Letter to the Jigawa commissioners

By Adamu Muhd Usman

Occasionally, analysts and commentators use the public space to address some issues not because it’s the only medium available, but the main subjects are important public figures. So we need to pardon the analysts and the commentators for such choices
As commissioners, everything, including matters of your character, health, and commitment, should be in the public domain.

Congratulations, and welcome to the court of Dan Modi. I know how difficult it must have been and how many hurdles some of you must have crossed to come this far; the countless protests, petitions, press releases, meetings and what have you, have gone against your nominations, the security investigations/vetting, assembly screening and the waiting and the anxiety and all that. But as they say, nothing worthwhile comes easy.

Some of you are coming as first-timers, while others amongst you were inherited from the previous administration of H.E. Alhaji Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar.

We are told that the executive governor of Jigawa states His Excellency Malam Umar A. Namadi had a freer hand in nominating you, though some of you were said to have been imposed on him by the former governor, party, and its chieftains. Your choice therefore is measure of his confidence in your ability to perform despite the speculations of imposition because he can think or do otherwise since he is in charge of the affairs of the state and his expectations of you must, therefore be quite high. Which is to say, he has called you not to ‘come and chop’ but to ‘come and work’

You should work hard. You owe that to him, and you owe it to us. But I need to remind you that in Dan Modi’s court all work and no play (read politics) can easily make you an ‘ex’ check this out with some of those who were not on board now. Mix work and politics in equal measures to find a happy, balanced journey that can help you to survive all the court intrigues and reshufflement, when they arise. It’s up to you how you manage it. But take this little advice, it will sharpen your political instincts, acquire an additional ear, and keep all three to the ground. Keep in good terms with your governor, especially those that were alleged to have been imposed on him or inherited from the previous administration.

My dear honourables, you are joining the government at a most difficult time, a time of public scrutiny, high expectations, especially in Jigawa state and despair in the land

It is very glaring that all of you may be with the exception of one, I think you reached the ripe age of 50 and above. Please, help Jigawa by getting together and using the benefit of your maturity, experience, passion and accumulated wisdom to device the best way to remind yourselves the tenure is four(4) years not (40) years. Thank God, some or most of you have been in the system in the state since 3rd and 4th republic and even Malam Umar was in the 6th republic as a commissioner of finance, 7th republic as the deputy governor and now 8th republic as the chief executive of the state (governor).

You should be committed and honest with Malam and be logical to impress it on him. Don’t say he can implement a program in his second term. Well, yes. But who knows. The only sure term he has is this one, and you owe it to us and to him to allow him to make the most of it. If not now, when? and if not now, maybe never. Yes, let’s make it happen

Lastly, Malam is our leader and by his own admission also our servant, please pray for him, allow him, support him, encourage him and help him to work for the benefit of Jigawa people (Talakawa) and also don’t sabotage his effort. Governor Malam Namadi can place his council members on probation and set a target as Kano governor did that in order to evaluate their zeal, passion, commitment, and readiness to work for Jigawa people.

I will conclude my piece with one of the sayings of Stephen R. Covey, that says, “The environment you fashion out of your thoughts, your belief, your ideals, and your philosophy is the only climate you will live in. The key is not in spending time but in vesting it.” May God help and guide you, right? Jigawa of my dreams.

Adamu writes from Kafin-Hausa, Jigawa state amu3333@yahoo.com.