Christmas Message To His Excellency Mallam Nasir El-Rufai; Executive Governor Of Kaduna State -By Dokpesi Timothy Adidi

Your Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, It gives me pleasure to write this article giving it the title “Christmas Message”.

Your Excellency, this Christmas message to you is multi-dimensional. Firstly, as you know Your Excellency, Christianity in its true sense of benevolence does not restrict this celebration to Christians alone; it is the celebration of all because it is a period of Reconciliation, Restoration, and Reconstruction (RRR). These three (3) Rs are central to the message of Christmas. As human beings directly or indirectly these key words of Reconciliation, Restoration and Reconstruction has made a very strong impact to humanity as it flows from Salvation and Redemption.

Reconciliation, Restoration and Reconstruction applies to every facet of human existence and no matter how we try not to understand its impact in politics, economics, and social life then there will be no need for transformation as necessary ingredients for Governance. Governance is all about Reconciliation, Restoration and Reconstruction. Notwithstanding the theological import, the socio-economic and political implications of these three (3) Rs are drawn from the theological strings irrespective of the hermeneutics involved. As such, this Christmas message to you marks the end of the year 2021, and at the same time evaluates your stewardship in the year (2021) and at the same time presents the way forward for a better Kaduna State in a New Year 2022.

Your Excellency, the year 2021 is been rough for us all. I definitely know that for you as a leader it is indeed hell and sometimes I wonder how you are able to sleep and wake up with a sound mind and your sanity intact. Notwithstanding the fact of the rising insecurity that bedeviled the State entrusted to you by the good people of Kaduna State; unfortunately, the elections and the electorates that brought you into office are either victims of their votes or at the same time for some they champions of your stewardship. No matter the side of the divide 2021 has been bloody, disastrous and almost hopeless; as many due to the rising insecurity have either been buried by instalments, lost lives and properties and at the same relocated due to the fears and almost hopelessness experienced in Kaduna State 2021.

Nonetheless, Your Excellency the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Insecurity is almost a global phenomenon and concern and I deeply think in Nigeria the porous nature of our security agents, borders and the inadequate attention from the Federal Government highly exacerbated the level of insecurity in the North, South, East and West. The question I keep asking is why is Kaduna State the most visited and attacked environment? The purpose of this Christmas message is not to answer the question, but more recently the North has been epicenter of this attack with Kaduna State as the Capital Center of banditry. More recently, your comments in the front pages of the newspapers (22/12/2021) regarding bandits and banditry again shows your resilience and commitments to the fight against bandits and banditry. It gives me a strong impression that the coming year 2022 will not be business as usual. We shall see how it goes and hoping that 2022 which is the year of rounding up your stewardship as the Executive Governor of Kaduna State will be more effective and productive in this regard. Despite the increasing nature of insecurity, I am not in the best position to say if your government is doing very well; but, all I can say is that considering the height of insecurity all over Nigeria, there is a need for more proactive measures and synergy from the Federal and State government. This to some extend may or may not add value to your score card depending on who is doing the analysis.

Despite the level of insecurity, no doubt we are quite aware of the fact that Mr. Samuel Aruwan under your watch did the very much he could to address issues of insecurity as the Commissioner for Internal Security. We saw on National Television and Social Media how he worked hand in hand with the Law Enforcement Agents to combat crime and banditry; some of them were killed and some arrested. Whether this development is selective or holistic again calls for serious interrogation. I also want to believe so many efforts are made and have been achieved to prevent and destabilize these ‘gentlemen’ of the underworld that are not reflected on camera or social media. In as much this is possibly true, the good people of Kaduna State want better result and the only result they want to hear is when they sleep with their eyes fully closed and in a full month they should hardly hear of any banditry or kidnapping taking place. How this government will achieve this will be one of the biggest challenges in 2022. Therefore, as you make frantic efforts always know the expectations will be higher than ever before.

