The Founder/Chief Executive Officer of EduShine Educational Support Foundation, Dr. Safiya Stephanie Musa has expressed dissatisfaction over the brazen inability of the current administration in Kogi state to harness the abundant human and material resources for the provision of infrastructure, ensure good governance and provide security for the people of the state, saying it’s time to change the current governance template in the state.
Dr. Safiya who stated this while formally announcing to her supporters the decision not to contest in the forthcoming November 16 2019 gubernatorial election in the state, stressed that the failure of leadership by successive administrations in the state, especially the current one has made the socioeconomic and political environment not conducive for development.
According to her, “when Kogi state was created 28 years ago, all stakeholders within and outside the new state were unanimous in their beliefs that the state would be exemplary in its management of the abundant human and material resources and a shining example of how government could manage diversity and human capacity for the fullest benefits of the people”.
She said the general expectation was that the new state would experience peace and tranquility that could make governance meaningful through responsible political leadership, adding that these high hopes and expectations were built on the realisation that the people that would form the new state had experienced the bitterness of ethnic politics and its accompanying negative consequences in their former states of Kwara and Benue respectively.
The social activist further lamented that the expectation was that because those that would come to constitute the new state were people that had experienced marginalisation and divisiveness which characterised politics of their former states, there would be a difference, noting however that 28 years after, the founding fathers have been disappointed that their lofty dreams remain derailed by maladministration.
“This derailment can be traced to the extension of the same vices of ethnicity, religious bigotry, corruption, maladministration and underdevelopment to the new state, as Kogi state today remains not far better than what it was 28 years after it was created, with the exemption of some visible infrastructure provided by some past administrations,” she added.
Dr. Safiya stressed that while she has been using non governmental platforms to draw public attention to the poor management of the resources that abound in the state by those elected to lead the people, she has been under tremendous pressures by people to throw in her hat to contest in the governorship position in the forthcoming November 16 election in the state. She however noted that she continued to endure such calls in order for her to properly weigh in on the situation for a decision that would be in the best interest of her teeming supporters and good people of the state. The anxiety that her candidature has caused and will continue to cause among the people, she said, has made it imperative that she comes out open to declare where she stands in the ongoing political dispensation.
According to her, while every careful observer would have seen the failure of leadership in Kogi state and justify the unprecedented number of candidates that have expressed interest in taking over from the incumbent governor, she observed, however that what the state really needs more at this critical moment, from her non partisan assessment is change of approach to its politics by way of how people see government and how government sees the people and responds to their demands for development especially, for all stakeholders to see government as an expression of the will of the people.
Accordingly, Dr Safiya disclosed that after exhaustive review of the current state of things in the state and due consultation with her relevant stakeholders, friends and supporters at home and across the country, she has come to the conclusion that she cannot achieve her ideals in government under the present political dispensation in the state at this moment using partisan political platform. This, she said, is because, there’s still much to be done outside the partisan platforms to achieve the desired unity and understanding of the various people for the conducive environment that government needs to operate effectively.
“I therefore, call on my teeming supporters and people of goodwill to remain calm and wait for my next move in the present political dispensation in the state. I assure you that whatever decision I decide to take as the state warms up for the very important election coming up in November, would be in the best interest of the people and would soon be communicated to you,” she declared.
While pledging to devote more of her time and resources to philanthropy through pet project, the EduShine Educational Support Foundation she said, “Let me reassure you that we would not abandon the cause of championing the interest of the people of the state and defending them vociferously as the need arises. It is also my hope that those in government in our state would change their attitudes to governance to make it more inclusive and creating spaces for diversity and peaceful coexistence among the people which are necessary for development,” Dr Safiya assures.
Full Statement:
Press Statement By Dr. Safiya Stephanie Musa, Founder/Chief Executive Officer Of Edushine Educational Support Foundation On The Current State Of Affairs In Kogi State.
Monday 26th August, 2019.
PROTOCOLS
1. It’s a great honour for me to welcome you warmly to this press conference organised to keep members of the public, my supporters and associates, abreast of ongoing politics in Kogi and my position on happenings. At a time like this, sitting on the fence or keeping mute in the face of the various challenges facing us would be a disservice to our people.
2. Many have come to identify with us in the struggle to emancipate our people from the state of hopelessness foisted on them by leaders who have continued to abuse the trust of public office. Accordingly, our support for the people and campaigns against such maladministration has earned us applause from people and organisations from both within and outside the state, most of whom have been excited by the stand we have taken. We therefore owe them a responsibility to appreciate their support and reassure them of our commitment to the cause.
3. Let me recall that when Kogi State was created 28 years ago, all stakeholders within and outside the new state were unanimous in their belief that the state was going to be exemplary in its management of the abundant human and material resources that abound in the land and that the new state was going to be a shining example of how government can manage diversity and maximize human capacity for the fullest benefits of the people. We believed that Kogi State would experience peace and tranquility that could make governance meaningful through responsible political leadership.
4. These high hopes and expectations were built on the realisation that the people that would form the new state had experienced the bitterness of ethnic politics and its accompanying underdevelopment in their former states of Kwara and Benue respectively; that those that would come together to constitute the new state were people who had experienced the bitter taste of marginalisation, of minority status and of divisiveness in a state where politics was characterised by primordial sentiments and loyalties to tribe and religion.
