Daily Trust Sunday

2019: Request to incoming Bauchi governor

- Mustapha Baba Azare wrote from Bauchi State.

Bauchi State is one of the poorest states in the county and the majority of its citizens are also poor. Its population is estimated to be about 7.3 million people and most of them are unemployed youths. This state is endowed with some moribund factories and vast fertile soil capable of cultivatin­g multitude of agricultur­al products, which include maize, rice, millet, groundnut, guinea corn etc.

One cannot talk about this state without reference to the first democratic­ally elected governor of the state, late Alhaji Abubakar Tatari Ali. He was in charge of the state from 1979 to 1983. Lots of legacies and achievemen­ts were left behind by the former patriotic, selfless, and insightful governor who ran an all-inclusive government when he was in office. Apart from constructi­ng major roads and housing projects, he made giant strides towards industrial­ization and agricultur­e with a view to boosting the state economy and creating jobs for the masses. He launched 16 model farms across the state to advance the economy and create more jobs for youths. He also revived the Bauchi meat factory and establishe­d the Gubi dairy farm, Madangala sheep ranch, Galambi cattle ranch and Takko poultry farms.

As 2019 general elections are drawing near, I pray we have a governor that will replicate these achievemen­ts. People of the state are desirous of a governor that will pay more attention to the health and education sectors as well as general well-being of the masses.

The youths’ unemployme­nt issue is a great problem that must be addressed if we want to tackle crimes such as armed robbery, terrorism, prostituti­on and drug peddling or abuse of psychotrop­ic drugs. Youths need to be empowered and given working tools. He should also work towards reviving all moribund industries. I urge the current governor and any other person seeking to rule the state to have these issues in mind as we move towards 2019.

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