The statement titled” Kaduna State: A Fight Of Elephants, The Grass Should Not Suffer!” stated that while overtly the bone of contention is the financial probe of the Kaduna State House of Assembly against the previous administration and key actors, the rhetoric from both sides betrays the covert political brinkmanship.
He said that History has shown that such political battles by former allies end up distracting governance with the masses at the receiving end.
“This is the fact that Kaduna State is only second to Kano in terms of housing the number of multi-dimensionally poor as well as highest maternal mortality in Nigeria, with an out-of-pocket expenditure (84%) on health higher than the national average, 60% of its children suffering acute malnutrition, a substantial number of out of school children roaming the streets, with many of those in school still seating on the ground and above 40% unemployment rate.
“Even though every well-meaning resident of the State must support the further investigation of the probe findings, every kobo should be accounted for, as well as prosecution of all those found guilty by a competent court, we must not allow ourselves to be drawn into the resultant political fallout.
” No doubt, for the discerning, it is glaring that the permutations, propaganda, and alignments for the 2027 general elections have commenced. Therefore, we must be unwavering in holding the incumbent administration accountable based on its social contract with us.
“Lest we also forget, just over a year ago, those pointing accusing fingers at each other today were tapping each other on the back and raising each other’s hands with the same fingers.
” The issues of debt and other financial issues that have become the battleground was the same ground that was plowed and promoted by the same antagonistic actors between 2015 to 2023.
“Together, during the campaigns, they waved the broom, danced, sang, laughed, hugged, and in one voice told us they were the best thing to have happened to the State in recent history and the imperative for continuity and consolidation. Hence, the slogan and title of the campaign manifesto, S.U.S.T.A.I.N.
“Now that the campaign has ended and the reality of governance and demands of development have dawned on the actors, the broom is no longer waving in the air, the dancing, singing, laughing, hugging have stopped, the voice is no longer one, the narrative has changed from praise to accusations.
” A validation of the truism that in politics no permanent friends only permanent interests.
“This saying was on display recently as seen on June 12 at the Presidential democracy day dinner, when the incumbent comrade Governor, who together with the embattled former Mallam Governor, was at loggerhead with the afro-wearing comrade Senator in 2019, seemed to have reconciled with the latter – possibly because they now have a common political enemy. Do not be surprised if the story might flip again shortly.
“That is why the political battles that the probe is turning into have nothing to do with the common man.
“The masses should not suffer, as the incumbent comrade Governor has assumed full responsibility for the assets and liabilities left by the former Mallam Governor.
“Thankfully, they had worked and campaigned together, so the incumbent cannot feign ignorance of the fiscal situation – more so he promoted and defended it. No excuse!
“Now that the probe report is rumored to have been forwarded to the relevant anti-graft agencies, the focus should be on how well is the 2024 approved budget being implemented, which is the incumbent’s first.
“The incumbent should not be distracted by the political fallout because he will be measured by his performance not based on the liabilities left by his predecessor.
” If the incumbent can inherit the assets of his predecessor, he should do the same with the liabilities and find a solution. That is why he was voted for in the first place.
“It is a good thing that the Governor has actively been engaging stakeholders, busy with groundbreaking and commissioning of projects, signing MoUs with investors, etc.
“However, using the result framework model, these are largely activities, so it is not time to celebrate, it is the performance in terms of outputs and outcomes that will be used to assess and score the incumbent Governor. While we cannot stop the elephants from engaging in political battles for supremacy, we must ensure the grass does not suffer – by allowing the primary purpose of the government to be sidetracked,” he said.
