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One single issue,
which revolves around social justice, is most likely going to be the
selling point of the ANPP presidential candidate, Ibrahim Shekarau who
is one of several candidates seeking to upstage President Goodluck
Jonathan in the April polls. Mr. Shekarau, who enacted an upset in Kano
politics by defeating the then PDP incumbent governor, Rabiu Musa
Kwankwaso in the 2003 elections, has claimed to have promoted human
development during his eight years as governor.

Mr. Shekarau, who
was received by thousands of his supporters at the Malam Aminu Kano
International Airport after he emerged the ANPP presidential
flagbearer, said social justice is synonymous with employment
generation, protection of lives and properties, educational
opportunities, access to basic infrastructure like water, roads,
hospitals, housing and poverty alleviation.

It is an
interesting aspect of Kano politics that Mr Shekarau, who is enjoying
his second term in office, still enjoys mass appeal. On his return to
Kano after winning the ANPP presidential ticket, he moved round the
ancient city with his convoy, amidst cheers from residents of the city.

One Uche Moses, who
joined the convoy of Shekarau as it traversed the Kano metropolis, said
he supported the choice of Mr Shekarau by the ANPP. “Yes, I believe in
Shekarau, he is the leader we need because he has made Kano a home for
us.

Nobody is telling
me I am a stranger here because I come from the east. There is less of
crime here, no religious riots anymore. I wish Nigeria is like this.”

Chris Azuka,
special adviser on inter-community relation to the state government,
said Nigerians deserved a large-hearted person like Shekarau at the
helm of affairs.

“I want Nigerians
to use this opportunity in the forthcoming election to vote for a
leader that will liberate this country from the shackles of bad
leadership and that person is Shekarau,” he said. “You can see for
yourself what he has done that has translated into the relative peace
we are enjoying in Kano today. Even the appointment of non-indigenes in
his administration is a testimony to the fact that this man is a true
Nigerian.”

Mr. Shekarau has
said his campaign will revolve around promoting social justice in the
country. A sociologist, Samaila Yusuf, said this is a worthy agenda to
elicit the support of Nigerians.

“Social justice is
an integral part of governance, and if you look at it from the law of
social contract perspective, it is a principle that guarantees balance
of power and participation between the haves and the have not,” he said.

“It also
contributes to sustainable democracy because it allows for freedom of
speech and fundamental human rights. It creates openness and
transparency and includes Malam Aminu Kano’s theory of providing safety
nets for all.” Kabiru Gwangwazo, who is a governorship aspirant of the
opposition Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), however said it is
too early to talk about social justice at a period when corruption has
eaten deep into the fabric of the Nigerian society. Mr. Gwangwazo
thereby admonished Shekarau to drop his candidacy and join former
military ruler who is also the presidential candidate of the CPC,
Muhammadu Buhari in the struggle to wrest power from the PDP.

“He should reach
and work with him if he is serious about social justice, what we
required now in Nigeria is fighting corruption and Buhari remains the
person to do that,” he said. “The most important thing is survival, and
corruption is bane of our development.” Nevertheless, this may have
explained the governor’s resolve to play up the issue of social justice
in his acceptance speech at the Eagle Square in Abuja last weekend.

Royal support

Mr. Shekarau, who
accused the PDP administration of failing to live up to the
expectations of Nigerians, assured that he would usher in an era of
prosperity and progress if elected president of Nigeria this year.

He said: “Today,
our country is looking for a leader who would restore integrity, rule
of law and the confidence of Nigerians in the governance of their
country; who could fulfill promises in power supply, food production;
pay special attention to education, implement and deepen governance
reform to squeeze out corruption and raise high the stake of committing
crime, attract investment and commit a robust transparent financial
services industry, and facilitate steady progress everywhere across
this blessed country. On this day and from this place,

I, Ibrahim Shekarau
pledge to fellow Nigerians, that I shall focus my attention to all the
above if you vote me the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero who is championing Shekarau’s societal
reorientation programme in Kano, joined scores of notable personalities
that has so far endorsed the Shekarau presidency project.

The Emir, who spoke
after Mr Shekarau was driven round the metropolis, said his performance
as governor of Kano is enough to sell him to the electorates. He
particularly praised the societal re-orientation programme of the
government as something other states should emulate.

Mr Shekarau, a
retired school principal before he became governor, has always touted
his support for education. Thus, some of his earliest supporters were a
group of retired educationists and school principals from across
Nigeria. He also got support from another group of elder statesmen led
by a retired Supreme Court Justice, Mamman Nasir.

To win the
presidency, Mr Shekarau will have to appeal to voters outside the ANPP.
Even in Kano, he has to cope with a resurgent PDP and a newish CPC
which is growing in strength. Kawu Inuwa Gurjiya, the campaign
coordinator for the Obasanjo/Atiku presidential race in 2003, said he
was underwhelmed with Mr. Shekarau’s presidential ambition. Mr Gurjiya
said the governor had nothing to offer the country because he couldn’t
do anything with the opportunity he had currently to better the lot of
the people of Kano.

“There is nothing this man Shekarau can do because we have been able
to assess him in the last eight years,” he said. “He has failed as a
governor, talk less of overseeing the affair of this country. I urge
Nigerians to disregard this campaign of social justice and vote for
PDP, which is the only party capable of delivering the much needed
services to the people.” Mr Shekarau will have to sell his social
justice agenda if he has any hopes of proving people like Mr Gurjiya
wrong.