hajia

Well the word is out. There is no deal between the owner and floater of Katsina State University (in the person of Alh. Sani Lugard) and the Governor of Katsina State (in the person of Alh. Ummaru Musa 'YarAdua). In my earlier post on the issue I pointed out how the University came into being and also the precarious situation the University has found itself. I also suggested that the best option will be for the state government to take it over. That however was not to be, as the erswhile proprietor cum sole owner has refused the overtures of the state government. In fact he took the matter to court and by so doing clearly stated his intention to hold on to the Unversity and run it the way he deems it fit. This was a rude shock for the state Governor. But trust YarAdua for adopting the sucker punch strategy...

By going to court Sani Lugard has unwittingly dug his own grave and that of the University. This is because there is just no way the University can survive without the financial and moral support of the state government. Lugard can launch all the appeal funds he wants but adequate funds will never be raised. He can ask for the experience of Heritage University in Kaduna. Again he can make the rounds to the Arab countries once more and see what he can collect, what with the US on their necks over foreign donations. And what about the NUC, the body that accredits academic programmes in Universities? Without the clout of the state governemnt there is no way the University can survive its first accreditation exercise.
Again the claim made in the court was that the University belongs to the community or Muslim Umma. Now if this is truly the case then why is someone making all the decisions as if it is his personal property? And what will stop a Gani fawehinmi type of guy from going to court to stop the Waziri from running the University like his fiefdom? In fact this is one area I expect people like Aminu Milo ( a barrister to boot) to show their patriotism. Soon I hope other moral voices in the state and beyond should also join in on this issue so as to save the school.
So where will all these problems lead Sani Lugard to? Your guess is as good as mine. But the students on the ground will never find it funny.

Governor YarAdua's sucker punch is a resolve to get licensce for a new University and the University to be up and running by January next year! You may think this is a tall order but rest assured. YarAdua will indeed get his University come January 2007. If you are sitting on a giant tranche full of raw cash, you just get about everything you want.

A powerful committee has already been set up and a site chosen. Drawings have been agreed upon and contractors are falling over themselves to clinch the deal. Thwe first faculties to offer courses have also been identified. The governor is highly focussed on this and there is no going back. And thats my kind of Governor.

Ride on YarAdua, we are all behind you on this.