Cross River, Lagos and Kano State(s); an Overview of the Governors performance and their anointed successors Part 2

  

Cross River State

Governor Liyel Imoke comes across as one of those urbane politicians that still exist in the Nigerian political landscape. As a former Senator, he took over from the likeable Governor Donald Duke in 2007 in what was rumored to be a pact between the two friends. Despite his election being cancelled after winning in 2007, he won the rescheduled one.

 The rural populace and areas in the state seem to be where the heart of the present government lies as that is where most of his efforts and plans are focused. Infrastructures such as roads, bridges, health facilities and schools have either being constructed or rehabilitated in these rural areas even in places that are far flung from 'modernity’. This is a clear departure from norm among most of the chief executives where they  make the capital of their states or an important city in the state the cynosure of all eyes and then just two kilometers outside this city you begin to get the feeling that you are crossing over to a 19 century enclave… Abia state on my mind.

Controversy in brewing though about whom the governor is looking to endorse. A certain Bassey is fingered as whom the governor is eyeing despite the clamour for the governorship slot to go to cross river north senatorial zone. This Bassey is from cross river south and he is also seen as the third leg of group trifecta that includes Donald Duke and the present governor. How the electorate laps up this scenario is left to be seen.

Governor Babatunde Fashola

Lagos State

As at 2007 when elections came around, not many Lagosians had known the name Babatunde Fashola .His name did not ring a bell in Lagos circles, though he was the chief of staff to erstwhile governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu. However due to the Jagaban's(as Tinubu is fondly called) political sagacity he was able to put Fashola on the hot Alausa seat despite a more popular candidate on the other political party's ticket.

However on getting to the seat, Governor Fashola showed that lack of popularity does not necessarily mean lack of competence. He is a man that knows his onions, salt and pepper.  What seemed impossible in Lagos is possible with Gov Fash as popularly known among Lagosians, His administrative capacity in managing the affairs of the state regarded as the center of excellence seemed to have endeared him to the Lagos elite and middle class. These classes of people see him as a visionary leader. His reforms in the transformation sector, upliftment and 'modernization' of the middle and high class areas of Lagos state cannot go unnoticed .Security has also been relatively good as he has cleared most of the hot spots in Lagos, e.g the transformation of the notorious Oshodi which earned him overwhelming admiration among Nigerians all over.

There is a belief though amongst the poor or lower class residents that some of his policies are elitist. Some of the fingered policies are the restriction of okada, deportation of non Lagosians which he termed jobless destitute, elimination of street trading in major roads, with no alternative provision to cushion the effect of such policies.

However despite these accusations, which might work against APC or whoever the Governor might anoint, it is believed that anyone whoever has his blessings would stroll to Alausa when Fashola's tenure comes to an end. The irony though is that Fashola's 'anointed' successor in truth might not get the needed 'endorsement' from Fashola himself but from the Jagaban living in Bourdillon road.

Politically, there is a feeling in the air that the average Lagosian is tired of APC leadership since the return of democracy in Nigeria in 1999, but whether this is true, will be evident in the polls come 2015, we just wait and see.

Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso

Kano State

The political history of the ancient kingdom which has now become a modern city state has over the years proved that the ordinary Kano person may not be literate in the western sense; he is certainly not politically naïve. A political scientist, who was once asked to describe Kano politics in one word, said “unpredictable.” This is because election can go either way, couple with the fact that only a few politicians have been able to sustain 2 term victory in kano state..

Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso lost his 2003 re-election bid to Ibrahim Shekarau due to what was rumored to be the falling out with influential traditional rulers in Kano at that time. He however staged a comeback in 2011.One is not sure whether those broken fences he had with those traditional rulers was mended.

 Knowing he has only four years to do whatever he intends to do, Governor Kwankwaso embarked on both infrastructural and social reforms .Some of these reforms include sponsorship of qualified indigenous people of  Kano to different courses both in and out of the country, carving out and building of 3 new cities namely kwankwasiya, Amana and Bandirawo to decongest kano metropolis, the much talked about 1km flyover in the middle of Kano city, construction of drainage and installation of streetlights in all of the 44 local government areas, massive building of housing estates to mention but a few. In the midst of are some disaffection emanating from the non-indigenous people who say the Kano government is antagonizing them especially in Sabongari as they lament the apparent abandonment of the area which is filled with decrepit infrastructure.

With the 'kwankwasiya' movement filling the air in Kano, it would be unexpected if the 'endorsed' candidate of the governor does not go ahead to clinch the Kano guber election, because in kano politics, one plus one is not always two.