EDITORIAL
The governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, is known to have been out of the country in recent weeks and he returns lately. During the period he was away, he left his deputy, Hajia Hadiza Balarabe, in full charge of affairs of the state as the Acting Governor. This was the second time the governor did this in the last three months. There had been several other occasions in the course of his second term in office which began in 2019.
The same had happened in the first term which began in 2015 when Architect Yusuf Bala Bantex was the Deputy Governor. He too operated in the capacity of Acting Governor and did superintend uncountable number of very high state affairs. At ENM, we take full note of this and we do for reasons that are relevant to the health of our polity as well as our democracy.
What has transpired in Kaduna State in the past six years or so is noteworthy because hardly does it happen in most of the states across Nigeria. In fact, the relationship between state governors and their deputies is such that many governors hardly want to leave their seats for a day; this is for the simple reason that they are reluctant to let their deputies get anywhere near their job. Some governors are known to quietly leave the country and quietly return to their seats without as much as getting their deputies in the know that they are going out of the country and exactly when they will return. In the event, there are negative consequences on the conduct of state affairs, and the people bear the brunt too. Since the current administration in Kaduna State came to office this has not been the case.
Now, the question may be asked; why the difference in Kaduna State? What makes the difference? At ENM, and we’ve been closely following events in the state, we think one main reason for the difference is the kind of man in charge. The situation in Kaduna is what one finds when a man who has self-confidence is in charge. It is what happens when the quality of the man in charge is high on the relevant indices. People of quality, those who have self-confidence do not feel insecure; they hardly ever feel threatened by others. So, they allow others to breathe, while they themselves breathe easy as they conduct the affairs of state. Most governors in Nigeria do not fall into this category.
The man in charge in Kaduna State is not threatened by anyone because whatever they may have he has it already. So, as a First Class graduate, anyone he works with who is a First Class graduate can only complement him rather than take the shine from him. A governor who wants first rate minds to be around him cannot feel insecure or feel threatened by others. The governor of Kaduna State demonstrated this even at the time he was the FCT Minister where he ensured he worked with the best minds available. He has continued with the same disposition seen in the kind of appointments he made especially with regard to members of his Executive Council.
Also, the man in charge in Kaduna State, above all, is not petty-minded as many people in positions of power are. He has principles, he is for what elevates rather than what degrades. He does not get himself involved in the kind of pettiness that takes attention of a public office holder away from the high business of state affairs. He concentrates on the job to be done to the point that interpersonal struggle with deputies, suspicion etc. do not appear on his menu. Rather, he has serious business to attend to on behalf of the people and has demonstrated he focuses on doing exactly this. He did not start conducting himself this way today, he did in the FCT where even his aides at the time stated that their boss would give them assignment but he was always steps ahead of them regarding the same assignment.
At the time El-Rufai left office in the FCT, he saw the records of what he had achieved with his team and he was known to have expressed surprise that he achieved so much. He was known to have stated that he had concentrated on the business of governance that he did not realise so much was already done under his watch. That is the kind of governor in charge in Kaduna State, one who would not be dragged down by personal struggle with deputies as some other state chief executives are busy doing.
There is more though. The manner El-Rufai came about his deputies is a contributing factor to the situation found in Kaduna State. Most governors had their deputies selected for them and imposed on them by political parties and other so-called stakeholders. One effect is that two strange bedfellows are packed together. It does not always work out in most states. In Kaduna State, however, El-Rufai has made it a point to have a deputy governor he trusts, believes is a capable hand, and has respect for. He has insisted that he would not allow anyone to select for him who he works with as deputy governor. One outcome is that he has said so much about the achievements, competence and character of late Bantex such that we do not need to be long in that regard.
From day one, El-Rufai came to office with Bantex that he knew he could trust with his vision, the business of state, and one he could confidently leave on seat as the acting governor. The same was the case when Balarabe was selected. She was the best among the several candidates shortlisted. She was selected for her quality, not any other primordial sentiment such as religion which many peddle in other states and in the end place two enemies in position as governor and deputy governor. Balarabe from all considerations is someone El-Rufai believes is capable and trustworthy and so he has had no qualms trusting her with high state business whenever he is outside the country. Trust and competence are often lacking in the relationship between governors and their deputies in other states, so we have the situation we have.
Many other factors can be stated as responsible for the situation in Kaduna State where the man in charge has always let his deputies breathe. But of the few already stated the calibre of the man in charge is paramount. Maybe calibre can not always be the same in every state and at all times. But one thing is possible and it will help a lot in making what obtains in Kaduna State repeatable across the other states. This is the need for governorship candidates to have a say in who is selected as their deputies. When this is the case, many of the issues that breed tension and distrust between state governors and their deputies are taken out.
If nothing else, the importance of this is fully demonstrated in Kaduna State and the outcome has been clear for all to see. In that situation, who wins? Everyone – the polity, the political party, the politicians, and ultimately the citizens.
