By: Sani Abdulrazak
For a while now, the debate from macedoine of voices within and outside Kaduna state has been who will succeed the father of modern Kaduna state, Malam Nasir Ahmed El-rufai. But with the new electoral act signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari and the subsequent rescheduling of the electoral timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission, the political cumulus has been antsy recently with shifts, alignments and realignments, but most importantly with politicians declaring their interest to run for public offices. One of the hottest argy-bargy right now is who will fill in the prodigiously himalayan shoes of Malam Nasir Ahmed El-rufai come 2023?
It is apposite to infix in our minds that Malam Nasir Ahmed El-rufai has upgraded governance in Kaduna state to a whole new level, so much so that aspirants of the office are either having second thoughts or have lost the amour propre of declaring their interest. In the area of infrastructure, Kaduna Urban Renewal Project, a brainchild of the governor, is arguably the biggest infrastructural revolution undertaken by any governor in the history of the country. this mastodon revolution has covered all the nook and cranny of the 23 local government areas of the state and not just the capital of the state. His artful economic moxie has turned the state to a beehive of both local and foreign investment. The state is fast growing economically with so much industrialization that in the next few years, the state might be competing with Africa’s top ten largest economies.
He has restored the pride and dignity of education in the state by employing competent qualitative teachers at all levels, renovation of existing schools and building new ones. The same can be said of the healthcare sector of the state. He is strengthening our institutions, providing employment to our teeming population.
Malam Nasir Ahmed El-rufai is also driving the numero uno and biggest youth and women inclusion in governance and training, and by the time he finally hands over on 29th May 2023, he will undoubtedly be remembered as the best governor by far the state has ever had, which makes it more pertinently germane to have a successor who is not only willing, but capable of consolidating on such unprecedented democratic dividends.
A successor that shares the same ideology and apparition as Malam Nasir El-rufai, one that is shrewd and calculative politically, a tested and trusted political messiah and a proverbial Lannister of our time with political influence cutting across the entire state and the country at large. One with humility and charisma, sui generis and one that will espouse a proclivity for purposeful and dependable leadership.
Well, these high standards and qualities have narrowed the state down to only one choice; Senator Uba Sani, the Senator representing Kaduna Central at the National Assembly. He fittingly dovetails the successor of Malam Nasir El-rufai. And like the governor, he has done blisteringly well anytime he is called upon to serve. He needs no adumbration by now, it is evident at his salubriously salutiferous efforts at impacting positively in the lives of his constituents and the state in general. In his time at the Senate, he has done so fabulously well that he is arguably the best senator from the entire Northern region if not the entire 9th Assembly. He has given his constituency and the state in general a panacea of even marginal development.
He has written his name in the sands of time in the area of healthcare delivery through renovation and equipping of Primary Health Centers within his constituency. Also, by sponsoring a bill for the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre in Kaduna state. This is unprecedented given the gallimaufry, history and geographical location of the state. Further justifying why is the successor. the centre which will be located at the densely populated Rigasa community in Igabi Local Government Area of the state, with the aim of providing healthcare to millions for years to come.
In the area of education, he has built several blocks of classrooms and ICT centres in schools within all the seven local government areas of his constituency. At the National Assembly, he sponsored and presented the long-awaited bill seeking the conversion of Kaduna Polytechnic to City University of Technology, Kaduna. Also, bills seeking the establishment of Federal College of Education Giwa, Federal College of Forestry Technology and Research, Birnin Gwari among others. As a Senator, the unprecedented achievement of facilitating the ongoing 2.5-billion-Naira project of Faculty of Engineering at the Kaduna State University permanent site for me will be highlight of his time at the Senate
Through Uba Sani Foundation (USF) and Uba Sani Empowerment Foundation for the Underprivileged (USEFUL) He has empowered and trained hundreds of youths on entrepreneurship who will in turn employ thousands in their various enterprises, ranging from farming inter alia, tailoring, shoemaking and information technology skills. This is aimed at providing both direct and indirect jobs thereby reducing unemployment in not just the constituency, but the state as a whole.
Also, the distinguished senator condignly selected canny youths from amongst us working tirelessly round the clock to be the avant-garde and power the wheels of his impactful change. The composition of Uba Sani Foundation (USF), Uba Sani Empowerment Foundation for the Underprivileged (USEFUL) and all his political appointees and advisers is a testament to his belief and trust in our youth.
It is felicitously luscious to stress here that our choice of a successor to Malam Nasir El-rufai will either make or mar the giant strides of the present administration, and the choice before us the people of Kaduna state and the All Progressives Congress (APC) is simple; to consolidate on the successes of the present administration by putting our differences aside and support the man that truly fits the crown; senator Uba Sani. We are grateful to the Lannister of our time for answering our calls to serve. He has thrown his hat in the ring; he is the people’s choice and overriding favorite in the battle for the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House. And this to most people is the mother of all declarations.
Sani Abdulrazak, author of “The Adventure of Ayya” is a Writer and a Senior Technologist with Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and can be reached via email at sazzak175@gmail.com
