From Maiharaji Altine
The Kebbi state commissioner of information, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed B/K said the administration of Governor Nasiru Idris is ever ready to welcome constructive criticisms from the people of the state.
The commissioner who stated this during an interactive session with journalists in his office last Wednesday said, constructive criticisms were integral parts of democracy as such, Governor Nasiru Idris would not stop anybody from expressing his constitutional rights.
He however cautioned politicians to always be cautious of their actions so as not to create unnecessary problems that could jeopardize the progress of the state
Ahmed said, “Constructive criticisms are intergral to the survival of democracy”.
“That is why democrats recognize the inviolability of the right of people to oversight governments”.
“That is not to say that we are unmindful or unaware of the need for those who may wish to criticise to do so”.
‘But I will appeal to them to be circumspect and reasonable so that we don’t, in the name of politics, throw away the baby with the bath water”.
“We welcome constructive criticisms because as a democrat, Governor Nasir Idris Kauran Gwandu respects all the ethos and principles of democratic governance”.
The commissioner however described critics into three categories as follows:
“There are three categories of critics. The first group are the patriots who criticize out of genuine desire to right wrongs for the benefit of the state”.
“Critics in this category have this commendable tendency to investigate their misgivings critique them and come to very justifiable and provable position”.
“They never engage in politically motivated or in wild frenzy to want to bring down the government”.
“Their concern is to criticize only when the allegations have been proven; while their intent is to see that amends are made for the good of the state”.
“To this group of patriots, we welcome you and will assure you that we are with you in a common partnership to develop our state”.
“In the second group we have the politically motivated elements whose worldview is just to cry wolf where non exist”.
”In their estimation no government other the one run by their masters is good enough for the state”.
“But even in this group, we have the patriots who restrict themselves within the boundaries of developmental political opposition as enshrined in the constitution”.
“We concede to them their right to also play their constitutionally guaranteed roles of opposition”.
“But I will appeal to them to be circumspect and reasonable so that we don’t, in the name of politics, throw away the baby with the bath water”.
“Constructive engagement has always been better; deploying tact and maturity has always paid up,”.
“Our role as a popularly democratically elected government and your role as opposition parties are all geared toward providing safeguards for the protection of our commonly shared values of democracy”.
“To the third group of those who just chose to engage in wild and unsubstantiated allegations with a mindset to bring the roof down on everybody’s head, I will appeal to your conscience to turn a new leaf and join the government of our indefatigable Governor to move our dear state forward. Kebbi state is the only state we have”.
,”We cannot afford to, in pursuit of rats, set the whole state ablaze”.
The commissioner further explained that, there was a wisdom in being patriotic even for a critic.
Ahmed therefore advised the politicians to always consider the interest of the state first which was so blessed with the arable land, rivers, industrious manpower, friendly people, rich culture and abundance of every thing good.
The commissioner concluded that, “With the right leadership and a population that perseveres and stays together in unity of purpose, Kebbi is at a juncture of unparalleled service delivery and provision of dividends of democracy never ever imagined”.
