Jigawa and the fifth columnist against it

The governor has shown in words and deeds that leadership is a sacred trust between the people and those entrusted with power. Despite the limited federal subventions coming to the state, prudence has become the guiding philosophy of his administration in its efforts to make the desired impact in governance. Such efficient management of resources is today yielding dividends in Jigawa State.

His no-nonsense stance against corruption is largely responsible for the current level of remarkable development that Jigawa State is witnessing under the leadership of Alhaji Sule Lamido. Greed and corruption have been the enemies of our development and his commitment to fight these evils have contributed to the good results being achieved.

In fact, even a beetle-eyed observer who is honest cannot pretend not to see the major changes taking place in Jigawa State. Public schools, hospitals, roads, water supply and rural development that were once in poor shape are today incredibly transformed by the Lamido administration in just two years. These improvements in the quality of development are visible and whatever preconceived notion anyone ever had about Jigawa State would automatically change if you have the chance to visit the state this time around.

 However, since the resources of the government are limited in meeting the competing needs of the people, the Lamido administration has introduced the policy of bringing faster development in partnership with the private sector. That is why banks and other key actors in the private sector have joined his government in the sincere efforts to transform Jigawa State.

Although no government can achieve its set goals all at once, the Lamido administration has set a credible standard for future large scale development of Jigawa State. When he came into office in May, 2007, pessimists never gave him the faintest chance to succeed. But within just two years, he has disarmed his opponents about his proven capacity to move Jigawa State forward. Considering the lean recourses of Jigawa State against the needs of its large population, Lamido’s achievements so far are noteworthy by any credible standard.

Good performance is the best public relations and that speaks for itself in Jigawa State. This alone will continue to count in Lamido’s favour. In fact, the voters themselves are directly witnessing the positive changes taking place in their lives. It is surprising therefore why some enemies of Jigawa State are working tooth and nail to turn the hands of the clock backward.

In the recent past, all kinds of mendacious and malicious articles have appeared in newspapers, seeking to divert attention from the concrete achievements of the Lamido administration. When hard working leaders are achieving results, their opponents become jittery because of the fear that it might blunt their weapon of falsehoods.  

With their false propaganda falling like water off a duck’s back, the opponents of Lamido’s government have changed tack. Their latest method involves writing fictitious petitions to ICPC and EFCC alleging large-scale corruption in the Lamido administration. In fact, their main objective is not seeking the truth but to embarrass his government by setting the anti-graft agencies after key officials of his administration.

On each occasion however, the ICPC and EFCC are usually led on a wild goose chase by discredited petitioners. In a previous case, the petitioner’s reputation was torn apart by closer examination conducted by the ICPC.

But it is not enough to assume that these frivolous petitions are the handwork of external enemies of the Lamido administration alone or rival political parties. There is a valid reason to believe that some mischief makers within the Lamido administration may also have a hidden hand in the current smear campaign against the Lamido administration. Lamido’s insistence on transparency and his anti-corruption crusade may not have gone down well with some officials and staff of his government who fear that he is frustrating their dubious methods of making easy money.

Such undercurrents of frustration by insiders may have led to the smear campaign to undermine the Lamido administration. Corruption is the fastest means of making illegal incomes without hard work and those who live by it can always fight back behind the scene against the very government they serve.

Kazaure writes from 29B, Kade Street, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja