The Katsina State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have traded words over Governor Dikko Radda’s planned three-week medical leave, which begins on 18 August.
In a statement on Wednesday by the state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Dr Bala Salisu, the governor announced he would be ‘taking a medical leave of absence for three weeks to address health concerns’ and had transmitted power to his deputy, Mallam Faruk Lawal, to act in his stead.
‘Taking the necessary steps to prioritise my health is essential so I can continue to serve effectively and make the best decisions for our state’, Radda said, adding that he looked forward to returning ‘with renewed energy and dedication’.
But the PDP accused the governor of insensitivity, especially to residents of insecurity-hit areas.
Speaking to The PUNCH on Thursday, the Katsina PDP Public Relations Officer, Lawali Yar’Adua, said the opposition wished Radda well but was concerned about his medical leave while parts of the state grappled with insecurity.
Yar’Adua said,’We prayed for him after the accident and were happy when he told the public he was in good health. What surprises me—this is not political opposition but a statement of truth—is that since he has recovered, he should turn his attention back to the state before doing anything else.
‘Look at what is happening in Funtua, Faskari, Sabuwa, Dandume. Even if he were lying in a hospital bed somewhere, if he can move around the way he currently does, he should come and face these challenges.
‘These criminals from the forests cut down crops, stop farming, and make people live in fear. There is no security, no food—hunger is here along with all these problems. Since Allah has granted him health, he should focus on these areas so we can truly see he cares for the poor people’.
Yar’adua added that while Radda had a right to medical care, ‘justice should be tempered with mercy’.
‘Yes, it’s his right—but what is more important? If your people are being killed in their own homes, what kind of right is it to travel for health when you claim you already have that health?’ he asked.
The Katsina State APC Chairman, Mohammed Ali, hailed the governor’s ‘foresight’ and insisted his trips had brought benefits to the state.
‘My governor has a right to go on leave. I see no reason why someone would complain. Throughout his travels, he has wooed foreign investors. He has improved education, health, and agriculture through collaborations outside the country.
‘We have assembled tractors, provided improved seedlings, and subsidised agricultural equipment for farmers. He has given scholarships to indigent students and equipped hospitals in all 361 wards. Even while on leave, he is inviting investors. Everybody in this country has seen what the governor did in terms of security, including employing local operatives. Mallam Dikko Radda is developing the state—even the opposition can attest to it’.
