By Ibrahim Mohammed
By May 28, 2015, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, the incumbent Governor of Katsina state would have completed his second term as the 3rd democratically and twice-elected civilian Chief Executive of the state. Before him, Saidu Barda a retired super Permanent Secretary had a short stint as governor in the short-lived and aborted Third Republic. When the country returned to democratic governance in 1999, Umaru Musa Yar’adua, younger brother to late General Shehu Musa Yar’adua assumed the mantle of leadership of the state where he served two consecutive terms before he was catapulted to the topmost position of the presidency in 2007 where he later died in 2009 after protracted illness.
It is instructive that Katsina state, under democratic dispensation has always had it so good with God-fearing, focused and hardworking leaders who ruled the state with passion which brought tremendous development and progress so much that it can compete with if not surpass its older counterparts in terms of infrastructural development and the provision of social services. From Saidu Barda a proven technocrat who transformed the state civil service, to Umaru Musa, a developmental and pro-poor activist whose policies, programmes and actions put the state on a sure footing and steady rise to the cerebral and reformist Governor Shema, a consummate lawyer, suave and politically-savvy leader, who not only consolidated on the gains made but even surpassed all his predecessors.
The total transformation of the state from backward waters of underdevelopment to a model and viable state envied by all was made possible by the fact that Katsina state relative to other states in the North has the highest number of educated elites who are politically-conscious and who because of their political exposure will never trade the development of the state for a pot of porridge as is prevalent in most states in the North. It is said that the leadership of any society is only as good as the followership. Katsina ta Dikko Dakin Kara, a slogan that literally means state of Hospitality has very pleasant, hospitable and accommodating people who always give their leaders, the needed support and encouragement to succeed without blackmail or putting undue pressure on them for patronage.
The party leaders whether in the opposition parties or the ruling party do not deliberately engage in exchanging brickbats to heat up the polity but only do so at times with a view to enriching our democratic culture and enhancing development. The same camaraderie and panache also permeate the leadership of the State House of Assembly which runs seamlessly without any power tussle or threat of impeachment either against its leadership or that of the executive.
The leaders of the 34 Local Councils in the state whether elected or sole administrators have been quite supportive of their Governor who regardless of political and party differences has ensured the even development of the state devoid of discrimination.
It is an incontrovertible fact that Governor Shema being a frugal and prudent manager of resources never obtained any loan, local or foreign to execute the various capital projects in the state as he only relied on the statutory monthly allocation from the Federation Account and the meager internally-generated revenue. What is more commendable is the fact that in spite of the gargantuan projects he embarked in all parts of the State, the Governor was able to save a whopping 33 billion Naira from the State and Local Governments Joint Account as for long until just recently, the Councils were administered by Sole Administrators.
Since the Shema Administration has made giant strides in infrastructure development and capacity building in the state, and given the dwindling fortunes of the monthly allocation, it is right and proper for the Administration to embrace economic diversification especially in agriculture, tourism and solid minerals to generate employment and create wealth for the teeming masses of the state.
With 33 Billion Naira in its kitty, the state can embark on massive irrigation development in all parts of the state to arrest rural-urban migration and improve the socio-economic leaving conditions of the populace. Already, the state is host to various irrigation infrastructure projects in Jibia Dam, Sabke Dam, Ajiwa Dam, Dutsin Ma Dam, Gwaigwaye Dam and lots of small earth dams under the auspices of the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority. Besides irrigation, these water bodies can also be used for fisheries, livestock development and hydropower generation.
The state is also endowed with tourism potentials such as the famous Gobarau minaret and City Walls in Katsina, the Kusugu Well in Daura , Durbi Ta kusheyi in Mani, Kogo Cave in Faskari, the Dajin Rugu Forest Reserve and colourful festivals such as the annual Durbar in Katsina and Sallar Gani in Daura. The state government can improve on these cultural monuments to attract tourists to the states which enjoy relative peace and tranquility.
Just like any other state in the country, Katsina also has huge deposits of solid minerals such as kaolin, Limestone, Gem stones and others in commercial quantities which can be harnessed through value addition and the provision of legal and regulatory framework.
By the time, the administration, expend the 33 billions on the development of agriculture, tourism and solid minerals, the state would no longer rely on the monthly allocation from the Federation Account as it would have a lot of money to play around with. Shema should never make the mistake of allowing the newly elected Council Chairmen to squander the money he so much toiled to save for the state through sound fiscal policies and prudent management of resources. Overall, he needs to mobilize all stakeholders in the state to make sure that whoever emerges as his successor regardless of party affiliation is one who would take the state to the next level.
Mohammed wrote from No. 33, Bello Anache Road, Funtua, Katsina state
