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BY BOLAJI AFOLABI

For multiple decades, if not centuries, football has been a very popular sport across the world. In Nigeria, given its uniqueness, football has been played and followed passionately from generation to generation. In the 1980s, there were not many football clubs in the Northern axis of the country that participated in the National League, now called the Nigeria Professional Football League, (NPFL). One of such was the Zamfara Tex FC – founded and sponsored by the Zamfara Textiles Limited. Others were the Raccah Rovers, Kano; DIC (now Ranchers) Bees, Kaduna; Jigawa Golden Stars; Mighty Jets of Jos; and United Nigeria Textiles Limited of Kaduna. Though Kaduna had two clubs, Zamfara Tex was special to the writer and his company of friends that they always watched the team’s matches against the Bees and UNTL at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna, as regularly possible.

The realization that the club was domiciled in Gusau – a town outside Sokoto – the capital of the (old) State further endeared it to the writer’s group. From social studies books, we later discovered that Gusau was the economic and industrial hub of the old Sokoto State. Aside from the Textile outlet, there were a few others including candy and confectionaries manufacturing companies. Also, being a railway-town, it was home to people of different tribes and ethnicities. Gusau, was in many ways, a melting pot of convergence of itinerary traders, farmers, and many other people who engage in their various legitimate businesses without fear and worries. The writer, at barely 15 years had a first-hand experience of the convivial, peaceful, and warm nature of the town. Commuting from Kaduna to Sokoto, the commercial vehicle had some issues a few kilometers to Gusau; which led to all the passengers sleeping over in the town. It was pleasant. It brings nostalgic memories all the time.

For many years thereafter, the writer’s affinity with Gusau and Zamfara (the capital and State) has grown in leaps and bounds. As fate will have it, one has built friendship and relationships with a few people who are indigenes or settlers. The average Zamfararian, either in Gusau, Talata Mafara, Kaura Namoda, Maradun, Shinkafi, Bukkuyum, Birnin Magaji, Bakura, or any other community is loving, accommodating, hard working, and compassionate. Aware of these and other attributes of the people, one is always worried about negative reports from the state. Somehow, the writer’s attraction and attachment to the state abhors any unpleasant comments about Zamfara. Like what happened a few weeks ago!

Indeed, public venues such as viewing centres, open-hall restaurants, and some other busy sit-outs are veritable locations to get gists about happenings in the capital city, and by extension the country. The writer was at a popular car-wash point in Gwarimpa which had a few other outlets where patrons can “keep their mouths and hands busy” with hot, spicy assorted meats, drinks, and all. Shortly after taking refuge on a bench within the “sitting area” three middle-aged men were engaged in a discussion; defection of the Zamfara State Governor, Dr. Dauda Lawal to the All Progressives Congress, APC. From their respective comments, it was obvious that, as indigenes, they were not happy about the development – which Lawal said was for the overall interest of the state. Thereafter, they began sectoral review of his administration. Somehow, the writer had to “step in and revolt” when they moved to achievements-deconstruction of Lawal labelling him a non-performer, absentee chief executive who is far from the people and realities in the grassroots.

Disagreeing, the writer had to mention some of the achievements of Lawal – read from the media. It includes intra-city infrastructures; construction of the airport; building and rehabilitation of schools; upgrading health institutions; increase of Internal General Revenue. Others are prompt paying of workers salaries; creation of community security guards; payments of the backlog of debts owed WAEC; youth employment. After listening to what one of them described as ‘a brave defence” they took turns to espouse more on their views, reiterating that, given his background more was expected from Lawal. One of my “panelists” got me confused by throwing some posers. How did Lawal arrive at the choice of these projects? Are they what the people desire? Was any Needs Assessment done? What are the impacts of these projects on the people in the hinterland? What are the real and immediate needs of the people?

Challenged by these posers, one had to dig further to unravel the facts about governance in the state, nexus between the leadership and the people in relation to the 2027 General Elections. There were divergent opinions on the performances of the present administration. Though it was a pot-pourri of kudos and knocks, thumbs-up and thumbs-down, the preponderance of vilification was more. While Lawal’s records in a few sectors were acknowledged, many people had reservations about the importance of these projects to the well-being of the average person. A school of thought argued that people should be the fulcrum of every government policy and programme – which they claim is not the case in Zamfara. Another school of thought believes that having failed to provide responsive security measures; which was the centre-point of his campaigns – it will not be out of place to score Lawal low in terms of deliveries.

Alhaji Sani Abdallah, a fabric seller at the capital city market declared, “The Governor has done well in the beautification of Gusau by providing street lights, traffic lights, and construction of a new stadium but there are little or none of these in other parts of the state.” An educationist, Mr. Ezidoye Ugwu believes that, “Lawal’s score card would have been higher if some of the laudable projects in Gusau are replicated in a few of the other towns across the state.” For Alhaji Suleiman, a media practitioner, “though there are pockets of positives but on the average, Lawal has not met the expectations of many people; he has failed in protecting the lives and properties of the people.”

A grassroot politician who preferred anonymity postulated that, “since he has not realized his core campaign promise – security – many people are not impressed with whatever he is doing in other sectors. Zamfara is largely agrarian, the least expected of him is to provide security for people to go to their farmlands but this has not been possible for years. It will be very difficult for Lawal to get the support and votes of many people in 2027.” A staff member of a federal government agency in the state who craved anonymity advised Lawal, “not to believe in the skewed reports and comments of his aides and hangers-on but go to the grassroots and hinterland where the vast majority of people are not impressed with him. In fact, the possibility of getting the votes of these rural dwellers is extremely low.”

True, politics is local. If these comments can be extrapolated as a precursor to what may play out in next year’s general elections, Lawal’s journey back to the state’s government house will be topsy-turvy and turbulent. When added to the alleged non-interest of the members of the Yari and Matawalle Groups, and a few other factors, he is most likely to encounter many political landmines, booby traps, and uncertainties. Driving the point home, a grassroot female politician admitted that, “many of the Leaders in APC and their followers do not support Lawal whose entry has scuttled the ambitions of their own members. It will take serious work, begging, and cajoling for his second-term aspiration not to hit bad weather. For now, the PDP looks like the newest bride, as the party is gradually gaining groundswell support across the state.”

Politicians believe that 24 hours is a long time in politics. Rightly so. An African proverb says the eyes knows the portion of food that will fill the stomach. Also, that the morning determines how well the night will end. If anything, the forthcoming governorship elections in Zamfara promises to be thrilling and interesting. It will be filled with theatrics, drama, and surprises. No doubt, Lawal has his works cut-out. How he navigates out of the avalanche of roadblocks within the APC; meander through the grassroots whose political consciousness and awareness has increased overtime; as well as the rebounded and rebranded Zamfara PDP will become public knowledge by February 2027.

* BOLAJI AFOLABI, a Development Communications specialist was with the Office of Public Affairs, The Presidency, Abuja.