Jonathan’s allegation and Kwankwaso’s performance
The recent outburst of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the governor of Kano State might be borne out of the fact that the leadership style of Gov. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is uniquely different from the leadership style of the present day leaders. By every measure or criteria of assessment, his achievements are beyond expectations and his foresight can only be likened to that of the great leaders in history.
At a recent rally organised to receive former Kano State governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, the president queried, among other baseless posers, where Kwankwaso diverted the local government funds. In his address to a pocket of party supporters in Kano, the president alleged that his administration was doing better than what Kwankwaso is doing in Kano.
The president and his co-travellers should note that there is no law that criminalises ‘joint project’ between the state government and local governments. I learn that it is not only the urban area that is benefitting from this idea, the rural areas also benefit. Recently, the state government awarded about N2 billion road project in Riruwai village. The joint project has therefore given the people in Doguwa Local Government the opportunity to enjoy dividends of democracy.
Kwankwaso initiated programmes that jerked up the internally generated revenue of the state from N400 million to about N2 billion monthly. He has also ensured financial discipline in the state.
According to reports, the governor ensured that all primary and post-primary schools are rejuvenated, fenced and equipped. He constructed more than 1,600 classrooms and 800 offices. As a measure to increase the enrollment level and motivate the pupils, he reintroduced the free feeding and distribution of free uniforms to all primary school pupils. He introduced the establishment of boarding primary schools in each of the senatorial zones of the state.
According to the governor’s publicist: “On tertiary education, he established the first and second state- owned universities; that is the Kano University of Technology, Wudil (in his first tenure) and the NorthWest University in his second tenure. The government has also established 44 technical schools across the 44 local government areas of the state. On foreign scholarship he has so far sponsored over 2,000 students to universities across the world. He also established 23 new institutes for vocational training and professional development.
“On infrastructural development, three new cities of Kwankwasiyya, Amana and Bandirawo were established with the aim of decongesting the metropolis and providing planned layouts to meet the housing needs of the people. The government is also constructing five-kilometer dualised roads with drainages and streetlights in each of the 44 local government areas of the state. Kano’s superimposing flyover built by Kwankwaso at the city centre is a captivating sight. The flyover, which is at 85 per cent completion is the first of its kind in northern Nigeria. The second flyover, covering more than one kilometer, is already taking shape as construction work takes place day and night.
“His administration established the Kano Road Maintenance Agency (KARMA) and vested it with the responsibility to maintain road infrastructure. Upon inception, KARMA declared state of emergency on potholes, achieving a high degree of success in a short period of time.’’
To ease traffic congestion and reduce accident rates, Kwankwaso established the Kano Road Traffic Authority (KAROTA). Its positive impact is felt by motorists.
Towards turning Kano into a modern city of international standard, the governor also established the Kano Geographic Information Systems (KANGIS) to enhance land administration and development. An ultra-modern office complex with state-of-theart facilities has been built for this new agency.
As a way of cushioning the effect of this new policy, the administration embarked on mass housing projects in order to provide alternatives to people and meet the growing quest for houses in urban areas.
As obtained in developed climes, pedestrians in Kano now walk smoothly by the road as neatly laid interlocking tiles adorn the walkways of the roads. To reduce accidents and enhance the security of lives and property, streetlights were installed and rehabilitated. Pursuant to the present administration’s efforts at rejuvenating the metropolitan roads, Kwankwaso started by tiling 10 metropolitan roads in December 2011 and subsequently expanded the project areas. It may interest readers to note that so far, over 80 roads in Kano city have been provided with interlocking tiles.
The Jakara-Kwarin Gogau river, which hitherto served as breeding grounds for vectors and haven for criminals, will no longer bear its features as standard gauge road with accompanying infrastructure is being constructed atop. Kwankwaso also initiated a 35-megawatts independent power project at Challawa and Tiga Dams and initiated the construction of a metro-line (light train) across the city.
Under the present administration, over 620,000 indigenes of Kano have been either trained on skills acquisition or are directly employed. This will positively impact on the lives of estimated 3 million people. As part of his effort to create jobs and boost economic prosperity, Kwankwaso established 44 garment industries, one in each of the 44 local government areas of the state. They are currently being constructed alongside 44 micro finance banks in the 44 LGAs of the state to support small and medium scale industries with loans. Gov. Kwankwaso also provided a N1 billion commercial agricultural facility to support commercial farmers. The list is endless.
If President Jonathan had recorded half of Kwankwaso’s achievements, Nigeria wouldn’t have been in a deep mess today.
Safiyanu wrote from Sanusi Fafunwa Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.