Jigawa: Will Hadejia Be 'Spare Tyre' Again?
Ahead 2007, will Hadeja, Jigawa State's biggest emirate, and an embarrassed nursery for the state's deputy governors till date finally produce the governor? Yakuba Musa examines the intrigues
Although, Jigawa State, has been carved out from old Kano state, the politics of two sister states differs in both pattern and dynamism. While in Jigawa, an incumbent can succeed himself despite a tag of non-performance, the likes of Rimi and Kwankwaso could have gotten re-elected 100 times, if they were fortunate to be elsewhere.
But the fundamental difference between the politics of the northern states is that: in Kano, the teaming masses, who control the polity are not only focused but they also have unity of purpose. And it is not so in Jigawa state, where politics is viewed form the angle of 5 different emirates in the state.
Indeed, the creation of Jigawa state, with its capital in Duste, against popular expectation of the birth of Hadejia state, had a serious impact on who gets what when and how in the politics of the state and since then nothing has changed.
No doubt, the biggest emirate in the state is Hadejia which paradoxically, was denied both the name and the capital of the state, despite its numerous illustrious sons, that were close to IBB. But this paradox has remained with the emirate up till today. Hadejia, with its large size, population and illustrious sons, has so far fail to produced a Jigawa State Governor.
The emirate is only good for generating "spare tyres" (ie deputy governors.) Interestingly, all the deputy governors of the state, since its creation, are from the emirate. Indeed Hadejia cannot be ignored by any serious contender of the exalted seat. Perhaps that was why, when the erstwhile state deputy Governor, Alhaji Shehu Kwatalo voluntarily resigned from his position, Governor Saminu Turaki, didn't look else where for another spare tyre. He chose Ubali Shitu from Hadejia. And even When he dropped Shitu at the eve of the 2003 election the governor, deemed it necessary to pick another Hadejian, Ibrahim Hassan.
However, the questions on the lips of the observers of the state politics now are: will Hadejia continue to remain only good for spare tyre despite its comparative advantages? Is the 2007 the much a waited time for a Hadejian governor in Jigawa? Certainly the emirate has for long agitated for the plum job. But what is clear now is that Hadejia is still facing a kind of gang-up from the other four emirates in the state namely, Ringim, Dutse, Gumel and Kazaure. And it is difficult to ascertain weather the Hadejian, who are known for excessive chauvinism of their emirate have done enough to convince the remaining emirates that they can be trusted with the job. So far Dutse, has produced the first civilian goverbor of the state in person of Ali Saadu Birnin Kudu and Kazaure, currently enjoying it. But will Hadejia, with seven local governments, namely Kafin Hausa, Birniwa, Kiri Kasama Guri, Auyo and Hadejia finally be the king?
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