|
Why ANPP has lost ground in Katsina, by Inuwa
Katsina State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Mustapha Inuwa, was chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the state before he decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He told BAYO OHU in Katsina that the ANPP has waned despite the influence of former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. Excerpts:
WHY did Katsina capitulate on its position on the creation of new local councils
First, the position of the government on the new councils was strengthened because the demand by the people for the councils was wide and popular. The clamour came from the people and to fulfil their wishes, the government was prompted to create new councils. A law was enacted by the State House of Assembly for that purpose; the law was implemented and new councils were created. The provisions of the Constitution are clear on this. What we expected the Federal Government to have done was to call on the National Assembly to play its own part by ensuring that the new councils were entered into the schedule of the Constitution. We believe that the councils were lawfully created. Since their creation, the new councils have been functioning as expected of them. Unfortunately, the Federal Government has come out against them but we thought that the status quo would be allowed to remain since the matter is before the Supreme Court. If the judgment favours the Federal Government, the affected states will be expected to comply and vice versa. Unfortunately, the council funds were withheld and the state government has been funding the councils. However, it is certain that the withholding of the funds will persist and the people will suffer. We can fund the councils at least for a year, by paying their salaries and other expenditures. But the government decided to suspend, not dissolve them, pending when the National Assembly passes the necessary laws and formally lists them in the schedule of the Constitution.
How are the people interpreting the suspension
The people have been very understanding. Government officials were directed to talk to their people in the councils, including politicians, traditional rulers and other stakeholders, and the response is that they understand the situation. They understand the efforts the state government has made to fulfil their desires and that this is now a Constitutional matter. They praise the courage of the government and they accept that we cannot continue to drag the matter since the funds have been withheld and we cannot do much without money.
What happens to the structures and personnel of the suspended councils, will there be fresh elections
By implication, there will be fresh elections in the affected councils. The government is yet to decide on the structures, but the most important move now is that the State House of Assembly should enact a law suspending the new councils. Government's next move will wait until then. There will be fresh elections in the councils affected because we cannot ask the old councils to continue.
There had been speculations that Governor Musa Yar'Adua was not in control because of conflicting interests from prominent politicians in the state, what is the position
The problem is more within than outside. Politics in Katsina is progressing, and the government has been doing a lot. But, there are problems especially at personal levels. Some individuals still feel that the government must take care of their interests. However, Governor Umaru Musa Yar'Adua is in firm control of the political situation in the state. He is respected and people see him as their political leader. The politics of the state centre on him.
With the presence of Maj.- Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the ANPP was expected to be strong to challenge the PDP in the state. Is the party the opposition the PDP expects
It is true that the ANPP is only strong in the state due to the presence of Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, but the Buhari factor that was built on religion during the last polls has diminished. The last election was the peak of Buhari in the state and in the country. I believe he cannot go beyond what he attained politically in the last elections. If we could withstand Buhari in the polls, he cannot hold us back in the subsequent polls. In 2003, we had some problems in areas regarded as his immediate area of influence, which is the Daura emirate council. The ANPP has declined in popularity and influence. The sentiments that worked for Buhari are no longer there.
With the campaign for 2007 already on, do you see former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida having any influence in the state
If you go to Minna, you will see that the people are divided over their support for Babangida. If you go to Adamawa State, you will find out that the people share their supports between the Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Babangida, and Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa. If Babangida comes here, supporters will come out to cheer him, likewise for Abubakar or Marwa. Despite that, I think it is too early to draw conclusions on 2007. This is the real period of transition, because those who have been in office for two terms will have to hand over power to another set of people in the real sense of transition.
Despite your position on the timing of 2007,there are already talks of who will succeed Yar'Adua.
Who will succeed him in 2007 is up to Allah who can decide that. If anyone says or predicts anything on this, that person must be deceiving himself. Only God has the final say on who becomes the next governor of Katsina.
The principle of zoning is in the PDP constitution and I believe in it. The idea of zoning is good and the ideal thing is that whoever is coming in as governor should come from another zone. The Funtua Senatorial zone stands a chance because Katsina zone has produced the governor for two terms. However, this will depend on the arrangement of the party, especially on the qualification of the people from the zones.
Apart from the issue of zoning, what other factor do you think will play a role in producing the next governor in the state
Within the PDP, there may be regroupings because, parties are made up of groups. In Katsina, we had the KDF, K-34 and other groups and these groups have lost their identities in the PDP. They can still come together to pursue their political goals. Political realignment is a continuous process especially when it comes to election. The problem is that when the time comes, it will determine who to move with to achieve political results.
Some prominent names like the House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Bello Masari, Ambassador Zakari Ibrahim, Alhaji Ibrahim Idah, Ambassador Magaji Mohammed have been mentioned as likely successors.
People are free to mention names. How could any person link the conferment of a traditional title to an ambition to be a state governor The same story has been on for a long time. People have forgotten that Yar'Adua was turbaned the Mutawallen Katsina many years after he became governor. Ambassador Zakari Ibrahim was turbaned Talban Katsina many years ago and during the military era. It is normal to suspect that any politician will aspire to move on to higher responsibilities. It is proper for politicians to aspire and for people to talk about it. Certainly, some people have not been mentioned, while others may still be mentioned when the time comes.
How would you comment on the allegations that the governor was involved in financial crimes
This is not a new thing in Nigeria. We in Katsina know that the governor is transparent and honest to a fault. For example, he has denied himself and his family all the entitlements that should go to him as a governor. We know that he has refused to enjoy what are legitimately his entitlements from the public funds just because he wants to live by example. Before Yar'Adua became governor, people knew him with his simple lifestyle. He is not materialistic and when this allegation came, we knew it was a lie. We can run government here for months without taking a kobo from the Federation Account or borrowing from any bank because we have a sound financial standing. If the governor is corrupt, we will not be able to achieve this or execute the various developments we have recorded.`
The Buhari factor that was built on religion during the last polls has diminished. The last election was the peak of Buhari in the state and in the country. I believe he cannot go beyond what he attained politically in the last elections`
| 
