Resign Now Activist John Fulani Tells Kaduna Deputy Gov

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barnabas-300x224Your Excellency, Mr. Barnabas Yusuf Bala [above],

 

 

  1. When you were declared winners of 11th April poll on 12th April 2015, I did not board the ship of APC and change foot soldiers that officially or otherwise wired congratulatory messages. I even refused to come and pay the usual homage that politicians do after victory or defeat. I do not believe in that long tradition because, to me, the reversed should be the case. After walking the extra mile, put professional careers online, and took physical risk for the change that you and many are direct beneficiaries of today, I expected a thank you letter, instead, from you. It is surely not possible to get the thank you messages or visits to everybody, but sector commanders that led the struggle from all angle deserved a separate message of appreciation, other than the State broadcast by your leader. I will continue to think and act outside cliches and far off the box.

 

  1. Most people, I guess, that followed your campaign trains, and read your messages knew that your government had a bag full of reforms in all facets of governance. Your messages were clear and quite attractive to mandate givers, hence the resounding victory received on 11th April 2015. Apart from the General APC 2015 manifestos, the separate one you drafted to suit your unique programmes for the people of Kaduna State also helped, greatly, to sailing the ship of your mission to the dock. Mostly importantly, the extensive and intensive campaigns APC ran lubricated the engine of the ship of change. Above all, fate and good fortune also played its role as aptly captured in Mallam El Rufai’s inaugural speech of 29th May 2015.

 

  1. As expected, your government hit the ground running as manifested through its policy pronouncements, actions taken, and nature of appointments. One must not be a political pundit to know and accept the fact that, there is indeed a new Sheriff in town. Like men who snatched power through a revolution or coup, every standing order and protocol was dismantled to suit the new Bretton Woods style of administration and economic management. So far, many actions of your government are generating horizontal and vertical legal interpretations with most of the legal luminaries piquing that over 90% of your actions needed House of Assembly authorization or revocation.

 

  1. Sir, your new style of leadership and guiding dictum challenged and ended some long standing power sharing tradition that came with this republic in 1999. Before your government, political and civil service positions were usually and equitably distributed across the three Senatorial Zones- sometimes, into two equal halves of Kaduna North and South- with River Kaduna as the dividing lines. The sharing starts from the four top positions, viz: Governor; Deputy Governor; Minister; and Secretary to the State Government. From 1999-2007 Governor Makarfi and President Olusegun Obasanjo observed this power sharing formula; from 2007-2011; Presidents Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Ebele Jonathan respected this fair power sharing arrangement. When Yar’Adua went to the great beyond, and Jonathan mounted the saddle, Namadi was nominated to the post of Vice President. Power went to Mr. Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa. That shift also instigated some other shifts in the power equation of the State. The ministerial seat went to a Lady from the northern part of the State. When Yakowa joined his ancestors, the ministerial seat was shifted to Southern Kaduna.

 

  1. This power sharing arrangement is not something that is only enshrined in our 1999 constitution, but politically correct and expedient for an ethno-religiously balkanized State like Kaduna. This did not only address the feelings of marginalization of Southern Kaduna, but also gave them a sense of belonging, encourage political participation, and support for governments and their policies. You are a living witness and actor of this existing formula and have time without number advocated for its sustenance and improvement (while a PDP man from 1998-2007). A perusal of the appointments of your government at the State and Federal levels, so far, suggest an abandonment of this policy that has been fantastically sedimented in our body polity.

 

  1. Two reasons have been advanced for your government and party’s sinking of this tradition. One, that you intend to pay each zone according to their electoral investment in the 28th March and 11th April polls. Two, that yours is a government of technocrats whose appointments are guided by the size of peoples resume. None of these two can stand a critical analysis.

 

(A) On the first reason herein, Southern Kaduna gave APC more votes than any opposition party since arrival of this Republic in 1999. APC won four and PDP won four. More to this, where PDP won, the gap was not wide the way it was in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011. Again, APC’s votes in Southern Kaduna in the said elections were more than votes gotten in all South-South and South-East States in last polls. But, today, they have ministers and many appointments are yet to come. Why is this law not catching up with them? In 2003 when El-Rufai was made Minister representing North-West, the entire zone was swept by ANPP but he was picked. Funny enough, his Kaduna North LGA was won by ANPP and his Senator was ANPP. If this law was applied, would he have become a Minister? Will his Zone be given more national appointments than Southern Kaduna that kept PDP in power between 1999 -2015?

 

(B) On the second reason, we have many of their appointees that don’t have a primary school leaving certificate. If somebody did not go to primary school class, what expertise has he? Is this not hypocrisy of the highest order? Family and friends dictum is the guiding principle not expertise as your selfish and hawkish government wants us to believe. Hell no.

 

  1. You were the State Party Chairman when we went round Southern Kaduna campaigning for APC. You later doubled as Chairman and running mate to your party’s candidate. We spoke of injustice of former ruling party to the State and our people. We promised an inclusive government, respect to sensitivity and diversity of our State in allocation of values. Some of us extracted from your 2015 manifesto and your separate one you scripted for Kaduna State and campaigned in 646 Southern Kaduna communities. You, party officials (at the State, Zonal and LGA levels, and members of the State Campaign Council) could not even join the train. The only time we saw you was when you came on zonal tour with your gubernatorial candidate. Events that you graced most were events that took place in New Choice Hotel where your flying white gown could not get dirty by dust. Anything more than this was not your qualms! The campaign cars and funds most of which you cornered are topics for another day. And I will surely take you on these issues in subsequent epistles to you or in my coming book entitled: “WINGS OF FAITH”.

 

  1. Your quietness while our people are being belittled and emasculated by a government you are the most senior elected Southern Kaduna man, speaks volumes. History will surely not be kind to you for seeing and not hearing evil of your boss and APC at the State and Federal levels. Many are questioning (including yours sincerely) whether it is the same Bantex we saw and heard of during the Sharia brouhaha in Kaduna State (between 1999-2003). Is it the same Bantex that cried while talking about our people’s backwardness on the last day of their zonal rally in Kafanchan? Where went the spirit of Southern Kaduna that was seen in Bantex while a political up starter? Bantex has not only lost his voice on issues affecting Southern Kaduna from 29th May 2015 to date, but has turned to be a nepotic and irredentist element whose appointment of aides was guided by mechanical solidarity and other mundane variables.

 

  1. Yours affectionately hereby counsel that you resign (right now) if events are beyond your control. There is no need hanging-on while your reputation erodes. As a son of a pastor, you know, honour and a good name are more than any title -including that of a Deputy Governor. I know the joy of the paraphernalia of such offices and the economic benefits therein, but do not forget that they are transient. The highest is eight years; and, thereafter, it will be over, and you shall join us in Southern Kaduna. You saw how you were rejected in your LGA in the last polls. It will be worse if you do not quit now or begin to talk and act for the interest of your people.

 

  1. You and your fair weather friends (attack dogs and party urchins) are good in attributing other meanings to this and allied attempts to draw your attention to crucial issues. Guess what? I hardly give a damn to such tantrums because history had vindicated me (severally) and traducers had seen their political fortunes crumbled like a park of cards. Yours cannot be an exception, except you act accordingly. You can even claim this piece is not worth your attention, but that is your qualms- you shall see or hear us when you least expected. Our reaction to all your government’s actions and inactions shall be consistent and constant like the northern star.

 

  1. Thank you

 

Dr. John Danfulani, Awon Village, Kachia, LGA

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