By Mohammad Lawal Maikudi
Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal is a bussiness mogul, philanthropist, community leader and a critical stakeholder in Katsina State politics and economy especially since 1999.
As a result of his support for the parties that held sway in Katsina state at various times and levels he was able to exert his influence on some critical decisions of government especially for patronage and appointments in critical government appointments.
His hands were seen in the emergence of some political officers at the levels of local governments in areas such as Batagara, Kurfi, Jibia, Batsari, Rimi and Dutsinma local governments.
There were observations that some elected members to the state House of Assembly, House of Representatives and senators received high patronage from him. There are also the believe that Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal has played significant roles in the emergence of all Katsina State governors from 1999 and prior to 2023 general elections.
He has been playing prominent roles in presidential elections by greasing the political machine that trends in the state and at the national level.
In the previous government of Ex Governor Aminu Bello Masari, the Mangal bloc has a substantial representation in the cabinet by clinching. some commissionership positions such as the former Commissioner for Works, Housing & Transport, Eng Tasi’u Dahiru Dandagoro: Hon. Abdulkadir Zakka former Commissioner for Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs: Alh. Usman Nadada, former Commissioner for Lands & Surveys as well as Babangida Nasamu former General Manager, Katsina State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA.
Observers of Katsina politics suggest that there is a little departure from the tradition because Mangal’s presence seems to be consipicuosly absent from the team Governor Dikko Radda has put in place to run Katsina State Government in the next four years.
The teams include Special Advisors, Special Assistants, Heads of Agencies and Departments, Permanent Secretaries and Commissioners. Other key positions, eg the Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, the media department seem to be taken without the Mangal guys.
The question now is what happened.?
Although there are no ready made answer to the development, what seems obvious is that APC and Alhaji Dahiru Mangal are at par. This may not be unconnected with 2023 general elections when most constituencies regarded as “Mangal Zone” slipped the APC.
Some observers believe the development need to be addressed and whatever grievances that exist should be resolved amicably for his benefit and the benefit of the government and entire people of Katsina State and Nigeria.
The belief in the two quarters is that Katsina people need them for a better Katsina State.
Some are of the opinion that the two royal fathers in the state, His Royal Highness, the Emir of Katsina, Dr Abdulmumini Kabir Usman and his counterpart, the Emir of Daura, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Farouk Umar Farouk should lead other eminent Katsina Stake critical stakeholders in reconciling the two groups.
