by Ahmad B. Kaita

It was quite unfortunate that governor Shema, supposedly a barrister, a globe trotter and frequent visitor to the freest political society on the planet, the USA could behave like a street thug. He seemed absolutely convinced that preventing interactive sessions by politicians and intellectuals is the only way to keep him politically alive.

Actually this was not my topic for the week. Certain events made it topmost on the list of critical issues I wanted to discuss. Manifestly clear in all aspects of our physical and mental politics, the devilish issue of political hooliganism is certainly a monster that is receiving less attention than it deserved.

Last week Thursday, I received an invitation to attend a lecture organised by a non governmental organisation “Katsina Dialogue for Change”. This is an NGO with a difference. The long list of highly charged young patriotic intellectuals who formed the NGO cannot be ignored no matter the place or purpose. Doctors (the real ones), lawyers (practicing), Engrs and other professionals all out with a single objective of making Nigeria a better place. To be honest, I’m really proud to be within the age brackets of the organizers – and even more proud to see such a laudable effort coming from my geopolitical zone and my state. I’m certain my generation is not a failure and, with perseverance may return Nigeria to its lost glory.

With a tight schedule lined up for the weekend, I had to canceled some appointment to attend and benefit from this event. It was an event worth attending for the quality of minds lined up to make presentations. The fearless former Speaker, House of Reps (who stood the Obj 3rd term train in its track) Aminu Bello Masari was the guest of honour while the articulate, persuasive and brutally honest Dr. Usman Bugaje was the guest speaker of the event. I guess, that says a lot more about the event than my words could.

Scheduled to hold at the ancient city of Katsina, the event was an excellent opportunity to address the growing despotic tendencies of governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema who, by the way is reputed to have a phobia for gathering of any sort much less, one with such a battalion of globally acclaimed intimidating intellects and nationally certified self made politicians. True to habit, minutes after the Guest Speaker, Dr. Bugaje started delivering his address, hired thugs (regular feature in Katsina politics) suspected to have been deployed by the government started chanting war slogans to prevent what they assumed was a challenge to Shema.

I would not claim to have been caught off guard as I was forewarned by an officer of the State Security Service. In my opinion, this is the first line of action to enforce compliance with the ambitious agenda of governor Shema to start a political destiny. Already, this local “Kennedy” idea has manifested in Kurfi/Dutsin-ma federal constituency where the posters of the state’s first son, Yamani Ibrahim Shema is giving the constituency a new look. Yamani is the young “prince” introduced to the public in a state wedding alleged to have cost Katsina tax payers hundreds of millions few months ago.

It was quite unfortunate that governor Shema, supposedly a barrister, a globe trotter and frequent visitor to the freest political society on the planet, the USA could behave like a street thug. He seemed absolutely convinced that preventing interactive sessions by politicians and intellectuals is the only way to keep him politically alive. How wrong! Especially in this case. With over 3000 quality facebook membership and over 10,000 physically registered members, only the dumbest politician can mess with a formidable forum like Katsina Dialogue for Change. The smartest will use it positively.

This is not the first time legally approved public functions were prevented by thugs under the payroll of Katsina state government. Last year a gubernatorial aspirant Abdu Umar Tsauri, aka Tata was prevented from having a session with his supporters in Katsina. The event was disrupted by the same thugs in the same manner the Katsina Dialogue for Change event was disrupted. Another rumoured aspirant, Engr. Muttaqa Rabe was prevented from operating a transport service designed as a social service scheme intended to cushion the effect of Shema’s misgovernance. Even a simple game of football is not tolerated when hosted by an “enemy” of the regime as was the case recently in my constituency when a football game I hosted was stopped by “orders from the above”.

It is funny that this happened at a time President Jonathan (governor Shema’s mentor and role model) was in faraway Guinea Bissau preaching democracy where he declared military regimes as no longer tolerable. I doubt if he is aware that Katsinawa now refers to their governor as “COL. SHEMA”.

One may ask, where is Shema’s conscience that after schooling his kids in the best institutions across the globe financed from God knows what source, he could still ferry them home with a dream to impose them as leaders using the services of their uneducated and unemployed peers conveniently converted into drug addicts for the purpose. I doubt if governor Shema and his henchmen ruminate about their fate in solitary confinement of their graves.

Interestingly, the event was meant to address issues bordering on the excesses of leaders bent on having their way no matter their capacity, acceptability and marketability. With the trend becoming a style in many PDP controlled states, it is safe to assume that this is the likely picture of what to expect come 2015. No doubt, PDP is bent on using the ancient “do or die” manuscript left behind by its greatest beneficiary, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. No one should “crazily” assume that the PDP will abandon its religiously respected rigging machine for normal democratic process, especially in the absence of quality leadership and poverty of potentially good leaders to offer as incentive for votes.

On the surface, it may appear as an impossibility to kick out PDP and clean the mess it created. But, with determination and sincere approach, it is the easiest task one could think of. PDP is a divided family built on personal objectives and ambitions. That explains why, for instance a governor Shema will be shouting “GEJ 2015” while silently building his 2015 presidential campaign structures. But then, any ambition have to be treated within the context of the Nigerian cat and mouse politics. Beside, the fear of “EFCC” is the beginning of wisdom for anybody with restive skeletons in his cupboards.

 

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Read this article in the Leadership Newspapers

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.