By: Adamu Muhd Usman
“I have a history to protect, a reputation to promote, a heritage to maintain and an attitude to exhibit, failure is not part of us.”
—Sule Lamido on BOBA symposium lecture in Dutse Aug 3oth, 2014
In many parts of Nigeria, those described as “settlers” live in fear for their lives, their property and their citizenship rights. Alhaji (Dr.) Sule Lamido, former Jigawa state governor believes in national unity as a matter of political and ideological principle, he has said on many occasions that peaceful co-existence, mutual understanding, political stability and unity of purpose are necessary ingredients for the rapid progress of any state and of Nigeria as a whole.
His stand is not far from his lived experiences and positions he has held over time. Former national youth leader, former lawmaker, former state party secretary and state party chairman, and national secretary of SDP, Lamido was a former foreign affairs Minister, former state governor and 2019 PDP presidential aspirant
In Jigawa State where Sule Lamido served as governor for eight years, he went out of his way to assure non-indigenes living in the state of their equal status as Nigerian citizens.
He told non-indigenes living in the state when he was the governor that their rights as Nigerian citizens would be protected as a matter of right and not as a special privilege.
Nigerians, he said, are free to live wherever they choose and their rights are guaranteed by the constitution. While this right is sometimes abridged by authorities in some parts of the country using various forms of subterfuge, in Jigawa State it is guaranteed in theory and in practice.
Lamido spoke about the incident when non-indigenes were asked to leave the state or forced to register in some states. He said those asking Nigerians to leave or register in their own country were sending a wrong signal that was not healthy for the unity of the Nigeria.
Lamido said, leadership is about understanding the people who are being governed with a view and commitment of protecting their dignity, lives and properties irrespective of their religious or ethnic backgrounds.
He said in order to promote peace and unity in this countr, every Nigerian must have freedom of movement and to live anywhere he chooses without intimidation, victimization, humiliation or deprivation. He always emphasises that, everyone must be law abiding citizen.
Lamido more than preached mutual coexistence; he said non-indigenes need to feel at home wherever they are. As governor, he allocated plots of lands with cash donation to all non-indigenes in the state capital, Dutse. Non-indigenes had the opportunity and access to free medical care, scholarship for their children, political appointments and employments. Under him, non-indigenes were never asked or threatened with quit noticeto leave Jigawa simply because of intimidation, riot, or fear of unknown etc up till now because Lamido has laid a foundation. Even communal or farmers/herdsmen clashes was not experienced in Jigawa when Lamido was in charge of the affairs of the state.
The representatives of the non-indigenes encouraged and thanked the governor for transforming the state in the eight years of his administration (2007-2015). In Jigawa, you will see the Igbos, Yorubas, Angas, the Ijaws, Kanuris, Idomas, Tivs, Jarawas, the Nupes and the Jukun etc. This is a clear sign of selflessness, patriotism and good leadership shown by Lamido and that’s why there is peace and unity in the state. Security, peaceful co-existence, equality, welfare and good salary package in the state.
Jigawa State under Lamido has become a rallying point for all Nigerians, in fact day- after- day, all sort of people are trouping into the state either for visits, meetings, Business, or even leisure.
For instance during Lamido’s tenure many groups, associations, forums, organisations visited Jigawa state for one reason or the other. Even the premier Barewa Old Boys Association (BOBA)annual lecture and dinner was held in Dutse, the Jigawa state capital from August 29- 31, 2014 for their 2014.
Though Lamido is an alumnus of the college, however, the choice of Jigawa State for that year’s AGM by executive was to satisfy their curiosity on the success recorded by one of their own. All of them left the state satisfied that Jigawa the state has been transformed.
Adamu writes from Kafin-Hausa, Jigawa state
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