At every opportunity, Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State brandishes the credentials of being a proud disciple of the late Mallam Aminu Kano. However, the best tribute any self-claimed disciple of Aminu Kano should pay to his memory is to live by his example of humility, modesty and genuine commitment for public interest. In all honesty, can Sule Lamido be in the class of genuine defenders and promoters of Aminu Kano’s principles of accountability, modesty and fear of God in the discharge of public responsibility?

Governor Lamido has all along hoodwinked the gullible minds who failed to realise that all his geese are swans. Lamido recently gave himself away as a pseudo-comrade when he condemned the on-going probes into the power sector, warning that the elite will destroy itself by subjecting itself to public scrutiny.

Why is Governor Lamido nervous about the power probe? Is he a beneficiary of the contract for the supply of PHCN transformers awarded under the former Minister of State for Power and Steel, Alhaji Ahmed Abdul-Hamid Mallam Madori, who is his political protégé? Could Mallam Aminu Kano have been happy at the idea of his disciples kicking against exposing rogues? Was Sule Lamido’s interview in the Saturday Sun (10/5/2008) a protection of self interest or public interest?

There are widespread allegations that, indeed, Lamido benefited from the Power Contract under the tenure of his political minion, Alhaji Ahmed Mallam Madori. Let Sule Lamido deny that he didn’t benefit from these contract scandals. How much did he collect for the supply of the transformers? Was there due process in awarding him the transformer contract by a man he nominated for public office? Governor Lamido should be honest enough to deny or confirm his connection to the power contracts.

Any genuine believer in the philosophy of the late Mallam Aminu Kano would be grievously shocked at the suggestion that the power probes are unnecessary. If truly Lamido is a credible disciple of Aminu Kano, why must he kick against holding public office holders accountable? Leadership is a sacred trust between those in power and the people they govern. Public faith in the institution of government will be damaged if leaders like Lamido question the wisdom of holding elected and appointed officials accountable.

In fact, Mallam Aminu Kano must have turned in his grave that one of his disciples was kicking against probity. Lamido is so concerned about the elite destroying themselves through probes that he wanted a halt to such waste of time! In effect, Lamido is suggesting a conspiracy against the masses (talakawa) in whose name he purports to govern. The so-called political class, which derives its authority from the people, can only guarantee its survival by protecting the interest of the people.

Governor Lamido is telling us that crooks should be allowed to enjoy their loot or shielded from justice. His trashy logic is evidently at variance with the principle of open government and the ideals of the late Mallam Ainu Kano. Throughout his life, Aminu had preached the gospel of accountability. And therefore, the greatest disservice to his memory is to suggest that the political class should conspire against the ordinary people. Lamido forgot that a fairer society is a safer society and his perverted ideas of protecting the elite against scrutiny will be the main factor against their survival.

Does Sule Lamido appreciate the consequences of corruption and diversion of public funds on the future of Nigeria and her citizens? Is it not curious that as a supposed crusader for the Talakawa interest, he lacks the moral courage to support the investigations into the shady contracts and deals undertaken by the former Obasanjo administration? In his desperation for publicity and hunger for relevance, Sule Lamido has finally revealed the mask on his face. Those who know him closely enough already raised doubts about Lamido’s sincerity to follow the footprint of Mallam Aminu Kano. He is just an attention seeker and a disgusting pretender.

He recently wasted public funds sponsoring newspaper adverts self-servingly called Lamido on the marble. Lamido’s recent affectation of philosopher-king has further exposed his limitation and misconception of power. A poor state like Jigawa can ill afford the large-scale waste of lean resources to promote Lamido’s ambition of a philosopher – king. Corruption should be a dirty word in the dictionary of any genuine disciples of Aminu Kano but Lamido is telling us crooks should be allowed to get away with their atrocities against the people.

In order to save themselves from humiliation, philosopher Lamdio advocated a halt to the probes because they pose a threat to the political class. Does that sound like a language coming from the friend of the masses? If anybody ever doubted that Lamido is a deceiver, his recent interview with the Saturday Sun has exposed him in his true colours. One is pained that Lamido continues to use Aminu Kano’s name to achieve his self-seeking ambition. If he had no dark motives, why is he nervous about the on-going probes? He has ulterior motives for wanting a halt to the probes. Do we need any more proof that Lamido’s credentials as Aminu Kano’s disciple are dubious? 

DAUDA IBRAHIM JAHUN, a political activist and advocate for transparency

B20, KATSINA ROAD ,

KADUNA

Robot  # 1 | 14.05.2008 15:22

At every opportunity, Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State brandishes the credentials of being a ...Read the full article.

PAPIG  # 2 | 14.05.2008 18:37

FIRST UTOMI AND NOW LAMIDO.......WHO NEXT? Very interesting and it may have been funny if the situation was not very serious. Serious because the sole reason for our retrogression as a society is purely down to lack of accountability. Any measure to move the country closer to increasing transparency is quickly derailed by any means neccessary. One such move is the freedom of information bill. Our law makers are doing everything under the sun to ensure it does not see daylight. Interesting, because the people advocating that 'probes are a waste of time' this time around, are individuals who are thought to be on the side of the voiceless and thoroughly trampled Nigerians. First it was Pat Utomi suggesting the probe of the CBN as it relates to the AFC was uncalled for and a simple journey into the past which may end up embarrassing the country! What a load of r....b....sh for a man who should know better. Next is a so called disciple of the leader of the talakawas (Alhaji Aminu Kano) suggesting the probe of the power sector will amount to no good inspite of our oil-rich country remaining in perpetual darkness with increasing resource inflow. I do not mean to belittle this subject, but it would be akin to suggesting that a Chief James Onanefe Ibori is no longer a convicted common thief at least in the UK because his crime happened a wee while ago! It is precisely this argument that gives him the nerve to aspire to the presidency of this cursed nation. We are not yet all thieves and so therefore must not be ruled by irredeemable thieves or friends of thieves. On the other hand, we must not forget that Barkin Zuwo, Abubakar Rimi and even your president were once disciple of the great Aminu Kano. Thank God for the likes of Balarabe Musa, the man may still have someone to be proud of. We all know how thieves are regarded and treated in true African communities before the advent of this lot and i wonder whether we should be revisiting that era to deal with our thieves since they appear not to be comfortable with the modern ways of serving justice.