2007: Why Shekarau deserves re-election
By IBRAHIM MALAMI
ibrahimmalami@yahoo.com
As the 2007 election is gathering momentum, Kano politics became very clear among the people in the state having that Governor Ibrahim Shekarau has won the hearts of people in the state with unprecedented landmark achievements that are both conspicuous and concrete or physical.
Governor Shekarau, I believe is God messiah who has given tremendous attention to the extent that a visitor to the state before 2003 will take stands and believe that Malam Shekarau is good material to people.
In the state capital, youth and women in a large group numbering about one thousand five hundred are seen as early as 7:00 am daily keeping the metropolis clean and neat.
These youth and women were employed by the Shekarau administration under REMASAB, to ensure that environmental degradation is fought headlong. The street of Kano metropolis is such that it is a place anybody would want to be.
The essence of water in the lives of human beings cannot be over-emphasized and government of Kano state is not oblivious of their fact. So, in Kano, residents do not know what is called water scarcity.
The Tamburawa water supply system is a testimony of the commitment of the government of the day in providing water for citizenry where by 150 millions liters will be provided to Kano and its environ.
Farmers in Kano are also given sense of belonging and pride as the state government is committed to improving the agricultural potentials of the state.
The distribution of farm implements such as tractors as well as fertilizers has helped to boost agricultural productivities in the state.
The cost of food is not high to the extent that people from neighbouring states and those away from it come to Kano Dawanau international grains market to buy foodstuffs at cheapest price, courtesy of Malam Shekarau’s boost on agricultures.
Education became a very pride in Kano at every level because of Shekarau’s concern and conscious to make it a pride to all and sundry in the state.
The Shekarau government has ensured that all female education is free and teachers are enjoying prompt payment of salaries and allowances in time, which includes a special bonus to hard working and dedicated teachers.
The governor also directed for the recruitment of qualified teachers, which gave room for the engagement of over 6,000 teachers in the services of the state ministry of education.
Malam Shekarau also reinstated those entire contract officer who where unjustifiable laid off on the basis of indigeneship.
The government within its first six month in office, rehabilitated 171 class rooms, with additional 161 class rooms in various secondary school were renovated, while 3343 students furniture’s were purchased and distributed to schools, and also 75 laboratories were furnished with equipment worth millions of Naira.
Shekarau administration did not devote all its efforts to Western education alone, because Qur’anic and Islamiyya schools have also benefited from the administration’s programmes and policies.
The state is also taking the welfare of the students to heart. For instance, the present government has increased the scholarship allowances of its students in tertiary institutions from what it used to be a higher standard.
Health they say is wealth and hook, Governor Shekarau is not oblivious of the fact, hence, the construction and renovation of hospitals in Kano. He did not only renovate the hospital but also equipped them with assorted drugs.
In Kano state, the name Malam Ibrahim Shekarau is synonymous with progress, hard work, commitment, achievement and many others.
In the state, those who never saw anything in Shekarau are now hailing him, some of his opponents are now his good friends.
Those in other parties are now joining ANPP for his achievement, particularly in the area of pension and gratuity settlement dated back to 1979 to date, and also Shekarau had revisited their issues and settle it, which as at today there is no single pensioner that could not be given his entitlement in Kano.
Sir, I doff my hat on you, Allah Ya Maimaita Mana.
Pensioners in Kano are now moving strong with their heart feeling that “Shekarau is a man to re-elect for continuity of good policies,” said Jibrin Mijinyawa Fagge.

IBRAHIM MALAMI is an environmentalist and writes from Rimin Gado Local Government, Kano state.