From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
At 61, many of Nigeria’s citizens, compatriots and components are celebrating with mixed feelings. Some individuals, organizations, political leaders, including sitting states Governors are forming divergent opinions whether there is need or otherwise to celebrate Nigeria this time. Some state governors, particularly, those in the opppsition, have refused to roll out drums, alleging that there may be, “nothing to celebrate in Nigeria at her 61 years of independence.”
But in Kano, the administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is of the firm believe that citizens have every cause to celebrate the country. Optimistically, the Ganduje administration has maintained that Nigeria has made notable progress in the last 61 years; and will wax stronger and better when all the components see the strenght of unity in diversity.
This position was aptly captured in a pre-independence anniversary public lecture entitled: “Nigeria@61: The Successes, Challenges And The Way Forward.” The lecture delivered by a renowned Political Science Seenior Lecturer from Bayero Unibersity, Kano (BUK), Dr. Sa’idu Ahmad Dukawa rekindled hope of a better future for Nigeria, as the audience who gathered at Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano, left the venue on Wednesday, with a renewed spirit that Nigeria will remain great; and even greater than can ever be imagined when Nigerians emancipate themselves from chauvinism and negative sentiments.
Dr. Dukawa posited that there should be creation of greater awareness among the citizenry regarding the advantages of being together as one indivisible country which, by far, outweighs the disadvantages. The scholar further argued that in nation building, just in the way of building a house, one needs materials of different nature and texture to come up with a strong edifice that can not be dismantled. In essence, he was of the view that difference in culture, ethnicity and religion are supposed to be harnessed as indispensable components that can spring up a strongly united, peaceful and progressive Nigeria.
During the lecture, Dr. Dukawa answered some pertinent questions such as: what is nation building? Why does nation building constitutes such a huge challenge to Nigeria? How do we forge ahead and attain nation building in Nigeria.
According to Dr. Dukawa, “the state (everywhere in the world) comprises pf dominant groups that impose their will either through conquest or through unification process. Because the Nigerian state came about through conquest, that is why some people are arguing that it is an illegal state,” an argument he vehemently faulted.
The Political Scientist noted, however, that, “instead of harnessing national resources for nation building, politicians concentrate on harnessing state resources, hence the acute shortage of the resources and the intense competition for access to them. This gave rise to all forms of rivalry. There is an overbearing concentration on ‘now’ as against the future. The foregoing wrong notions are driven deep into the grassroots thus rendering states institutions into constant volatilty— examples include the current insecurity and banditry across Nigeria.”
He further enumerated the way forward for Nigeria to include, “continuous search for an upright and capable leadership that will provide good governance. Cashing on our strenght of being the biggest black nation in the world, most psychologically mobile Africans and highly resourceful people.
“Augurmenting our strenghts by continuing to champion the cause of Africa. As people of faith, we should reconnect with God, serve His cause and pray to him for salvation, and He will surely deliver us. May we live to see the Nigeria of our dreams.”
In his remarks during the event, the state Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, who spoke at the instance of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje maintained that Nigeria has every reason to celebrate at 61. He also reveled that Kano State Government has approved the upward review of students scholarship by 50 per cent, adding that the payment of the new scholarship allowances would commence soon.
According to him, the decision was in line with the state government’s policy on free and compulsory education. He charged students to make the best use of the opportunity to pursue their educational career. Speaking on the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), Ganduje urged those eligible among the students to obtain their voter cards before the expiration of the exercise.He further stressed the need for all eligible people in the state to register in view of the fact that Kano State has been left behind in the ongoing online voter registration exercise. “We are always monitoring the exercise in other states right from the beginning because it is online, in fact, are left behind. When Osun registered 400,000 persons, Kano registered only 100,000 people. So, people should come out and register because we have the highest population,” he said.
The Deputy Governor of the state, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna and the chairman of the occasion who is the Chief of Staff, Government House, Hon. Ali Bukar Makoda, in their separate remarks, all spoke glowingly on the strenghts of Nigeria and the successes recorded in the past 61 years, insisting that a brighter future lies ahead.
On Thursday, the Commissioner for Information, Malam Garba led members of the anniversary organizing committee for a charity visit to Special Homes. The team visited VVF outlet in Kwalli and the Nassarawa Children Home where kind donations were made as part of activities to mark the 61 independence anniversary.
Addressing his cabinet members shortly before the weekly Council Executive Meeting on Tuesday, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje had directed that all Commissioners and other political appointees to compulsorily attend the 61 independence anniversary review of parade slated to take place at Sani Abacha stadium, Kofar Mata, Kano.
The AUTHORITY reports that the review parade during after which Governor Ganduje will deliver his anniversary speech would be attended by all members of Ganduje’s cabinet, Speaker and members of Kano state House of Assembly, heads of all security agencies in the state, heads of extra-ministerial departments, all the 44 Local Governmeent chairmen, civil servants, students, among others.
Indeed, the three-day programme of events for 61 independence anniversary in Kano has remained insightful going by the quality of programmes packaged by the organizers of which have impacted positively on the lives of Nigerians resident in the state irrespective of ethnic cum religious background.
