By; ADAMU SULE
Friday, 21st January, 2022, Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna threw his doors open
It is on record that Kaduna State is being led by the All Progressives Congress (APC) since 2015 to date.
However, the state Banquet that was drowned to personalities invited was a mark of bringing people of diverse opinions, political and otherwise to share in the joy of a successful visit of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the state, hence it attracted people beyond party affiliations.
The presence of Senator Danjuma La’ah, the representative of Southern Kaduna Senatorial Zone in the state banquet was indeed a welcome development.
If not for anything, the presence of Senator La’ah signifies his love for the state and his best wishes for the entire state. It goes to show his maturity and by extension, embracing all in the state and beyond for peace, unity and progress of the state and the country.
Those who think his presence in the banquet was unnecessary should please have a rethink and know that it was not a party affair but a state programme that required the good people of the state to be in attendance to share the joy together of having President Buhari to Kaduna state. How would it had been if the President was in Kafanchan without the presence of the Senator representing the zone? What would the picture looked like if Senator Danjuma La’ah had absent himself from the state banquet? It is true that Senator La’ah and Governor Nasir El-Rufai may differ in certain policies but honestly, it shouldn’t take the two personalities to that extent. The presence of Senator Danjuma La’ah at the banquet shows he is a friend to everybody including Governor El-Rufai who is seeing the affairs of the state. Honour, however, should be given to whom honour is due, and most importantly, there is time for everything.
Must Senator La’ah be at loggerheads all the times with Governor El-Rufai simply because of certain differences? Time has come that all should come together in the interest of the state to leave behind those things that have cost misunderstanding, if any and forge together for the overall unity, peace and progress of the state.
Since Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Senator Danjuma La’ah were both elected in 2015, they are in their respective offices not for members of their political parties but for their constituencies and as such, should be seen to agree and disagree on certain issues and not be permanent enemies, hence, “there is no permanent enemy in politics”. We should also learn to agree and disagree with each other so that together we move as a people for the overall development of the society.
Who told us that there is no cordial relationship between the two? In their closest, must they tell the whole world that they are relating well? Time has come that we should not be seen causing unnecessary confusion in the hearts of our leaders but we should be seen trying to cement their relationship for our benefit. We should also not be seen creating unnecessary hatred between personalities, what evidence do one has to prove that Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Senator Danjuma La’ah are not in good terms? To the best of my ability, the two elective office holders have the state at heart and efforts should not be made because of our selfish interest for reasons best known to us to begin to say things that are not even happening. Governor Nasir El-Rufai has a good plan for the entire state. That infrastructure is constructed in certain places in the state is the beginning of good things that will spread to other parts of the state, if not by the Governor Nasir El-Rufai-led government, then, certainly, another government will even surpass what we are seeing today in the executed projects commissioned by Mr President.
One should understand that Senator Danjuma La’ah is the only Senator of the three Senators in the state from PDP and by extension, the North West region is purely an APC domain. It takes one time with somebody like Senator La’ah to have a say in such situations unless he takes it gradually to be able to get one or two things done in his Constituency. The truth must be told that we shouldn’t join politics with the reality of life but we should all work together for the interest of the society. It is a learning process and we will all get it right one day for the benefit of all.
To the best of my knowledge, his presence in the state banquet is an invitation by Governor Nasir El-Rufai friendship to all irrespective of political affiliation, more so, all that were in attendance in the banquet were not members of the same political party. Why must Senator Danjuma La’ah be single out for criticism?
We should learn at this trying moment begin to cement our relationship for future generations to copy good legacies from us not trying to segregate on things that do not hold water.
Adamu Sule writes from Kaduna
