I will uplift Educational standard – Tofa
By ABDULLAHI YAKUBU
Chief-Sub Editor, Weekend Triumph
THE evolution of a true egalitarian economic system that leads to the emergence of a responsible society lies with the government as the strong central allocator of most resources and economic values. – ASIKPO Essien – Ibok
So also is the control of the upper limits of social surplus accruing to individuals to minimize the unethical mad rush to acquisition of wealth usually created by the acute sense of interpersonal wealth comparison.
Today, most psyco-Analysts view inter personal wealth comparison as a share waste of time and dissipation of energy on a wasteful venture. Because of this reason a pragmatic approach on how the society can be shaped and repositioned back to sound reasoning is being advocated by well wishers and leaders of men.
A cursory look at the take-off of the newly appointed sole administrator of Kano municipal council, Malam Garba Muhammad Tofa, reveals a man who has the culture of building the human capacity as one of the prerequisites of social upliftment and good standards.
To Tofa, widening the intellectual horizon of people and engaging them in various educational activities will pre-occupy their idle minds and change them from the traditional culture of dependency and heartless approach to life.
The sole administrator was quick in debunking any kind of ideology that ranks praise singing and other destructive trades of similar magnitude higher above knowledge acquisition.
The man said all along he has been the brain behind any positive move that leads to positive changes in the lives of the people especially the less priviledged ones wherever he lives.
On arrival as the new captain in Municipal local government, the directives given to all aides and other co-workers in the local government is about attitudinal change and mobilization of the youths to take to education as a means of self empowerment against the normal life of waywardness and focusless mission in life.
There were a lot of factors identified which to him were responsible for the break-down of the government’s genuine approaches in salvaging the lives of the youths.
As a time tested lecturer, he saw in Kano municipal a kind of cancer worm that had already penetrated and eaten deeply into the fabrics of the young ones who have dumped educational pursuit for want of short term comfort in life.
In realizing this destructive phenomenon, Tofa felt something great must be done at least in bringing a sound ideology to bear in the minds of the youths. The sole administrator borrowed a leaf from the old philosophical position of P.E. Sigmund who saw ideology as a social philosophy with action orientation as a systematic scheme or coordinated body of popularly held ideas.
Alhaji Garba Muhammad Tofa who insisted on the philosophy of change in human behaviour as well as entrenchment of well defined ideologues, answered questions on how he viewed change and its impacts on the lives of human beings.
“On how he intended to change complexities in handling the culture of dormancy and sluggishness from the minds of the youths in Kano municipal he has this to say.
“You know, change has to do sometimes with finders’ definition because change means alteration, modification, permutation, transformation, evolution as well as metamorphosis from one state of social behaviour to another. It is with this notion at the back of our minds that we feel a lot can be done to shape as well as re-direct the thinking of our people especially the idle ones to reasonably work in line with the position of the local government’s resolve to commit its last kobo on youth mobilization and moral rejuvenation via the provisions of sound education”.
As a respecter of cultural norms and values, Garba Muhammad posited that he has a lot of respect for the traditional institution considering their roles as royal fathers.
He said no one will rule Kano Municipal without extending hand of relationship to the Kano palace at least for one to be well guided so as to discharge his assigned responsibilities without any hindrance.
Tofa also decried the environmental condition of the local government which to him constitutes an eye sore despite the efforts of the state government in eliminating refuse from all the nooks and crannies of the local government.
He said Municipal council under his stewardship will not hesitate to supplement the state government’s efforts by investing more in the clearance of debris from all the refuse dumb centres.
As a civil servant of repute, Tofa promised not to pokenose into political affairs concerning the local government but shall be quick in taking necessary action on any politician who intends to take advantage of his silent position to cause trouble.
Political participation or any political statement has nothing to do with his primary responsibility as an administrator of men and their property.
Alhaji Garba Muhammad Tofa an indigene of Tofa local government was born in Tofa town in 1962 and had attended Tofa Kofar Gabas Central Primary School and Teachers College Bichi between 1980 – 1985.
He taught briefly at Rimin Dako primary school after his secondary education.
The newly appointed sole administrator was admitted at the School of General Studies Bayero University, Kano (BUK) between 1987 – 1989.
He later passed out from his alma-mata (BUK) with a second class upper degree and served in Imo state. Additionally, he was given employment as a graduate assistant in BUK at the Adult Education Department.
As a person with the thirst for education, he later went to Benin University to pursue his masters degree, and is currently pursuing his PHD in curriculum studies also in Bayero University Kano.
Tofa while assessing the quantum of the responsibility put on his shoulders said he knows quite well that the task is so herculean and he needs the support of all and sundry to achieve all the target objectives put before him.
The work of administrating over the affairs of men is so tasking that only the blessed can conveniently weather the storm and land in the promise land safely.
The sole administrator said before he winds up his assignment during his brief stay in Municipal council, its going to be a gradual revolution and repositioning of work that have been badly positioned in the past.
I intend to restore the shattered hopes of a people that were affected directly or indirectly by lopsided political leadership.
All rights are going to be paid adequately so as to create an atmosphere of peace and tranquility within the council area.
“Through the prompt payment of staff entitlements, contractual entitlements among others we will be seen as working in line with the prophesies of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau a man who rates human development higher than any other minor consideration in governance.
The Executive governor will live to be remembered for his steadfastness honesty and dedication in the discharge of his official responsibility. Shekarau has saved so many souls and impacted positively on the lives of all and sundry. I will not wind up without emulating the peoples governor at least in the area of societal re-orientation”, he emphasied.