The recently concluded by-elections across Nigeria, particularly in Kaduna State, are an attestation that the good people of Kaduna State are happy with the performance of His Excellency, Governor Uba Sani. The By-elections are a referendum by the people at the sub-national level, and they should be key performance indicators in the various states. While in some states, some incumbent political parties had to share the wins with opposition parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the leadership of Governor Uba Sani won all the by-elections.
While in some States, the opposition political parties are challenging the outcome of the by-elections, there is relative silence from the opposition political parties in Kaduna State.. Interestingly, leading up to the by-elections, some opposition political leaders were running about fomenting social media campaigns, especially around the Zaria constituency, claiming that they had the “mobilized” massive support of the people. One would have thought that by now they would be shouting that the election was rigged and that they were the ones who won! But alas! They have pocketed the loss in silence. The silence of those opposition figures in the face of defeat speaks volumes about the level of acceptance of the leadership of Governor Uba Sani in Kaduna State. Otherwise, their voices would have been very loud across all social media platforms, claiming what I call “audio victory”. Governor Uba Sani aptly captured the reality when he stated that, “There is no ballot box on Twitter. There is no ballot box on Instagram, or Facebook. Elections are won at the grassroots, not on social media”. I couldn’t agree more.
Furthermore, what is profound and worthy of note is that the APC won at the Chikun/ Kajuru federal constituency, a zone that had consistently voted for opposition parties for over two decades. This signifies that the good people of Kaduna South are happy with the style of leadership of Governor Uba Sani. This is a breath of fresh air from the toxic air of uncertainty, insecurity, hatred, bitterness, and disrespect that pervaded Kaduna State in the eight years before his administration.
Therefore, I congratulate His Excellency Governor Uba Sani on the success of the by-elections in Kaduna state. It is a well-deserved victory.
The resounding victory of the APC in Kaduna South has demonstrated Governor Uba Sani’s high level of political clout, emotional intelligence, bridge-building capacity, cultural diplomacy, and delivery of the dividends of democracy across Kaduna State, especially his special attention to rural development, which is a bedrock of development of any State. Governor Uba State is not only focusing on the right direction, but he is also delivering his campaign promises. Without a doubt, if Governor Uba Sani continues on this trajectory, then we can safely say that he will clinch a second term in office as the Governor of Kaduna State in 2027.
In my opinion, Governor Uba Sani is one of the most proactive and impactful of the incumbent State Governors in Nigeria. He is also one of the shining leaders of northern Nigeria who has emerged. I believe that he will contribute significantly to changing the declining political and debilitating social and economic trajectories of northern Nigeria in particular and the overall progress of Nigeria in general.
As we proceed from midterm moving into the second phase of this administration, we look forward to the manifestation of a lot of the Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) and Public-private Partnerships (PPPs) that Governor Uba Sani have signed off thus far which align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the state level in the areas of agriculture, rural development, education, youth empowerment, infrastructural development, solid minerals energy, renewable energy, etc.
Governor Uba Sani’s focus and impacts so far, on education, youth empowerment, and social justice, amongst others is very impressive, especially at this time there is the need for northern leaders to move away from rhetoric to action, to deal with the issues of out-of-school children, dwindling education, unemployment, poverty, youth restiveness, the dangerous decline in the quality of our human capital, and insecurity in northern Nigeria.
Moreover, what is true and clear is that Governor Uba Sani is continuously building bridges of peace and goodwill. He is continually assuaging the fears and building the trust and confidence of the good people of Kaduna State, residents, foreigners, investors, and other stakeholders, reassuring them that for the first time in a long time, Kaduna State is safe. Indeed, in the past two years since he became the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Kaduna State has returned to its pride of place in the political, social, and economic schemes of Nigeria. Kaduna State, being the one-time capital of the northern region, is a trailblazer and a home to all Nigerians and also foreigners.
As a northern Nigerian, I have also been a friend and resident of Kaduna State, having worked in Kaduna State during the early years of my professional career circa 1994, when I was the project manager of the computerization of the New Nigerian Newspapers Headquarters, and from where I was also a project support for the computerization of the then Office of the Accountant General of Benue State, and the Ministry of Finance, amongst other projects. For over 30 years, I have also been conducting business in Kaduna State, particularly in areas of agriculture and commerce. As an indigene of Kano State, I have made Kaduna State my second home, and I have always loved the State and its good people. Hence, I was always heartbroken like many Nigerians when the peace, harmony, and peaceful co-existence of Kaduna State were disrupted, with devastating consequences, especially in the eight years before the administration of Governor Uba Sani.
I am therefore delighted that Mr. Governor has restored peace, harmony, and prosperity to Kaduna State since he took the mantle of Governorship of Kaduna State.
Second term projections
Nigeria is a democracy. Therefore, opposing voices and opposing personalities will continue to have their say, and even in some cases, they could have their way.
Currently, in the case of Kaduna State, I think that the opposition parties in Kaduna will be content with having their say in terms of electoral victory. Because, undeniably, they know that with the performance of Governor Uba Sani, it is highly unlikely for them to achieve electoral victory.
Accordingly, if Mr. Governor continues with his current performance and achievements, God willing, he will ultimately win the 2027 Governorship election for a second term in office. This is because there is a nexus between performance, impacts on the people, and achieving another electoral victory for an incumbent political leader. I am very optimistic that Governor Uba Sani will get a second term in office. And I wish him well in that regard.
Governor Uba Sani’s sterling democratic credentials as a democrat, and vanguard for the restoration of democracy in Nigeria from the shackles of Military juntas, risking his life along with other freedom fighters, is a testament to his pedigree, not as a freeloading onlooker, but as an active warrior for democracy who has earned his place in the annals of the political history of Nigeria. We will recall that he stood in the trenches fighting for the emancipation of Nigeria from the grip of brutal military dictatorship along with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and other brilliant, dogged heroes of democracy, some of whom paid the ultimate price with their lives, while others like President Bola Tinubu had to flee Nigeria and go into exile, as others like Governor Uba Sani were incarcerated and/ or convicted and sentenced to years in prison or death. The ordeals that vanguards, like Governor Uba Sani and his Comrades, were facing did not deter, demotivate, or stop them until, by Providence, Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999.
Therefore, nobody can take away these sterling democratic credentials from Governor Uba Sani, which are marked with tears, scars, and blood. Unlike some other politicians who conveniently remained silent, collaborated or actively supported military juntas for their selfish interests, and only started speaking out or criticizing power when it was more convenient, fashionable, or even profitable.
The recently concluded by-elections in Kaduna State have left no one in doubt that Governor Uba Sani is now in charge of Kaduna State politics and leadership. It has also put lousy busybody politicians in their place. Politicians who are of the illusion that insults, toxic rhetoric, and political gallivanting will win elections will soon sober up, or they will soon get used to losing elections as they diminish into political oblivion.
Credit:The Guardian