5. Alas, 28 years after, can the founding fathers of the state in their sincere reflections agree that the state has met their aspirations? Without mincing words, the immediate answer would be negative. This negativity can be traced to the extension of the same vices of ethnicity, religious bigotry, corruption, maladministration and underdevelopment to the new state, as Kogi State today remains not far better than what it was 28 years ago when it was created, with exemptions of some visible infrastructure provided by some past administrations.
6. Irked by this state of apathy and clear cases of desperation by people who have continued to suffer from the hands of those they elected, some of us had to be drawn to the trenches as critics and opposition to successive administrations, including the present one. By my own personal orientation and world outlook which is tilted towards rendering of humanitarian service to the people, I have never been prepared for the challenges of politics of power by which politicians see the profession as a means of acquiring power for self-aggrandizement and service to the people as a favour over which they have no right of complaints nor demand for accountability.
7. That idea of naked pursuit of power not for the sake of rendering services to the people but a way of sharing the booty is both alien and incongruous with my own personal conviction. That was why I had remained critical of successive administrations on non-partisan basis, but later forced to show my hands in the partisan politics of the state, even though I remained largely at the background as a mobiliser and campaigner for good governance.
8. With time, I even contemplated the idea of throwing my hat into the ring to fully demonstrate my partisanship in the politics of our state through aspiration to become the first female governor of the state. I can confirm to you that by my mere body language through which people were reading meaning to my desire to contest the governorship of the state, we have been overwhelmed by the level of interest and solidarity by people from the state and across the federation who have been urging me on. Many of such supporters have confessed that in me they have seen hope, developed a new vision and confident of the success of the campaign for women’s active participation in governance and example for others.
9. Though I have not come out openly to declare my intention to contest in the governorship position of the state, the calls kept coming and I was becoming inundated with the extent and scope of such interest in my candidature. Having worked closely with variety of people in my private capacity to render services to the people and bring succour to those that are in one form of distress situation or the other, I know the pains that people bear. I also know the desperation they suffer and how the lack of good governance in our state has created high levels of helplessness in them.
10. In the face of the anxiety that my candidature has caused and will cause, I have been left with no option but to state clearly where I stand in the ongoing political campaigns towards the November 16 2019 governorship election in the state. While every careful observer would have seen the failure of leadership in our dear state and justify the unprecedented number of candidates who have expressed interest to take over from the incumbent governor, I must admit that what the state really needs most at this moment is change of approach in politics. What we require is a change in how people see government and how those in government see the people and respond to their demands. Now is the time for a change in the attitudes of the various leaders in the state who must see government as an expression of the collectivity of the people.
11. That a government being led by a person from a particular ethnic group or religious belief does not make that government a tribal or religious government that must enjoy the loyalty of only people from that ethnic or religious background. Rather, we need a government that enjoys collective trust and confidence of the generality of people from all sections of the state, whose activities must inspire their spirit of citizenship. That in fact, has been my vision of government in Kogi State. We must, therefore, join hands to work towards building unity, cultivate trust and do away with divisiveness while working for the best benefits of all citizens of the state.
12. Consequently, after exhaustive review of the current state of things in our state and due consultation with relevant stakeholders, friends and supporters at home and across the country, my conclusion is that we cannot achieve that ideal at this time using partisan political platform. This is because, there’s still much to be done outside the partisan platforms to achieve the desired unity and understanding of the various people necessary for the conducive environment that government needs to operate effectively.
13. For this reason, I wish to stress that despite the intensity of the calls that I have received and assurances of the support that I have secured from variety of people, am restrained to joining the partisan political platform to realise our goals for good governance and responsible government in the state under the current political dispensation. Rather, we are convinced that we have much more to give to the people and more services to render outside government until we are further convinced that we can conveniently expand our tentacles to government circles on partisan political platform.
14. MY PRESENT STAND:
Convinced by the wisdom in the counsels of those that advised me against partisan involvement under the present dispensation, and conscious of the need to keep my teeming supporters and loyalists abreast of my stand in the ongoing political campaigns in the state, I hereby announce my resolve not to vie for the Kogi governorship come November, 2019, but shall remain a stakeholder and contribute to genuine efforts to enthrone a people-oriented leadership in the state.
Consequently, in addition to my responsibility as a bonafide indigene of Kogi State, I shall not shy away from identifying with people of like minds as well as promoting causes or advocacies that would bring about development and also put our dear state on the path of progress.
15. It is my hope that by this personal decision today, I have been able to clear doubts expressed by my teeming supporters and well-wishers across the country and will have enough time to devote to my philanthropic activities using our foundation, EduShine to further bring educational reliefs to indigent students and any other areas that our services could be maximised. To this end, I wish to express my deep appreciation to all those that have been supporting our campaigns for good governance and women’s participation in politics through their various sacrifices.
16. I assure you that I will continue to remain committed to the cause of good governance and responsibility in government by being more assertive and critical in any areas where people are seen to be shortchanged. Furthermore, I assure you that we would not abandon the cause of championing the interest of the people and defending them vociferously as the need arises. It is also my hope that those in government in our state would change their attitudes to governance to make governance more inclusive with a view to creating spaces for diversity of people whose participation is critical to creating peaceful coexistence among the diverse people of the state.
17. On this note, I once again, thank you all most sincerely, for honouring our invitation and God bless.
