By Muhammad Lawal Maikudi: Kafur is one of the 34 local governments in Katsina State and is one of 11 local councils in Funtua Senatorial Zone.
The population of the local government is Hausa Fulani, predominantly muslims and agrarian. Just like other communities in Katsina State, they are very conversant with local and international politics.
Their political awareness gives them the opportunity to take wise political decisions and are able to avoid political brigandage, and so politics of violence and thuggery are reduced to the barest minimum.
The political gladiators in the local government are in most cases able to put their heads together and ensure rancour free politicking and generate dividends of democracy to the local government.
It should be noted that Kafur Local Government was home to two prominent politicians in Katsina State. These were Alhaji Halliru Abdullahi (Hali Brothers) and Alhaji Abdulkadir ‘Yammama, the late Danejin Katsina. The two personalities have help in shaping the politics of Kafur Local Government for about 50 years. Most of the political critical stakeholders are disciples of the two veteran politicians.
One other unique political features is the capacity to generate votes that in most cases give edge to their party of choice. This has been so since the days of the defunct SDP and NRC.
Kafur Local Government produced the Speaker, Federal House of Representatives in the person of Rt Hon. Aminu Bello Masari. It was the highest political office held by an indigene of Katsina State before 2003.
Kafur Local Government produced the first governor of Katsina State from Funtua Senatorial Zone in 2015 and repeated the fiat in 2019.
Out of the 3, 230, 230 registered voters for the 2019 gubernatorial election in Katsina State, the APC scored 1, 178, 864 out of the 1, 720, 638 leaving the PDP with 488, 621.
Kafur local Government generated over 58,000 of these votes for the APC, coming second to Katsina Local Government which gave over 64,000 votes.
Now that its a payback time, can Kafur Local Government generate same or more votes for Dr Dikko Radda and APC in the 2023 gubernatorial elections?
This is the question political analysts and commentators are asking.
To understand the likely repeat of the scenerio, there is the need to understand some current and historical factors.
The APC gubernatorial candidate, Dr Dikko Umar Radda is a disciple of Governor Aminu Masari, the current governor. In fact he has been a political dependable ally to Governor Masari since 2007.
There are feelers in some political quarters that Governor Masari was responsible for Dr Dikkos venture into the contest for governorship, even though Governor Masari said at several fora that he had no preferred candidate amongst those who contested for nomination of the APC. gubernatorial ticket.
Notwithstanding the Gov Masari stand before the primaries, his reactions after the emergence of Dikko as the preferred candidate of the APC were and still enough to make political watchers believe that he is more comfortable with Dikko as candidate for the 2023 elections.
Its therefore only logical for Gov Masari to use all available political arsenals at his disposal to ensure Kafur, to not only maintain, but improves its rating in voter turn out for the APC in the 2023 elections.
Again, most of the political gladiators who have been the shakers and movers of the political happenings in the last 30 years are still alive and kicking and their capacity to deliver has improved over the years.
Such political gladiators include Alhaji Nafi’u Lawal Kuringafa, who has been a local government chairman, member Katsina State House of Assembly, commissioner and board member of different parastatals at various times.
There is also Alh Bello Kagara who served as council secretary, supervisor at various times in Malumfashi and Kafur local governments. Kagara has been an education manager with a stint at National Primary Education Commission, NPEC before its transformation to Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC.
He rose through the ranks to the position of director in about three departments before he retired but was retained by the board. Through all these years, there is hardly any political decision taken in Kafur Local Government without his input.
Kagara was able generate so many development projects to various communities in the local government especially those related to education development
He currently holds the traditional title of Sarkin Yakin Danejin Katsina, the District Head of Mahuta. His political footsoldiers are there waiting for his instructions as to where they tilt their campaigns.
There is also Alhaji Labiru Musa Kafur, a seasoned retired bureaucrat who has been working in tardem with the two above.
Another politician who wields political influence is Alhaji Ibrahim Kabir Masari, a businessman. Recall that Alhaji Kabir Masari was presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as Tinubu’s running mate before the APC finally resolved on who to present as running mate.
Hon Bature Umar Masari is another politician to reckon with in making political decisions
Buture was a former council chairman, Special Advisor to Hon. Aminu Bello Masari while he was the speaker of the House of Representatives and Director General, Small, Medium Scale Enterprises Development of Nigeria, SMEDAN. He was also the Principal Private Secretary to Governor Masari and is currently the his Chief of Staff.
There are also emerging politicians who play significant roles in generating political success in Kafur Local Government.
The group includes Alhaii Sabi’u Sa’idu Mahuta, Sardaunan Danejin Katsina. Alhaji Sabi’u Sa’idu is trained banker but now a manager with AA Oil. His inroad in politics begun in the last two decades and succeeded in building a solid political support base especially in Daneji District. Apart from building a solid grassroot based political structure, Sabi’u has been making inroad into Katsina State politics through impactful contribution of ideas and resources for building of political structures that moves the local Government forward.
There is also Alhaji Aminu Ibrahim Kafur, the candidate for Malumfashi/Kafur Federal Constituency. He is a grassroot political mobiliser and enjoys popular support amongst the youth and backing of the political elders in the local government.
Alhaji Aminu Kafur exhibits courage and confidence in his approach which generates followership especially amongst the youth.
Another emerging political force is Alhaji Shu’aibu Wakili, the former chairman if Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, RIFAN, Katsina State chapter. He has been on the political terrain and gtasping the rudements of politics under the tutelage of Alh. Bello Kagar and Hon Nafi’u Lawal Kuringafa.
So the mammoth crowd that welcome Dr Dikko Umar Radda Gubernatorial Campaign team to Kafur, Headquarters of Kafur on Tuesday, Jan 24, was a welcome home to worthy son of Kafur Local Government.
