Shekarau 2007: Allah Maimaita and need for effective strategies
By HASHIM ABUBAKAR
In the name of Allah the most beneficent the most merciful. May the blessings of Allah be on Prophet Muhammad (SAW), his family, companions and those who follow his footstep up to the final day. Amin.
We give special thanks to Allah for bestowing Kano a God-fearing government since the year 2003, under the leadership of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau. Every God-fearing individual must support such a government directly or indirectly. The Glorious Qur’an proclaimed that:
"And assist each other in obedience and fear of God (taqwa), and do not assist each in disobedience and hatred…" (Qur’an 5:02)
* To have a comprehensive recognition for the Qur’anic school system was an act taqwah by the Shekarau administration.
* For a sensitive leadership establishing agencies like Shari’ah Commission, Hisbah Board, Zakka and Khubusi Commission and a reorientation programme i.e. A Daidaita Sahu, all these show such a leadership as God-fearing.
* A leadership that cares and holds in high esteem the welfare and security of citizens signifies God-fearing.
* For a government to treat all citizens with equal treatment without religious, tribal or ethnic considerations (Shekarau has advisers from South-West and S south-East of Nigeria) shows that the government is God-fearing one.
* For a government not to have tempered with local government councils' funds and at the same time enjoined council’s chairmen to be God-fearing must be the same as enjoined.
* For a government to have successfully carried along the cleric, traditional rulers, business community, civil servants, the academia, pensioners and the masses definitely makes it a God-fearing government
* Freedom of speech is paramount in every public administration and political dispensation. The Shekarau administration upheld this act even in state controlled media. The type of behaviour that can only be exerted by the God-fearing.
More and more examples can be cited in terms of humane and material development of the Shekarau administration that warrant special prayers for Allah Ya Maimaita Mana. Amin.
The concept of Allah Ya Mimaita Mana
The term Allah Ya Maimata mana is a plea. It is Hausa word and prayer for reoccurance of an event. This event may be a festival or feast like the two Id festivals ie Eid-el-Kabir and Eid-el-adha (Salla babba and salla karama).
Allah ya maimaita mana can also be sought on any natural phenomenon that had a positive impact on the lives of the citizens of which they may wish to fervently pray for a reoccurrence.
We will therefore, deduct from the above that Allah Ya Maimaita mana is a soft appeal or prayer to the Almighty God to repeat a very important event, which had touched the lives of citizens in the positive manner. Nobody would like a calamity repeated in all its ramifications.
Allah Ya Maimaita vs Tazarce: The Diffrence
Tazarce in the other hand is quite a different world view from Allah Ya Maimaita. Tazarce as a Hausa terminology is more coercive than a diplomatic appeal. Tazarce connotes “force” or event elongation under “duress.”
By comparative analysis, Allah Ya Maimata and tazarce are two different phenomena that cannot live under the same. roof. The former is being more subservient to the Creator while the latter shows some elements of arrogance in attaining specified objectives. The Glorious Qur’an provides a guidance on how to identify those that are more subservient to God and says:
“And that everlasting home (paradise) which has been prepared for those who do not transgress in pomposity and evil. And surely it is only the God-fearing that gets the final blessing.” (Qur’an 28: 83).
On this note, we have seen clearly in our political history and democracy where most ‘Tazarce” attempts failed. The one-million-man march failed during the Abacha regime. Another tazarce effort by the Obasanjo administration also failed. So tazarce is an absurd word of elongation that has no terminating period or point.
By way of summary, Malam Shekarau as a God-fearing governor was every selective in words by avoiding the use of tazarce but Allah Ya Maimaita mana.
Effective strategizing ballot box and polling agents
In every election, result yielding is very crucial. Every election result has a grassroots implication. This has to be the case as all voters are at the grassroots. Voters speak through the ballot boxes. The outcome of the people's voices is determined by the contents in the ballot boxes.
For the above-stated reasons, an effective machinery should be put in place to defend and sustain people’s votes during elections.
Experiences have shown that majority of electioneering malpractices were committed and are still to be committed at the ballot boxes (akwati) level. Most of the anomalies and commotion erupt at that stage. All the additions and subtractions are done at that scene.
Polling agents
These are very important personalities as far as ballot boxes are concerned. The security and vigilance of these boxes solely lie in the hands of polling agents. Any shortcomings or miscellaneous on the part of polling agents always have a grave impact on elective results. Disoriented and untrained polling agent may be easily bribed at the voting point to allow rigging by opponents.
Elective culture had shown that political parties were responsible for handling polling agents during elections and that among the major setbacks experienced in previous elections included lack of proper remuneration and effective supervision. There have been instances of agents being starved on election days.
Recommendations
* Government should identify all the polling agents, supervisors, and coordinators of ANPP during 2003 elections.
* Ballot boxes at various voting centers must also be identified in order to avoid the emergence of fake ballot boxes.
* Polling agents' forum could be formed at very close to election period to be organized and coordinated by the party.
* Seminars or workshops be organized for polling agents, supervisors and coordinators.
* Effective communication channel be created and sustained during election periods.
* Elections should be monitored at all levels and emphasis given to information dissemination.
Finally, emphasis must be placed on prayers to Allah (SWT) for guidance, protection and ultimate victory. In HIM we trust.

Hashim Abubahar is the Sole Administrator of Ajingi local government area, Kano state.