon. Umara Kumalia, Makinta, name them. In fact, two of the aspirants, Mustapha Fannarambe and Umar Alkali are my relatives. However, because of the situation we found ourselves, considerations for the next Governor of Borno State requires specific quips tailored to our needs for now. From the generality of feedbacks, there is no doubt that what will define political debates in Borno’s 2019 governorship election will be promises in the aftermath of brutal conflict, deaths and destructions of communities… From overwhelming opinions and feedbacks, the aspirant with an edge in understanding the Peace-Development Nexus of Borno’s post conflict future is Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, mni.”

That Borno State has suffered a lot in the hands of Boko Haram in recent years is an understatement. A tested and trusted hand like Zulum will therefore be refreshing as governor after Shettima. I hope he wins.