Lawan A.Kazaure Bravado And The Poverty Of Disjointed Self-Delusion
By Habibu Muhammad
In recent times, political discourse in Jigawa State has increasingly drifted away from issue-based engagement toward emotional manipulation, political propaganda, and unnecessary personal attacks. The lengthy article authored by one Lawan A. Kazaure concerning the death of late Hon. Abba Anas Adamu and the defence of Hon. Bashir Adamu, popularly known as Matawallen Kazaure, is a clear example of this worrying trend.
The tragedy remain a painful experience not only to his family and associates but also to the entire people of Jigawa State. At moments such as this, responsible leaders and political actors are expected to demonstrate maturity, compassion, and restraint especially at this trying moments. Unfortunately, rather than allowing the atmosphere of mourning to prevails, Kazaure chooses to convert the unfortunate incident into a political battleground ahead of the 2027 governorship race in the state.
It is deeply disappointing that an occasion such as funeral prayers is now being analyzed through the lens of political camps, alliances, and calculations. Nigerians, particularly the people of Jigawa State, deserve politics built on ideas, policies, and leadership competence, not endless attempts to create enemies and blackmail perceived political opponents to surrender. The attempt to portray certain individuals as saints while branding others as enemies of progress only exposes the desperation already creeping into the political space. Public office is not inherited, nor is popularity sustained through media attacks and emotional blackmail. Ultimately, the people will decide who deserves their trust through the ballots.
The repeated claim that only a particular group “labored” for the success of ADC in Jigawa State reflects a dangerous sense of entitlements. Political parties belong to all members equally, not to individuals who seek to dominate structures for personal ambition. Democracy thrives when there is room for dialogue, tolerance, and healthy competition. Equally troubling is the continued resort to attacking respected political figures simply because they hold different views or ambitions. Differences in political interest should never destroy the culture of mutual respect, especially among leaders who have all contributed in one way or another to the development of the state. The people of Jigawa State are politically mature and fully aware of the realities around them. They can distinguish between genuine leadership and carefully crafted propaganda. What citizens truly desire are leaders capable of addressing insecurity, unemployment, poverty, education challenges, and economic hardship, not endless political drama rooted in bitterness and suspicion.
More disturbing, however, is the reckless aspect of the article where the writer openly stated that the Jigawa State Government facilitated ransom payments to kidnappers through an individual account. Such a claim is not only grave and sensitive but potentially exposes the writer himself and others mentioned to legal investigation and possible prosecution if proven false, misleading, or capable of aiding criminal narratives. Kidnapping remains one of the greatest security threats facing the country, and governments at all levels have consistently maintained official positions against negotiating with or financing criminal groups. For publicly saying that a government of its functionary facilitated the payment of ransom to bandits is therefore not a casual political statement, it is an allegation with serious legal, security, and ethical implications. This will definitely put the lives of the mentioned functionary and the person whose account was used in the transaction process at high risk and serious consequences. At this juncture, I urge the Jigawa state Hon. Attorney General to cause an immediate investigation on this seemingly serious issue.
Many observers of lawan Kazaure rampaging articles are aware that his often a times brazen emotions repeatedly betrays and led him to many troubles in the past. In recent times, it could be recalled that he made a slanderous statement against one of the prominent politician in the state in which he had to bow in his knees on the ground to apologize through the intervention of a prominent citizen of Jigawa State. Similarly, he recently made reckless article discrediting another person in which he had to go through a lot of legal troubles, this is certainly not good for a person with long standing reputation in journalism.
On the issue that new comers to ADC where trying to overload themselves as Governorship or Deputy Governorship candidates, where was Kazaure in 1998 when Olusegun Obasanjo who has never been a member of G9, G18, G34 and finally PDP, was brought out from prison to become a president of Nigeria and spend two solid terms, and after installed Two Former Presidents in Persons of Umaru Yar’adua and Goodluck Jonathan. And also where was he again when in the same Jigawa state Former Gov. Badaru Abubakar was brought from nowhere at the last minute to become a Governor against candidates who has labored so much and where mostly favored like Ibrahim Hadejia, Farouk Adamu Aliyu and Ubale Hashim Yusuf. Even at international level, President Trump of the U.S has never contributed or even a member of the Republican party. He was a purely successful business man with no interest in politics, but today he is serving his second term as president under the Republican Party over and above conservative republican member, some of them spent more than 50 years as members and serving the party with ambitions to become President like Mitt Romney, Mitch McConnell e.t.c. so the issue is no matter what time or at which stage somebody joined a political platform that matters, but it is his pedigree, contributions and capacity to mobilize and win election that is what is required. And the irony is that even Kazaure himself joined the ADC from NNPP longtime after the formation of the party which is not up to a year up till now was at an advanced stage. Ideally he will be the last person to make such remarks.
Finally, Kazaure’s recent article shall never intimidate or blackmail opposition but i advise him to allow competitive democratic processes such as mutual consensus amongst aspirants or direct primaries to determine the winner, but not to engage on personal assault, vituperations or slander against personalities who hold contrary political opinion or belief with him. This is really undemocratic approach in which needs to be discouraged by all and sundry including his present Principal. Meanwhile, Kazaure would continue to be engaged until he recognize the reality and retrace his mistakes, this is not an empty vow.
Habibu Muhammad
A political right advocate based in Dutse, Jigawa State