Dattijo

By Dauda Idrees

I woke up to the rather sad news of Muhammad Sani Dattijo’s withdrawal from the race to Kashim Ibrahim House of Kaduna state and couldn’t help but start chanting supplications as though I’ve lost a loved one. Although, as careful political observation, I’ve seen that coming almost two years ago, the impact of this news on me was unlike anything I’ve ever imagined. 

Whatever political calculations that led to this conclusion have not done justice to the youths of Kaduna state, considering the exuberance with which they came all out campaigning for their comrade pro-bono. Many have never met him in person but are up-to-date with all he does through social media platforms. 

Being in the forefront of the Kaduna Urban Renewal Development Project from 2015 to date, it’s undeniably agreed that he’s the right candidate that would effectively carry the project to completion, as evidenced by the development plan he presented from the early days of his campaign. But, sadly, the political radar did not point in our favour. I doubt if any other candidate has presented any plans, he has for the state yet. 

Governor El-Rufai made it clear in his criteria for selecting the new emir of Zazzau that the emir’s relatively youthful age and his international network gave him an upper hand over other candidates. So naturally, we expected this same criteria to be applied in choosing his successor, but we can see that political office is not the same as a traditional title.

So, while we pray that Dattijo’s political future be bright, we’re also worried that the youthful fury with which he does things now might be dampened by age in years to come when the kingmakers deem him old enough to run for the governor’s office.

One may argue that he started falling out of favour when he called Muhammad Sanusi II, the governor’s close friend, “former emir,” which is valid. However, the truth is that there is still that reluctance to release the mantle of leadership to the youth even in Kaduna, the self-proclaimed youth-friendly state.

Although his name “Dattijo” is a perfect match for the  Senate, which Hausawa call “Majalisar Dattawa”, it is sad to hear that Kashim Ibrahim House is losing such treasure to the Red Chambers because he’s not a Dattijo by age. He’s Dattijo by heart. Either way, we thank Allah and pray that he gets to represent not just Kaduna youth but set an example that all young people if given the right opportunity and mentorship, would get things done in a way that the older generation wouldn’t have thought possible. 

Dauda Idrees wrote from Kaduna via idreesdauda.a@gmail.com.

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State has finally ended months of speculations and permutations with the endorsement of one of his long time allies, the incumbent senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Uba Sani, to succeed him as Governor in 2023 under the All Progressive Congress (APC).

This comes barely two months after Governor El-Rufai announced that his successor would be selected from the core team of his administration since 2015.

It was learnt that the former Commissioner of Budget and Planning, and a strong contender for the gubernatorial seat, Muhammad Sani Dattijo, had been asked to pick up the senatorial expression and nomination form for Kaduna Central.

Senator Uba Sani’s endorsement is bound to encounter some stiff resistance within APC in Kaduna State as other aspirants have already purchased the nomination forms.

By Abu Hibbah Ibrahim

Typical of a penultimate election year, pictures and billboards of aspiring politicians have littered major and minor roads in Kaduna State. People who share in the leadership ideologies or principles of the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, have all started indicating interest to succeed him. Also, people who are at variance with all he stands for have likewise thrown their hats in the ring.

In his quiet moments and as he drives out of Sir Kashim Ibrahim House through the state metropolis, billboards of different politicians erected in strategic locations staring at him, only God knows what runs in El-Rufai’s mind regarding his successor in 2023. It seems William Shakespeare had El-Rufai in mind when he captured in Macbeth that: “There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face.”

As El-Rufa’is second tenure nears its end, and after exhibiting a tremendous performance, the next most audacious and bold decision left for him is to anoint a successor, rally his supporters around him and subsequently aid him in attaining victory at the polls. Verily, this singular act will make or mar the sustainability of his hard-earned and stellar achievements. More reasons why el-Rufai should be meticulous.

To understand the importance of having a credible and competent successor, let’s cast back our minds to the second tenure of former president Olusegun Obasanjo. After failing to extend his tenure, the infamous third term, Obasanjo, imposed a sick president on the country. Unfortunately, this singular act almost erased the decent achievements he recorded in his second term.

Interestingly, during his interview with Seun of the Channels Tv last Wednesday, Governor el-Rufai made sketchy explanations on who will likely succeed him. He highlighted that he would want someone from his team with whom they have developed and implemented policies to take on the baton of leadership from him.

Being a youth myself, I have a bias for Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, popularly known as Dattijo, considering his age. Of course, age in itself isn’t a recipe for good governance or positive results, but young age coupled with competence, experience, the ability to form a capacitated team and then lead them to drive reforms and produce results would do magic. And Dattijo exudes these sterling qualities in addition to the advantage conferred on him by age.

Plus, he has exhibited these qualities and delivered outstanding results as the Commissioner of Planning and Budget Commission of Kaduna state and Chief of Staff to the Governor. Under the governor’s tutelage and with his experience as a commissioner, he has been armed with the ability to allocate resources amidst competing demands or interests for the betterment of the state. In addition, he chaired the Infrastructure Council, one of the policy councils initiated by el-Rufai to fast track soft and hard infrastructural developments.

Dattijo is a development practitioner trained in the University of Manchester and a graduate of Economics from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University. With dwindling federal allocations, effects of COVID-19, the possibility of subsidy removal on petrol, and security challenges, economic difficulties will be harder for the state governments. However, I believe his deep knowledge of economics will help him navigate the state through tough financial times. Consequently, he has the mettle to sustain the growth in revenue mobilisation that has characterised el-Rufai’s tenure.

El-Rufai has done remarkably well in revenue mobilisation. This terrific effort has pushed Kaduna above the commercial nerve of Northern Nigeria, Kano State, in terms of internally generated revenue (IGR). Moreover, he has consistently invested in education and health as these two sectors gallop the highest percentage of the state’s budget. And as one Indian writer posited, “nobody bothers about education because results take a long time to come.” But el-Rufai cares. This fantastic idea of investing in critical sectors, especially education and health, needs to be continued.

Temperament and intellect. Ever since Dattijo’s body language signifies an intent to be the governor of Kaduna State, he has been under scrutiny and verbal attacks by some political opponents or sycophants. This is expected in electioneering, though. However, he has demonstrated thoughtful calmness and grace under pressure. He is even-tempered and not given to volatile gestures. These virtues are pertinent in a governor who would want to continue leading the Kaduna state towards greatness by reducing or eliminating ethnic tensions and building bridges.

On a final note, the saying that power corrupts people is a tag sincere seekers of the truth, or any discerning person cannot place on Dattijo’s neck. In all the leadership positions he has been appointed into by his boss, el-Rufai, he has served the people of Kaduna with humility, loyalty and hard work.

I believe Dattijo has the moral compass to build on el-Rufai’s legacies. He is blessed with intellectual rigour and has the courage to make sound, careful and bold decisions that hold generational transformation. Dattijo has officially declared his intention to succeed his boss. Therefore, I beseech Governor el-Rufai to rally other APC aspirants to support him. He is prepared and ready.

Abu Hibbah Ibrahim writes from Kaduna and can be reached via hibbahabubakar1505@gmail.com