National Issues
Kaduna State: The Beauty, The Gory and Leadership Disengagement -By Dokpesi Timothy Adidi
Insecurity has taken hold of the land and those who perpetrate these acts of unkindness are having a filled day. Our children, middle-aged and elderly parents are in captivity wailing, crying, experiencing ‘psychological hunger’ and even most times prefer to die than be in the hands of their captors. Villages are raised down, Communities are destroyed, children die without recourse to help, and the government keeps giving only explanations and excuses.
The moment a government becomes irresponsible and loses touch with the realities of its administration; then it has become a template for bad leadership. One of the most difficult areas we must learn to give into is understanding what it takes to make consultation and dialogue a necessary tool for political engagement. It is difficult because unbridled individualism destroys what makes a human being human and the human person is more inclined towards his gains than the common good of all. As such, this is why democracy is in itself a living organism that evolves and becomes the hallmark of dialogue and open consultation.
In the 80s Kaduna State was known to be the political epicenter of the North. People came into the city with hopes and aspirations; unfortunately, the history of Kaduna State cannot be narrated without the blood that has been shed in the past and present. The current stark realities and insecurity in Kaduna State under the present government is taking us back to the gory days of the Zango Kataf riot, the era of the religious crises that brought the State to almost the point of no return.
Insecurity has taken hold of the land and those who perpetrate these acts of unkindness are having a filled day. Our children, middle-aged and elderly parents are in captivity wailing, crying, experiencing ‘psychological hunger’ and even most times prefer to die than be in the hands of their captors. Villages are raised down, Communities are destroyed, children die without recourse to help, and the government keeps giving only explanations and excuses.
What is in Infrastructure without the protections of lives and properties? What is good governance without security? What is politics without morality? What is leadership without dialogue and consultation? What is hope without government capacity and competence? What is Urbanization without human life on the streets? What is cosmopolitanization without integration? What is progress without prospering? The template for leadership and good governance does not reside in high-handedness; but resides in the ability to listen, learn and re-learn. It is in the process of listening, learning, and re-learning governance becomes inclusive.
The desire for a better Kaduna State is not the prerogative and monopoly of an individual. It is characterized by democratic and leadership engagement. Policies under a democratic leader must be one of appraising the existential realities and proffer solutions to alleviate the people in dire need of a secure State. At this point, should the residents of Kaduna State pay huge taxes in the face of insecurity? Should the present generation experience school fees hike in the face of insecurity? What should be the priority of the government in Kaduna State at this point? What will the current leadership in Kaduna State leverage to salvage the current situation.
We no longer sleep with our two eyes closed, the Nigerian Security apparatus can hardly be trusted; and yet, the State is on a daily basis loosing her investors that she once enticed. Yes, the State did enticed investors at a point we taught she was getting it right. We stood up for the State and defended it policies. Unfortunately, we are now taunted and daunted for defending what we held in high esteem. Nevertheless, we are not deterred to give compliments when necessary, we are not deterred to offer deserving applause when needed and we are not deterred to call to order when things are not going right. The State in which we live belongs no one but to all of us.
We hope for a U-turn to put things in their proper places to reinvigorate the beauty of Kaduna State. We are tired of seeing gory sites and symbols. We are tired of weeping and mourning; we are tired of the breaking news; we are tired of government rhetoric; we are tired of government stakeholders meeting without productive action; we are tired of seeing the tractors on our roads when we are aware that our brothers and sisters are in captivity. We desire a better life than where we are.
Let’s go back to days of Ahmed Makarfi and learn; let’s go back to the days of Patrick Yakowa and learn. They might not have gotten it perfectly right; but the current situation now gives us a better understanding of the past and to evaluate the future.
ADIDI, Dokpesi Timothy
Kaduna Resident
