Another equally important enquiry that needs to come to our mind, is whether or not you would get as many congratulations at attaining any given age if you were ordinary Dikko Umar Radda. That should tell you many things, and lead you into thanking the almighty God for being so generous, kind and merciful to you. You are today the number one citizen of your state. This is a state that has a population of about seven million (7 million) people.

It is not because you are the best in terms of physical strength or structure, or the most knowledgeable person in the state, but because it is you that God chooses to be the Governor of Katsina State, and no amount of bad belly could change that. Likewise, remember that nobody in the whole world would ever make you what He does not want you to be.

You have indeed started on a good footing by establishing what I see as the Katsina state rapid response squad, the organisation known by the nomenclature of ‘Community Watch Corps’ to checkmate bandits and their heinous activities, and the establishment of the Katsina State Hisba Board to check the godless activities of some elements in the state. These are some of the very laudable actions you have taken upon your coming as the number one citizen in the state.

You also once courageously accused the military of not showing enough commitment to the fight against the bandits, an allegation which pitched you into war of words with the Military high command, which challenged you to substantiate it.

Just recently, you were unambiguous in your call and urging on the people of your state to arm themselves in whatever way they can, and stop running away from the bandits. You told them that you were ready to lay your life for your people but they must rise up and take the fight to the bandits whenever they come, or threaten to come to attack. The bandits, you said, feared death too, as the next person.

Of course, your predecessor in office, Right Honourable Aminu Bello Masari also spearheaded the fight against the bandits in the whole country. It was him who initiated the periodic meeting of the Governors of the North Western States and the monthly contribution of N300 million by the same states. But after three months of non payment of the amount by all the states but Katsina, it was decided that every state in the region pursued the fight against the bandits in its own way.

Which was why he went into negotiations with the then notorious bandit known as ‘Buharin Daji’ whose real name was Buhari. The representative of the then National Security Adviser, the representative of the then Chief of Army Staff, representative of the then Inspector General of Police, were in attendance, among high ranking Federal government officials. Buharin Daji was since liquidated by his fellow bandits, who felt betrayed by his negotiation with the government. 

Then Governor Masari was called all manner of uncomplimentary names by the media of a section of the country. That however, did not deter him, as another negotiation was carried out by him with the bandits, with the difference that the bandits chose the various venues of those meetings.

After then, the whole world heard him, except those who for reasons known only to them, when then Governor Masari advised the military in no uncertain terms that they should ONLY negotiate with the bandits AFTER they defeat them with their superior fire power. “That is the only language they understand”, he told the soldiers in Jibia town, when the then Chief of Army Staff, General Buratai went to open a front to take the battle to the territory of the bandits.

Governor Dr. Dikko Umar Radda, PhD, CON, you must and should not be discouraged by whatever you hear about and around the bandits. Whatever is going to happen will happen. As the wise people in Hausa say, ‘Qaddara ta riga fata’, roughly meaning, ‘Predestination comes before wish’. 

Again, do not join the ‘donation’ vanguard, or allow your wives to do so.  This ‘donation’, maybe the creation of the media, but you should have nothing to do with it. One often hears about this or that Excellency, or this or that First Lady ‘donating’ this number of material, or such amount of money to people either in the country or the states. The point is, these ‘things or money’ belong to the Commonwealth, so giving the people what belongs to them is not a ‘donation’.

Do not ‘cut corners’ or ‘eat’ from the Commonwealth for the purpose of getting what you want, now or in the future. You will still get what you God has destined for you to get, no matter who or what is against you. You were not the most monied person nor did you know the most voters during the primary election of your political party, yet, you emerged victorious. Again, during the  gubernatorial election of 2023, there was a candidate who was by far richer than you, but it was you that God wanted as the number one citizen in Katsina state.

Those serving or retired big politicians, who ‘donate’ with apparent pomposity in the glare of the klieg lights, would not have been so ‘generous’ if they had really worked for what they were ‘donating’ out freely. They simply became rich overnight courtesy of the big offices they had held, not on account of an inheritance or a bequest from a long lost uncle.

Do not allow yourself to be beclouded by the fact that the number one citizen, the number two citizen, the number three citizen in the country and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation are ALL former governors.

The God who made you governor is very much alive, awake, aware and alert. It is within His power to make you what is even above the number one citizen of your state. As a Muslim, just refer to the Holy Quran chapter two, verse 255. Sufficient is He to make you whatever He wants you to become, without you resorting to any actions that may not be to His liking.

Those Islamically more knowledgeable than me may have spoken to you along the same line, and if they did, then consider this as a reminder from a lay person, who has no claim to any superior knowledge of the Islamic religion.

My prayer to you as you clocked the age of fifty five, is that may you continue the same or even improve on the way you started serving the good people of Katsina state. And the sky may be the limit for you, if He so wishes.

Malam Malumfashi wrote from Katsina.