There Is Hope For Kaduna State But No Reason To Get Excited About El-Rufai Just Yet

Editor’s note: The Naij.com columnist ‘Yomi Kazeem explains why we should see past the euphoria of Nasir El-Rufai’s impressive start in office as the governor of Kaduna state.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the original author. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Naij.com, its editors or other contributors.

Story highlights:

— Just a month into his tenure, Kaduna state governor Nasir El-Rufai has shown he is keen to be acting, not talking

— Already considered pay-cuts for himself and his cabinet, made other budget cuts, started dealing with Kaduna state’s financial crisis

— Let us see, however, how he will fare and deliver later on

Kaduna state governor since May 29, 2015, Nasir El-Rufai. Collage courtesy El-Rufai’s official Facebook page

On his first day in office, the new Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai showed real intent of hitting the ground running as he boldly announced a fifty percent pay-cut for himself and his deputy governor. Expectedly, the news hit a nerve with Nigerians who immediately credited the new governor for his decision. According to El-Rufai, the decision was taken in light of the dire financial situation of the state. Proving his point, El-Rufai said in his inauguration speech: “Our finances are a shambles. Kaduna is the second most indebted state in our country. Our state is staggering under the weight of billions of naira in debt and other liabilities.”

A week later, the governor was at his state’s House of Assembly making an impassioned plea to the state lawmakers to take salary cuts. The governor, trying to make his lawmakers see reason, explained that salary overheads cost the state as much as 80% of its revenue thus leaving it with less than enough to invest in and carry out crucial projects. Again, El-Rufai made the headlines as he was clearly one of the very few newly-elected political office-holders who were intent on cutting costs.

In another cost-cutting motivated move, El-Rufai announced the cancellation of the annual distribution of Ramadan packages to state citizens. Again, the governor reiterated the fact that the government simply could not afford to spend so much when it faced financial deficit. Like clockwork, El-Rufai was back on the front pages as the star of a new political dispensation.

With states facing a tough time with the current financial reality of the country as they struggle to pay workers and stay afloat, such cost-cutting moves by El-Rufai are, quite literally, priceless. His party, the APC, is also likely to be extremely pleased by their governor in Kaduna whose positive headlines have provided some respite to the negative ones generated by the continuing fight for power and positions in the National Assembly as well as the tussle which the leaders of the party appear to be mired in.

Without question, Governor El-Rufai has set himself apart in only a few weeks in office as, while others have abided by the usual playbook of projecting rhetoric without following up with action, he has laid down a marker for his fellow governors. In return for his early, bold decisions and choices, El-Rufai has earned the favourable tag of being a ‘working governor,’ and, despite the fact the 2019 elections are four years away, there are already whisperings about the potential bid for Aso Rock by El-Rufai based simply on how much he has achieved so quickly. As far as perceptions go, El-Rufai’s ledger is firmly in green. Credible as that is, it can also be a dangerous thing.

On too many occasions, leaders have waltzed through office with the benefit of positive perceptions but little substance. While El-Rufai has shown his irrefutable intention of matching words with action, it cannot be denied that these are still early days. El-Rufai has succeeded in getting people and press on his side, but with more than three-and-a-half years of his mandate left, he has also set incredibly high standards for himself and will have to work hard to meet them.

For the people of Kaduna, this is excellent news as they appear to have gotten a leader who has a tough job on his hands and has so far shown a real desire to deliver. However, despite all of his early positive moves, 2019 — at the expiration of his mandate — will be the best time to judge El-Rufai, as, like we see in movies, the credits roll in at the end of the film, not at the start.

‘Yomi Kazeem for Naij.com

‘Yomi Kazeem is a media professional based in Lagos, Nigeria.

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