By IBRAHEEM MUSA
Optics, symbolisms and personalities, drive politics and mainly, they determine election outcomes in a democracy. Elections, in recent past, were ideologically-driven but Identity Politics has trumped that in realpolitik. Now, a candidate’s origin, form and mode of worship, matter more than his integrity and competence. Globally, this is the new normal and at home, the Muslim-Muslim ticket, Naka Sai Naka campaign and the Obidient hoopla, echoed the phenomenon.
Significantly, Alhaji Shuaibu Bawa Jaja, Chairman of Kudan local government, warned against this divisive, dangerous and poisonous politics on January 6, 2023. Indeed, Alhaji Isa Mohammed Ashiru, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate, is from Kudan local government. Likewise, Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi, the then New Nigerian Peoples Party(NNPP) flagbearer, is also from that Area Council. Naturally, some residents were in a quandary, whether or not to support Senator Uba Sani, the popular choice, or Ashiru and Hunkuyi, the sons-of-their soil.
However, on that fateful day, the APC campaign was at Kudan on January 6 and Jaja, as the Chief Host, mounted the podium and spoke against Identity Politics. In an election, he pointed out, people should vote for competent and experienced candidates, those who can deliver the dividends of democracy. Jaja, without mincing words, declared Senator Uba Sani as the best amongst the three candidates. Similarly, the APC gubernatorial candidate, in his address, made promises to the people.
Indeed, 11 months after, Senator Uba Sani was at Kudan to fulfil part of those promises. The people, in their thousands, welcomed the Governor with endearing slogans, songs of praise and sundry epithets last Saturday. ‘’Balaraben gwamna,’’ “Uban Alheri,” and “Mai Nasara”, rent the air as the Chief Executive of Kaduna State and his entourage, including Commissioners, political associates and senior government officials, arrived Sakadadi, a border town between Hunkuyi, headquarters of Kudan local government and Sabon Gari Area Council. Specifically, the Governor flagged off the construction of 10.2 kilometre feeder road, stretching from Dan Makwarwa to Hunkuyi. Similarly, he commissioned the renovated Kudan Township Stadium. Besides, the local government will benefit from Transformers installation and upgrade of power supply lines.
Significantly, as a gubernatorial candidate, Senator Uba Sani had promised rural transformation when elected into office. In fact, at focal meetings, Townhall engagements and on the rostrum, this message was a recurring theme. Indeed, at a meeting in Kafanchan, organised by Southern Kaduna Stakeholders, he outlined his rural transformation agenda, praised El Rufai’s Urban Renewal Programme and promised to continue with it, in line with the SUSTAIN Agenda. Similarly, he also pledged to focus on rural areas, transform their local economies and open them up for further development.
In retrospect, the rural transformation journey, as promised the electorate, had started two months ago, with the flagging off of the 21.7 kilometer road on September 2. The road, according to reports, will link Anchau, Gadas-Palla road in Kubau and Ikara local governments, to address transportation challenges of 32 communities.
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Indeed, the Kudan flag off of last Saturday, is a continuous journey as seven local governments, located in Zone One, will benefit from roads construction, installation of 2,000 Solar Street Lights and other dividends of democracy. Subsequently, Zones Two and Three will also benefit, the Governor promised, in fulfilment of a campaign pledge, a commitment to Rural Renewal Programme and opening new frontiers of development, to complement the ongoing Urban Renewal Programme.
*Ibraheem Musa was Director of Strategic Communication of the Kaduna State APC Council
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