L-R; Fahad Muhammad Dankabo and the current Deputy Governor of Kano, HE Murtala Sule Garo.
A pragmatic reality of politics is that it is always local; the grassroots are just as vital as the peak of the political pyramid. The more followers a politician commands at the grassroots level, the stronger their political currency and the more bargaining power they possess among their peers. It is at this level that a politicianโs true motives are revealed, especially as public political awareness grows. However, we must distinguish between the act of politicking and the act of governance.
Deputy Governor Murtala Sule Garo, before he became Deputy Governor, sent a message to the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, saying (in Hausa) that Abuja is not the place for politics. He stated that if we are seeking victory, then we should all go to the grassroots.
The relationship between politics and governance is an inseparable marriage. To achieve effective governance, we must have politicians with good intentions and the necessary ability to manage the affairs of the polis (city). Leaders committed to good governance have a responsibility to guide the grassroots, ensuring that local leaders also operate with genuine purpose. When this foundation is laid, party leaders and government officials, regardless of their position, will be driven by the common good and the political will to serve the fatherland and its people.
