by Salihu Tanko Yakasai

It is only a matter of time, two years to be precise, that Mr Yuguda will vacate that seat and become an EX like those before him. He will then become a nonentity, seeking relevance here and there.

The Hausa people have a saying, “Ka yi amai ka lashe” which means “to lick your own vomit”. Well, that’s exactly what Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda did this week.

We all remember Mr Yuguda’s dramatic decision to opt out of the virtually useless Northern Governor’s Forum after the Nigerian Governor’s Forum’s election (another useless body) which Rotimi Amaechi, the Governor of Rivers State won. Mr Yuguda claimed that the Northern Governor’s Forum hypocritically “Jangalized” and betrayed him by backing Amaechi, after telling him to step aside for a consensus candidate from the north, Jonah Jang of Plateau State, as a result of which he felt he couldn’t be among his counterparts from the North in that forum.

Then all of a sudden this week, the same Mr Yuguda decided to re-admit himself back into the forum, alleging that some “Respected Elders” from the North, begged him to do so!

Absolutely rubbish! Before I even get to Yuguda, let me begin with the Northern Governor’s Forum. Forums like these exist else where in the world, for instance in the United States of America, they have the National Governors Association, Canada and Australia have something similar. In America for example, their own Governor’s Association which was founded in 1908, was created to ensure governors’ views are represented in the shaping of federal policy. Policy positions, reflecting governors’ principles on priority issues, guide the association’s work to influence federal laws and regulations, among many other valid reasons. It is one of Washington, D.C.’s most respected public policy organizations. In Nigeria, what have these governors achieved with that platform for the common man in the region or the country at large that being a member of the forum is of interest to any of us? Was there any positive outcome from them that has improved our lives since the formation of the forum? If not to promote their selfish and heartless agendas, what else have they birthed that translated into something meaningful for you and I? These are just some of the many unanswered questions that they need to urgently address before they even start jumping in and out of the forum. For the rest of us, its simply a case of “Banza ta auri wofi” meaning: “Nonsense weds rubbish”

Now let me go back to Mallam Isa Yuguda. You left the forum because you couldn’t secure their votes to become the Nigerian Governor’s Forum’s Chairman sir, simple. Now that you realized your blunder by quitting the Northern Governor’s Forum, which could hamper your interest to succeed Jonathan in case he miraculously decides not to contest in 2015, knowing very well that it will be a herculean task for you to have a smooth ride without the forum’s support, that’s when you decided to hide behind “Respected Elders” to re-admit yourself back into the forum. What a shame!

What truly baffles me is how these men in power lose focus that they can’t even see the reality on ground, even if it is poking them in the eyes. Or, how they failed to see how those they took over from ended in life, when the power they misused is no more at their disposal. A former Minister during Obasanjo’s era, a very powerful one for that matter, confided in a friend of mine that, leave the loot for a Nigerian leader, and take away power from him, you have literary killed him.

Has Yuguda forgotten about the man he took over from, Ahmed Muazu? Where is he in the political permutations of this country today? What about the almighty Abdullahi Adamu, former Governor of Nasarawa State (from 1999 to 2007), who was the 1st Nigerian Governor’s Forum’s chairman? Or has he also forgotten how Yakowa recently died tragically while he was still the Governor? Where was their immunity when death came for Yar’Adua, a sitting President for that matter? Aren’t all these enough lessons to make him and his fellow governors have the fear of God, and for once do the right thing, which is put people first, and not their selfish interests? Well, as my Igbo brothers will always say, IT IS WELL! It is only a matter of time, two years to be precise, that Mr Yuguda will vacate that seat and become an EX like those before him. He will then become a nonentity, seeking relevance here and there.

Just when you thought you’ve seen it all, our so called “leaders” will pull out one tremendously stupid act that will just leave you speechless. History is there for a reason, and one reason only. To shape our future and avoid making the mistakes those in the past did. If only we can learn from it. The world is fast changing drastically, where in the space of less than two years, Egypt for instance have seen changes that we never thought possible, simply because people were fed up. Countries that are developed and by far more stable than ours are being plunged into crises. Yet, our leaders have not learned anything from these historic events shaping our world. To quote from Mahatma Gandhi “A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.” George Bernard Shaw also said that “We learn from history that we learn nothing from history.” Indeed they say a word is enough for the wise, the earlier Yuguda and co take this to heart, the better for them and their place in history.

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Tanko Yakasai is a proud husband and father of two. He is a broadcaster with Freedom Radio, Kano. Yakasai believes in the unity and development of Nigeria, which paved his way into community activities through NGOs in transforming our society for the better. He is a registered member of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.