Kaduna: Unveiling Uba Sani’s Rural Renewal Programme

By IBRAHEEM MUSA

Optics, symbolisms and personalities, drive politics and mainly, they   determine  election  outcomes in a democracy. Elections, in recent  past, were  ideologically-driven  but Identity Politics has trumped that in realpolitik. Now,  a candidate’s origin, form and mode of worship,   matter more than  his integrity and competence. Globally, this is the new normal and at home, the Muslim-Muslim ticket, Naka Sai Naka campaign and the Obidient hoopla, echoed  the phenomenon.

Significantly, Alhaji Shuaibu Bawa Jaja, Chairman of Kudan local government, warned against this  divisive, dangerous and poisonous politics on January 6, 2023. Indeed, Alhaji Isa Mohammed Ashiru, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate, is from Kudan local government. Likewise,  Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi, the then New Nigerian Peoples Party(NNPP) flagbearer, is also from that Area Council. Naturally, some residents were in a quandary, whether or not   to support Senator Uba Sani, the popular choice, or Ashiru and Hunkuyi, the sons-of-their soil.

However, on that fateful day, the APC campaign was at Kudan on January 6 and Jaja, as  the Chief Host, mounted the podium and spoke against Identity Politics. In an election, he pointed out,  people should vote for  competent and  experienced candidates,  those who can deliver the dividends of democracy. Jaja, without mincing words, declared  Senator Uba Sani  as  the best amongst the three candidates. Similarly, the APC gubernatorial candidate, in his address, made promises to  the people.

Indeed, 11 months after, Senator  Uba Sani was at Kudan  to fulfil part of those promises. The people, in their  thousands, welcomed  the Governor with endearing slogans, songs of praise and sundry epithets last Saturday. ‘’Balaraben gwamna,’’ “Uban Alheri,” and “Mai Nasara”, rent the air as the Chief Executive of Kaduna State and  his entourage, including Commissioners, political associates and senior government officials,  arrived Sakadadi, a border town between Hunkuyi, headquarters of Kudan local government and Sabon Gari Area Council.  Specifically, the Governor flagged off the construction of 10.2 kilometre feeder road, stretching from Dan Makwarwa to Hunkuyi. Similarly, he commissioned the renovated Kudan Township Stadium. Besides, the local government will benefit from Transformers installation and upgrade of power supply lines.

Significantly, as a gubernatorial candidate, Senator Uba Sani had promised rural transformation when elected into office. In fact, at focal meetings, Townhall engagements and on  the rostrum, this message was a recurring theme. Indeed, at a meeting in Kafanchan, organised by Southern Kaduna Stakeholders, he outlined his rural transformation  agenda,  praised El Rufai’s  Urban Renewal Programme and  promised   to continue with it, in line with  the SUSTAIN Agenda. Similarly, he  also pledged to focus on rural areas, transform their  local economies  and open them up for further development.

In retrospect, the rural transformation journey, as promised  the electorate, had started two months ago, with the flagging off of  the 21.7 kilometer road on September 2. The road, according to reports, will link Anchau, Gadas-Palla road in Kubau and Ikara local governments, to address transportation challenges of 32 communities.

Uba Sani: Selling Kaduna to the world

Indeed, the Kudan flag off  of last Saturday, is a continuous journey as seven local governments, located in Zone One, will benefit from roads construction, installation of 2,000 Solar Street Lights and other dividends of democracy.  Subsequently,  Zones Two and Three will also  benefit,  the Governor promised, in fulfilment of a campaign pledge, a commitment to  Rural Renewal Programme and opening new frontiers of development, to complement the ongoing  Urban Renewal Programme.

*Ibraheem Musa was Director of Strategic Communication of the Kaduna State  APC Council

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