BY ABDULSALAM  MUHAMMAD
IT was a story of a man who came, saw and conquered. Indeed not everyone is that lucky on first attempt. But Shekarau did, as majority of All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP delegates elected him as their presidential flagbearer at the party’s National Convention and primaries at the Eagle Square in Abuja, penultimate week.

Shekarau’

Shekarau’s resounding success at the primaries sparked off all- night celebrations in Kano, the commercial city and capital of Kano State where Malam Shekarau holds forth as second_term Governor.

The excitement on Kano streets was electrifying as the citizenry rolled out tanks to celebrate the feat once achieved by another son of the soil in the abortive Third Republic, Alh Bashir Usman Tofa on the platform of the National Republican Convention, NRC.

The jubilant crowd defied the harsh harmattan wind and laid siege at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, the gateway to the city by flight to give a heroic welcome to the man of the moment.

As the aircraft that conveyed the presidential candidate to Kano touched down at 1.05 pm, he was ferried into an opened SUV car, the moment everyone had been waiting for came. The city ruptured into celebrations as Malam Shekarau joined them on a journey that lasted for five hours to Government House located within Nasarawa GRA.

A motorcade of vehicles, long convoy of commercial cyclists, a sea of human heads formed a long procession that  danced and sang along the streets in ecstasy.

For the first time in Kano recent history, commercial activities were brought to a standstill, major streets were blocked and the security was excellent as there was no reported incident through out the period the fun lasted.

The crowd on Kano streets during the show was a statement of acceptability of a son of the soil, who routed his closet rival, Harry Akande in his home state of Oyo, beat the home boy, Tofa, and a veteran presidential aspirant, Alh Dauda Birma, for a trophy ‘allied political forces in the North’ could not achieve in the ruling party.

A public commentator in Kano, Saka Raji Audu, told Vanguard that the excitement of Kano citizens over Shekarau’s victory was a testimony of the confidence people repose in him.

According to Saka Raji Audu “the mammoth crowd that welcomed Shekarau in Kano was a clear testimony that the people of Kano acknowledge the great contributions of the governor to the progress and development of his state.”

Raji stressed further that Shekarau victory “also gave impression that he is still holding the grip of Kano politics, and that his election as the ANPP flag bearer signify that the North still have credible person like him.”

Beyond the dancing on Kano streets to herald a Presidential flag bearer lie the questions of what does the ticket really mean to Nigerians in the light of efforts to stop the ruling Peoples Democratic Party,  PDP at the polls?

The elated Shekarau had in his acceptance speech laid bare his determination to fix the country bedeviled by multi-faceted problems. ‘I have seen how ordinary people carry on with their lives, looking not for much, but only enough to make their ends meet. I have seen how people yearn for good leadership, someone to give direction to be fair and treat people with respect,’he said and promised to offer the needed leadership.

The ANPP flag bearer thumbed up the platform that threw him on board, adding  ‘I am gratified to my party for conducting a free and fair election, because it is a party that has proved to Nigerians that there is still to be found in this country a party that is transparent, a party that is truly democratic, a party that gives members an equal chance to vote and to ensure one’s vote counted’

Speaking on the heroic welcome, the state Coordinator of Shekarau Campaign Organization, Alh Ahmad Ibrahim Yakasai, shed tears of joy over the ‘love demonstrated to them by Kano people.’

Yakasai, who also doubles as the Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, stated that ‘Nigerians have spoken, and we will try our best to consolidate the feat, and I assure you we will not disappoint.’

Addressing the crowd at the State House after cris_crossing  the city that took them to the Emir’s palace, Shekarau thanked all for ‘the support and admiration shown to him by the people of Kano.’

He described the welcome party as a sign of good things to come in the general election slated for April, and tasked faithful to remain resolute and distance themselves from actions that would breach peace.

In a speech earlier, Emir of Kano Alh. Ado Bayero, congratulated Shekarau on the victory and advised that all political activities be carried out in peace, saying ‘no meaningful development could be achieved in the absence of peace and harmony’.

Indeed, Kano people have spoken, and the chicken has come home to roost. What remains now is whether or not the same commitment demonstrated on the streets would be reenacted during the forthcoming general elections.