I want to really commend your office Your Excellency on the Infrastructural progress you have made so far. In this area of your stewardship I don’t bring in sentiments because they are obvious for the eyes to see. I remember in one of my open letters in the past years I asked that you help with traffic lights at the Barnawa Junction (Television). In fact, I have always desired and envisaged traffic light in that particular location because of how vehicles, keke napep and motor bicycles cross themselves with reckless abandon; and of course the accidents that have brought so many injuries and untimely death in that particular spot. The road networks are highly commendable and I again think that in the spirit of Bi-partisanship all political parties in the States must admit the road networks in Kaduna North and Kaduna South.

Your Excellency, just as I am aware; and you are aware; and others are aware; there is a need to go beyond your human nature and do the extraordinary in rehabilitating more of this roads in Kaduna South. I am also aware; and just as you are aware; that others are aware that work is in progress in Kaduna South; and we expect that you try to ensure that more areas are covered before you leave office. I definitely know you have more plans and at the same time let it be known and on record that Mallam Nasir El-Rufai in the spirit of Reconciliation, Restoration, and Reconstruction took Kaduna North and Kaduna South to a balance ratio. I therefore, commend your Cosmopolitanization and Urbanization Policy Framework from the perspective of Infrastructure. Your Excellency I plead that you spread your tentacles more in 2022.

I will recall Your Excellency that you have made four (4) working days a week for Civil and Public Servants in Kaduna State. Upon seeing the publication from your office I immediately knew you were up to something. As much as I commend this declaration of allowing the remaining days for going back to the farm I also wish to ask just a question; which of the farms? Is it the farms that people can no longer go to because of the prevailing insecurity in the State? Or are you encouraging Livestock farming in Kaduna State as done in the home? Anyway, this I think is laudable only when people can go back to their farms; and as you know Your Excellency the farms are not safe. If your government can help reduce and completely eradicate banditry and going by your comments on National dailies then this can be considered a welcome development. Until then I will rather suggest they seek alternative ways that can help make the Friday and the rest of the weekend a productive one unless anyone wants to take the risk.

Your Excellency, I am aware that until recently Civil and Public Servants were not paid salaries from October to December. When I received the information so many things were going through my mind. I thought that must not be intentional because of the road rehabilitation taking place in the State. I tried to give excuses but unfortunately none of the excuses can justify owing salaries. Did you ever imagine how people could have gone round and borrowing money to ensure that they feed and meet up to family responsibilities? I understand this was not done with bad intentions; but, please I will strongly suggest that you help in ensuring that salaries are paid for human beings to take care of their basic needs. I think you should commend the good people of Kaduna for their patience and resilience that despite not receiving salaries for two (2) months they were law abiding citizens. I understand they have started receiving their salaries in December and to the point that bonus was added to their pay for the end of year give away. Again, I know the good people of Kaduna State will appreciate these gestures of yours. In the future whatever will hinder salaries should be avoided so as to add value to your score card.

Your Excellency Sir, as earlier stated in the first paragraph of this article my Christmas message is centered on Reconciliation, Restoration and Reconstruction; these three (3) Rs cannot be discussed in isolation. They have very rich spiritual underpinnings and if translated into the realities of our circumstances the impact will be very much transformative. Governance is a process of reaching out; and in reaching out reconciliation, restoration and reconstruction is the hallmark of good governance. Again, I am not in the best of position to say that there has been enough Reconciliation, Restoration and Reconstruction. As a way forward to your already exemplified stewardship to some people who are proud of you to do more; and to those who are irritated by your failure in governance I also believe if you put more energy on RECONCILIATION, RESTORATION AND RECONSTRUCTION (RRR) your remaining years in office will be ever worthy of emulation by both enemies and friends; opponents and detractors; rich and poor etc.

Your Excellency, the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai I wish you a wonderful Christmas Celebration and a prosperous New Year 2022 in advance. Extend my regards to your wife and children and the entire members of your cabinet. Please also do extend same to your Deputy who has really acted in the capacity of an Acting Governor.

ADIDI, Dokpesi Timothy