The member of House of Representatives for Kware-Wamakko in Sokoto state, Ahmed Kalambaina just challenged me to tell him a single project carried out by governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal in the eight years of his administration in Sokoto state. I was of the mind to ignore the enquiry as one of the many by the local All Progressives Congress (APC) opposition characters, who are so obsessed with pleasing their masters, they throw any illogical attack at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government in Sokoto state.
I am however going to indulge because if a personality like Kalambaina can opt for this line of blind criticism, it shows clearly that the opposition has nothing to attack governor Tambuwal for. I’ll therefore try to prove the folly of Kalambaina’s challenge by navigating him through Tambuwal’s projects along his most trodden path in Sokoto, up to his doorstep at Kalambaina village.
I will start from the Sultan Abubakar International Airport, which is Kalambaina’s regular entry point into Sokoto, any time he comes home from Abuja. He can’t travel by road now, due to the nationwide insecurity his party at federal level has woefully failed to deal with, about which, I’ve not seen Hon. Kalambaina even once speak at plenary.
Anyhow, under five minutes of bursting out from the gates of the airport, Kalambaina can’t miss the imposing structures of the State University Teaching Hospital, up straight first, then a few seconds later, to his left. That’s unless he closes his eyes in defiance or denial or both, so he can’t see the massive project. On the other hand, Kalambaina may prefer to think the project is not Tambuwal’s.
A few minutes on, Kalambaina will notice the Sokoto Conference Center, which unless he’s still in convenient denial, he’ll acknowledge the edifice as a Tambuwal project.
I may not draw his attention to the billboard for the new ultra-modern sports complex and indoor games hall that stand to the right a few minutes later. Kalambaina might believe it’s a lie because by the standard of the past government of his master, it was possible to erect a signboard for a non-existent project or even commission an unfinished one as completed.
Not to digress, I will draw the attention of Hon Kalambaina to the Girls Science Academy, a few minutes ahead. The massive works are to his left. The structures are so solid, he can actually touch them, if he cares to, if his hands are not rendered numb by extreme state of denial.
For sure, no one can miss the modern Sokoto Diagnostic Center, which is on Kalambaina’s way to his village. It’s imposing and beautiful but beauty, they say is in the eyes of the beholder and this particular observer will be determined not to behold it.
A minute after taking a turn at Gidan Man Ada Roundabout towards Kalambaina village, Kalambaina should notice the 500 housing units at Gidan Salanke, being completed by Tambuwal. He should certainly remember them because they were abandoned by his master and Kalambaina must’ve driven by them a million times in the past as desolute, derelict structures, untill Tambuwal came along to salvage them.
There’s little doubt that Kalambaina wouldn’t fail to notice the 500 Kalambaina Housing Units, which his master abandoned and Tambuwal completed. Haba, he must remember accompanying his master to their commissioning by President Buhari in 2015.
Apologies, I almost forgot the IPP, which is less than half a kilometer behind. Well, it’s convenient to forget a white elephant and unwieldy project that Tambuwal inherited from Ka’ambaina’s master. It had gulped about N2 billion by the time Tambuwal took over and it requires about the same amount to complete!
As Kalambaina comes closer home, he’ll be excused, if the euphoria of reuniting with family and friends, waiting just a kilometer away, prevents him from catching a glimpse of the OCP Morocco Fertilizer Plant under construction. But he’s expected to notice the project when driving out of the area, afterwards.
These are governor Tambuwal’s physical projects on Kalambaina’s most regular route. But Kalambaina , as serving member of the House of Reps, is himself a Tambuwal project and this I say, boldly.
If Kalambaina can fail to notice the Tambuwal projects so close to him, he can’t forget Tambuwal’s role in his initial nomination and election into the House of Reps. That was at the time his master couldn’t save him from the strong and massive opposition facing him, especially in his own local government of Wamakko.
It was very obvious that Kalambaina wouldn’t make it at the primary against the much more popular and accepted Bello Haliru Gwuiwa. That was until Tambuwal intervened, against his wish of leaving the entire matter to Kakambaina’s master, who as it became evident, couldn’t rescue Kalambaina from certain defeat.
So, if Kalambaina is still looking for a Tambuwal project, he needs not to search far. He should just look at the mirror and he’ll behold one.
Shekara is Special Assistant on Public Affairs to Sokoto state governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal
