Waste no time arguing what a good man should be, be one.” —Marcus Aurdius.
“Nothing is more conducive to peace of mind than not having an opinion”-George Christopher Lichtenberg. (1742-1799) German writer.
I would like to use this medium to advice Alhaji Ahmad Abdulhameed Malam Madori, popularly called Chichiyali, to please retrace his steps from the political wilderness and return to reckoning by embracing the facts and realities of life.
Ahmad was a political son of Sule Lamido whom he helped to be Jigawa state PDP organising secretary, PDP zonal auditor (North-west, commissioner Federal Character Commission representing Jigawa. Ahmad was minister of power and steel and an ambassador (Turkey) till May 29, 2015 when PDP exited power.
Despite these opportunities given to him courtesy of Lamido, Ahmad was among the few who decamped to APC after the 2015 presidential elections before the governorship election because he was angry losing PDP 2015 governorship ticket due to lackluster performance, non respect for elders, arrogance, undiplomatic in his relationship with other party faithful, and he is poor politician who hardly stretches his handshakes to other people.
Allegations by Ahmad in recent APC gathering in Sarawa, Kafin-Hausa local government area, Jigawa state have proved that he is out of touch with political realities and out to feather his nest at the expense of Jigawa people’s aspiration, agitation and prayer for progress, mutual understanding, and peaceful co-existence.
He said Lamido doesn’t love Hadejia people and is possessive”. Who else in Jigawa will believe that? Not to talk of Ahmad as one of the highest beneficiaries of Lamido’s generosity, etc.
Under the previous dispensation, consultations were made on governance and people’s interest, which was the cardinal reference point for all policies and progammes of Lamido administration. It is this policy of accommodation and careful promotion of Hadejia senatorial zone besides many projects, appointment of commissioners, advisers, special assistants, PSs, MDs, ESs, etc, that enabled the Lamido administration establish the state owned Sule Lamido University in the zone, rebuild Bilyaminu Usman College of Agriculture, secure four ministers and two ambassadors (you were among them) they were not from Lamido’s constituency though all parts of the state benefitted from the policy of inclusion an even developments but not like Hadejia.
If Lamido were possessive as Ahmad claims, how come he built the university and encouraged and supported these appointments and did not direct them to only his senatorial zone, Dutse or his local government Birnin Kudu or his country home (Bamaina)?
Equally hollow is Ahmad’s allegations that Lamido imposed gubernatorial candidate, Chichiyali had the same level playing field as all other aspirants to purchase the necessary form and aspire for any position of his choice in his party. But did he do that? If Jigawa people or APC refused to support you on account of your poor performance and lack of political reliability in the past, how can you blame someone for that, can governor Badaru or APC force people to like the man they don’t trust?
Ahmad allegation of Santuraki’s aspiration. There are no laws or party guidelines that say that a son of a politician cannot aspire. It thrills me when someone sees Lamido loving his biological children as a crime. Whose father doesn’t love his son? Can Lamido be different?
Jigawa people have suddenly grown very angry with this pattern of ‘chop and clean mouth’ politics. It is indecent and against the good etiquettes of our great religion and culture to bite the finger that fed you. I am sure our people will be waiting for these traitors at the polls as the accused Lamido of anointing his son as the gubernatorial candidate forgetting that, Santuraki contested without his father’s full knowledge and even beating his opponent at the primaries with 800 to zero votes and even other contenders withdrew before the primaries.
In Santuraki one sees everything of Sule Lamido’s dreams and aspirations for our society, people and state. Know that his biological son shouldn’t be seen as any different from those he has previously helped to achieve greatness like Chichiyali.
Mustapha Sule Lamido is a self made and accomplished business man who contested and almost won the senatorial seat of Jigawa North Central in 2019. Therefore calls from those who should know better for the same man to contest for the position of the governor four years after should not be a subject of campaign of calumny if not for some people who think that God Almighty can only do as they wish.
Santuraki’s issue shouldn’t be different from any other person as far as politics and the citizenry are concern. He has every right to aspire for any elective position in the land He should be left alone to exercise his constitutional rights. The primaries proved antagonists wrong and the general elections will determine or clear all the climate of hatred, enmity and envy.
Therefore despite the betrayals, Lamido is indeed fulfilled and an accomplished in all ramifications. Love or hate him, Lamido means a lot to many common people because he became the source of liberation, inspiration, joy, happiness, protection, guidance and lots more. He impacted his vast knowledge, experience and wisdom to humanity, he trained, nurtured, groomed, uplifted, promoted many. History is there to do justice. Even the emergence of Santuraki as Jigawa state PDP gubernatorial candidate is a good example.
Lastly, Ahmad should know that Sule Lamido believes in destiny. Otherwise, how can he undergo life and political tussles of lose and win? Lamido wants everyone to grow. Ahmad, you are in a better position to spread or carry this gospel. But whatever one says about Lamido negatively is his own opinion. Everyone knows Lamido has impacted positively on the lives of Jigawa people. Chichiyali should remember that success is not by our will; it is destined and accompanied by good character and determination. So, the best way to succeed is to follow the footsteps of achievers.
The earlier Ahmad respects his political realities and learns to control his tongue. He should emulate achievers or he will continue to wander in the political wilderness. A word is enough for the wise.
Usman, public relations officer, Santuraki Media Team (SMT), writes from Kafin-Hausa, Jigawa state
