The Sun News On-line/politics

As Governor Sa’idu Usman Dakingari of Kebbi State awaits Judgment on the appeal against the nullification of his election on technical ground by the Election Tribunal, his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity Abdullahi Idris Zuru in an interactive session with journalists, spoke on the effect or otherwise of the Tribunal verdict on his boss performance, expectations and other issues.

Excerpts:
It is over ten months now since Governor Dakingari assumed the governance of the State, how has he fared?
By the special grace of God, he has settled down for effective discharge of his duties as mandated by the people of Kebbi State.

He has carefully selected, after wide consultations, a formidable team of patriotic professionals and technocrats. They are assisting him in implementing the administration’s policies and programmes such that will facilitate the attainment of his set goals based on the aspiration of the people. From what have been achieved so far, one can confidently say that Dakingari’s administration is on course.

There were fears that he may not be able to effectively manage the overcrowded PDP in the State such that will guarantee fair representation and success of the administration?
The fears are uncalled for to those that know Dakingari as a person, as a successful manager of human and material resources while in Customs Service and those that understand his type of politics. Might be, only a negligible number of desperate and power hungry politicians are not in the PDP in Kebbi State. To Dakingari, every elder statesman, whether in partisan politics or not, is a stakeholder in the development of Kebbi State. As such, he ensures that all interest groups, community leaders, elders both in politics and in private life are consulted before any major decision is taken or appointments are made.

Of course ,the party leadership works out the modalities for such consultations, decisions and appointment, but always ensure equity and justice in all aspect of governance. As a result of that, Dakingari has been able to manage the affairs of the state effectively. That is why you don’t hear complaints of marginalization within the political class and even in the civil service.

It may interest you to know that Governor Dakingari has no particular interest in government or politics other than service to the people and humanity for posterity. He has no particular interest on who becomes or gets what provided qualification, commitment and fair representation are strictly followed. So, by and large, Governor Dakingari is, with all sincerity of purpose managing a strong and united PDP as well as providing a purpose leadership capable of taking the State to greater heights and glory. So he remained committed and focused.

One wonders how he will remain focused when his fate as the Governor is yet to be decided by the Appeal Court?
It all defends on one’s faith in God and belief in destiny. As a devoted muslim, Governor Dakingari believe that no human being can change what God has destined. Our believe is, since God guided the people of Kebbi State to have clear foresight and wisdom to vote for Sa’idu Dakingari as Kebbi State Governor, God has destined he will govern the State. Secondly, it equally depends on the basis for the nullification of the election and the motive behind it. Less we forget, the Election Tribunal has certified that the conduct of the governorship election in Kebbi State was free and fair, devoid of any malpractice.

It has also certified that the votes scored by each of the candidates are valid votes but surprisingly it turned round and nullified the election. The basis was the Tribunal creation and not petitioners plea, that the Governor was nominated for election before he registered as a member of the party as showed in a registration card which both we and the petitioners disowned. That is the basis for our appeal. So even if that alleged irregularity is discovered by the opposition, it should have been challenged at the normal court as pre-election matter and not at the election Tribunal. Moreso that the issue was neither taken to the Tribunal nor was it argued on throughout the sitting of the Tribunal.

You see, I wouldn’t want to talk on that in order not to commit contempt. However, I can assure you that if rule of law, justice and fair play are the order of the day in Nigeria today, Governor Dakingari will triumph at the Appeal Court. So combination of these factors give us confidence that the people of Kebbi State will be vindicated and their choice of who they want to govern them will be confirmed by the Court of Appeal. For Governor Dakingari, take it or you leave it, the nullification of the election has not, I repeat has not shaken or moved him at all.

This is a man that throughout his career in the Customs Service maintained a very clear record of service. And since he retired and joined politics, he ensured that all the formalities for registration as a party member and nomination for governorship elections were religiously followed and strictly complied with. For one that is sure of the sincerity of his actions and conduct will never be shaken or disturbed by apparent display of a written script aimed at distracting him.

Is that enough to convince the public that he is still focused and committed?
Yes of course. To those with adequate and unbiased knowledge of law, those that know the kind of person Governor Dakingari is and those that have been following his activities as Governor he is committed and focused. To those that may not be convinced, let me say without fear of contradiction that Governor Dakingari’s stability of mind and unshaken resolve to discharge his duties as the State Chief Executive could be understood from what he has achieved so far. An unstable or disturbed mind will not have wisely thought of paying pensioners more than N600m they were owed, settled all the money needed for scholarship to indigenes of the State studying at home and abroad.

A leader with an unstable mind wouldn’t find it necessary to pay contractors undertaking inherited on-going projects about N3billion. At the same time, set aside over N1billion for counterpart funding of the proposed Zauro Polder Irrigation Project and another N1billion for (UBE) counterpart funding.

Similarly, if he has been distracted, he would not have remained committed to his developmental programmes. In pursuance of such programmes and policies, over 200 communities are as at now being electrified while about 150 motorize water schemes are being provided across the State.

This does not include an average of 50 boreholes being provided in each of the 21 Local Government areas of the State.
It may equally interest you to know that execution of contract of four out of the eight intercity road projects under the government first phase of road construction programme had commenced. This includes Bunza-Zogirma-Gulma, Malando-Ngaski, Dakingari-Fana and Liba-Kwaifa-Giro roads. Each of the contractors has received 30% down payment. So what more does a leader need to demonstrate his commitment to service more than this?.

His programme includes completing the execution of a number of on-going capital projects he inherited. He equally sustains the services being provided by the existing infrastructure for socio-economic well being of the people. If the Governor can prudently manage his scarce resources and make monthly savings for execution of important projects and programmes, what else is required to justify his foresight in the act of governance?

Don’t you think award and execution of contracts is one thing while ability to formulate and implement policies are another?

As I said earlier, Governor Sa’idu Dakingari has no particular interest in politics or in government other than service to humanity for posterity. With that in mind and conscious of the legitimacy of the process that brought him to power, Dakingari’s zeal and commitment to the service of the people of Kebbi State remain unshakeable, at least not by the unjustifiable nullification of the elections. Only a leader worth his salt and with high sense of reasoning will thought it wise to constitute committees, comprising renowned specialists and professionals to carry out comprehensive reform of the two vital sectors of Health and Education.

Professor Attahiru Jega of Bayero University Kano is leading five other professors and number of renowned educationists to overhaul the education system. Professor Kalgo of Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto is leading another group of medical doctors and administrators to do the same for the health sector. So how best do you think a leader can exhibit his high sense of reasoning and commitment to the service of his people more than this?

Therefore, let me reassure you that Sa’idu Dakingari will remain unshakeable and committed to discharging his mandate, the PDP as a party is confident that justice will prevail while the people of Kebbi who expressed their preference for Dakingari to govern them are optimistic that they will be vindicated.
But the oppositions are expressing similar hope.

The opposition can express similar hope because of their desperation for illegitimate power and ignorance of the electoral laws. Even a layman in law that witness the hearing of the appeal at the Court of Appeal can testify to the fact that the opposition only succeeded in exhibiting their clear envy and jealousy. However, let leave that to time and laws of the land.