By Saddeeque Bulama
Concerned over what many Yobeans referred to as ominous silence by Kashim Musa Tumsah, MFR, an Oil and Gas lawyer and diplomat, despite pressure from across all the zones of the state on him to vie for the governorship seat, has continued to mount by the day.
As recent as June 30th youths from Kayeri ward in Fune local government area of the state launched a dedicated campaign to force KMT to join the race for the state’s most coveted seat. They cited KMT’s silent revolution to complement the effort of the state government in providing basic amenities across the state through people-centered projects, for their action.
This came few days after some women and youths from Gujba local government staged a similar rally to beg KMT to contest for the position. Before these two developments, “KMT for Yobe Governorship” has been the sing songs in Jakusko, Karasawa, Machina, Gulani, Fika, Potiskum, Tarmuwa, Bade and Yusufari amongst others for a long time.
However, despite the rising calls and overwhelming support, KMT is yet to make a categorical statement on whether he would accept or turn down the requests. The seeming reluctance of KMT to declare his interest for the governorship amid heightening pressure to do so, has been giving his teeming admirers within and outside the state sleepless nights.
Going by the interests and the calibre of personalities who have so far made their intention to contest for the seat public, KMT’s admirers have every reason to be worried. As analysts have repeatedly argued, going by the misfortune the state has consistently endured under almost two decades of insurgency onslaught with consequent humanitarian crisis amid staggering infrastructural deficit as well as crippling poverty, Yobe will require a broadminded individual with a pedigree that can sustain Governor Mai Mala Buni’s legacy of enduring development.
Beyond the challenges thrown up by the marauding insurgents, the state, over many decades have been dealing with environmental crisis of immense proportion largely because of its proximity to the Sahara Desert. It is noteworthy that the state has been facing severe desertification crisis, with the Sahara Desert’s encroachment threatening livelihoods and the environment thereby losing significant amounts of land to the desert each year, leading to displacement, reduced agricultural productivity, and increased poverty.
This is the more reason why it has become imperative to rally round someone with the knowhow to identify the state’s potentials and be able to harness same for the overall benefit of the people. Besides the knowhow, the state at this point needs someone who has empathy for the people, understand their problems and can go out of his ways to address those challenges.
Those villagers, community leaders, women, youth and elderly who called out to KMT to join the race point at his empathy for the people and the fact that he understands their needs as the key motivation. They claimed that without holding any political position, he had quenched their thirsts by bringing water sources to their door steps.
They averred that not minding their ethnic leaning, religious background, he introduced empowerment initiative which has enhanced their living standard. The handling of the recent phase of his water supply initiative where he democratised the process allowing the people to identify the choice of benefiting communities, endeared him more to them.
More fundamental is the fact that he restricted the project to rural communities with no access to portable water, while excluding urban areas which ordinarily would have more advantage of interventions from government and other sources.
These people-centred traits, observers believe, have been triggering mass support especially at the grassroots where the seeds of his magnanimity are already taking roots.To the educated among his admirers, KMT’s vast career experiences and impeccable character as well as administrative acumen are added impetus for their support.
KMT has been a top flight academically and professionally with a distinguished track record everywhere he had served. Today, many years down the line, he is an accomplished Lawyer, Diplomat and an Entrepreneur, and boasts of a presidential recognition having been conferred with the Member of the order of the Federal Republic (MFR).
His admirers believe that with such an impressive education and career background, KMT is better positioned to succeed Mai Mala in Yobe.
However, it is not clear whether KMT would be interested to join the fray as his body language hardly reveals such disposition. But it appears his admirers are determined and have vowed to force him to accept the challenge at all costs.
This cause of action was revealed by an admirer on his facebook wall recently when he wrote: “We have waited for you to declare for the governorship of Yobe to no avail; some of us have also reached out with messages of appeal to come out and lead us through your associates, but there are no signs of your willingness to do so. This is just to let you know that you cannot escape what Allah has destined; we will force you out; contribute and purchase the forms and see how you will turn us down”.
With such display of commitment cause by admirers, it is pertinent that KMT does the needful without delay. It is also important at this point for him to begin to identify these supporters and have interface with them on the development without delay.
By Saddeeque Bulama wrote in from Damaturu, Yobe State.
