OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR UMAR ABDULLAHI GANDUJE
March 9, 2020
Your Excellency,
Dr. Umaru Abdullahi Ganduje
The Executive Governor of Kano State,
Government House, Kano
OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR ABDULLAHI GANDUJE OF KANO STATE: WHAT NEXT?
Your Excellency, Sir, it was just about a couple of days ago that I penned you my first open letter over the unpleasant public squabble between your esteemed self and the Emir of Kano whom you just dethroned yesterday. In the said letter, I expressed my pain and sadness over how that public squabble has demeaned the glory and prestige of the rich cultural and traditional heritage of Kano, and I made it clear that it was a sentiment shared by millions of Nigerians, both inside and outside Kano, who cherish the richness of Kano’s heritage!
In the letter, I also observed with sadness how prominent Nigerians, including former Heads of State, serving state governors, traditional rulers from across the country, Christian and Islamic religious leaders from across the country and top class businessmen intervened by coming to Kano to plead and reconcile you with the Emir to no avail. In the end, I urged you to do what you have always wanted to do all along, so that we could be saved the daily embarrassment of reading about one scheme or the other to oust the revered Emir. But now that you have done what was on your mind – the dethronement of the Emir, it becomes very imperative to ask: WHAT IS NEXT?
The Emir is gone, in accordance to the powers of your office while you have remained as Governor. But how about the future? You are a politician with unlimited political opportunities ahead of you, and there could arise certain needs for you in the future to seek the counsel and support of all these prominent Nigerians who came to Kano to plead and reconcile you with the ousted Emir, but which you rebuffed. Do you think they wouldn’t rebuff you in equal measure whenever you have need of their help? Did you seriously weigh the options before you before taking this final decision? I am not holding brief for the ousted Emir, and if you could remember in my first open letter, I acknowledged that he may have erred against you but I was only pleading for a better understanding so that the rich cultural heritage of Kano does not become rubbished!
However, may I use this opportunity of my second open letter to you to counsel all our revered traditional rulers to resist and shun the temptation of being partisan in party politics. They risk building bitterness and acrimony in their domains, and they will certainly end up losing their respect, dignity and honour if they enmesh themselves in partisan politics. The nobility of their royal status confers on them the position of father to all, and they should always see themselves in that light. That’s the only way they can sustain the prestige and glory of their thrones.
Finally, may I also use this opportunity of my second open letter to call on the entire people of Kano to live in peace, and embrace what has happened as the wish of the Almighty Allah! Nothing happens without his knowledge and permission.
Thank you, Your Excellency!
Source: Hon. Ibrahim Baba
