Kaduna: Continuity Or Not?

In a previous write-up back in 2022, in the heat of the 2022/23 elections, I reasoned that if Elrufai and “Elrufaism” had done so well for Kaduna, it would be prudent to have a new government that would speak to continuity. A government that would complete projects and usher in new ones that would complement the developmental drive of the APC-led government in the state,  while also anchoring on the state’s goodwill with the Federal Government.

The piece titled, “Elrufaism: Sen. Uba Sani and the need for continuity”, where I elucidated on the essence of a continuity govt by the Kaduna APC establishment. I spoke about Sen. Uba Sani’s efforts to bring the Kaduna Urban Renewal Plan to life. Looking at his antecedents in the Assembly, Uba Sani is the only Senator who has had his bills signed into law. He sponsored a total of 31, of which 7 were successfully passed by both the Senate and the Federal House of Representatives, while awaiting presidential consent. His laurels and achievements by far exceed those of his two main rivals in the PDP and NNPP. His bills usually focused on financial inclusion for the less privileged in the country’s systems and welfare schemes. For instance, his BOFIA (Bank and Other Financial Institutions Act) amendment ensured the financial inclusion of all Nigerians aged 18 and above. Another bill amended the  AMCON Act, paving the way for the effective operationalisation of the company’s mission, including the management and recovery of the Federal Government’s 4.7 trillion naira in bad debts. In the long run, Kaduna opted for continuity and chose Sen. Uba Sani.

The last three years have been witness to a commitment drive by an influential senator to seeing Kaduna grow beyond the vision of previous administrations. Today, Sen. Uba San, who took over from El-Rufai, is set to vie for a second term as governor of Kaduna State. Like all Northwestern states, Kaduna’s number 1 problem is insecurity, not infrastructure. Southern Kaduna has often protested a lopsided, non-infrastructural development drive, but nonetheless, insecurity is the supreme cankerworm, and perhaps they have also been suffering its brunt.

This region’s concerns and protests were almost the bane of the previous administration’s existence. Today, Sen. Uba Sani has managed it much better, and the current development strides in the region have never been witnessed before. SK, also known as Zone 2, has many projects in roads, agriculture, and healthcare that have greatly boosted the area’s economy. Roads constructed include: Madauchi-Kafanchan road; Kagarko Township road; Unguwan Rimi Road, Kafanchan; Sanga-Kibom-Godongo; Kaninko-Dandogom, among others. These roads are vital for connecting communities with each other and with the centre, as well as for the offloading of agricultural produce. The state government has initiated construction of about 84 roads in SK alone, with 32 already completed. Other infrastructure activities include the construction of new primary and secondary schools and the renovation and upgrading of healthcare facilities, including general hospitals.

So also, have political appointments in his govt, largely carried along SK sons & daughters, with Dr James Atung Kanyip and Comrade Yunana Marcus Barde appointed Commissioners for Internal Security and Home Affairs and Humanitarian Affairs respectively. Dr James was Deputy Chief of Staff, while Barde was the immediate past Chairman of Jema’a Local Government. We also have Mr Jerry Adams as the boss of the Kaduna Internal Revenue Generating office, who has helped Kaduna to remain in the top four revenue-generating states in the country and first in the north,  ahead of even the “big dude” Kano. So you could say that Uba Sani’s efforts at inclusivity are quite good.

Uba Sani’s energy and dedication to the emancipation of the struggling populace in Kaduna in the aftermath of the Tudun Biri airstrike are also quite commendable. It drew my attention to the events and actions that followed, which proved Uba’s sterling leadership acumen. The airstrike was a regrettable act, and there was huge collateral damage. But Uba’s show of compassion in the restoration and rebuilding of the community turned the Tudun Biri debacle from one of mourning into one of great rejuvenation and development. The deployment of Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s Pulaku Initiative at Tudun Biri as a pilot programme was indeed a resounding success, and today, Tudun Biri’s lost glory has been restored and improved upon, even though the loss of lives is an irreparable lossto serve as a pilot programme for the initiative was indeed a resounding success, and today, Tudun Biri’s lost glory has been restored and improved upon, even though the loss of lives is an irreparable damage. I also paid attention to the remarks by the Hon. Minister for Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, when he extolled the commitment, persistence and patriotism of Sen. Uba Sani over the completion of the Abuja-Kaduna expressway (the Bakandamiya) project. The Kaduna-Kano stretch is done, and the Abuja-Kaduna stretch has outlived the 8 years of the Buhari administration without completion, and it still reared its ugly head as unfinished, and the Abuja-Kaduna stretch has outlived the 8 years of the Buhari administration without completion, and it still reared its ugly head as uncompleted, even after one year of the Tinubu administration (back then). Sen. Uba Sani was able to obscure the complexities that arose from the project, from contractor/FG disagreements to other unseen/miscellaneous encumbrances that militated against its completion. Uba Sani secured the President’s support and the minister’s commitment while also carrying the warring contractors on board. Today, the project is on track to be delivered soon.

I have also seen from the Foreign Direct Investment  (FDI) table for Nigeria, which itemises, analyses, and ranks capital inflows, that Kaduna had the 3rd-largest inflow last year. The governor was on air to ascertain the inflow of at least $2.5 billion into Kaduna. Again, the state has, in the last 3 years, paid over 90 billion naira in debt servicing, about N6.7 billion every month, from the state coffers. Meanwhile, the state is not taking on more loans but is celebrating ambitious projects, including the vision of an integrated transport ecosystem, with a 24km Bus Rapid Transit System underway. This is to connect to the light rail project in the state, which His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR is supporting. The project is worth N1 trillion.

It includes a 30-kilometre corridor from Rigachukun to Sabon Tasha and a 20-kilometre line from Millennium city to Rigasa, forming a 50-kilometre metropolitan network valued at N1 trillion. Mr President is also assisting the state with complementary road construction, including the reconstruction of the Mando-Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road, a 122-kilometre artery valued at N178 billion. In his appreciation speech/ statement to Mr President, Sen. Uba Sani said, “I recall with clarity and respect, Mr  President’s visit to Birnin Gwari in the lead up to the 2023 elections, which is a time when the area was beset by insecurity and infrastructural neglect. His promise then was unequivocal, and that promise is being fulfilled. This road will not only enhance connectivity, but also strengthen security, facilitate agricultural productivity, and restore confidence to communities long burdened by isolation. “With all these burgeoning and blossoming in Kaduna state, would it be wise to throw out the present administration? Would it be prudent to bring in a new government that would start from scratch, given that this administration is continuing the last administration? Should Kaduna residents allow primordial sentiments to truncate the path to development? I doubt much.