Why Badaru Can’t Afford to Fail
Governor Muhammadu Badaru Talamis of Jigawa State cannot afford to fail the people for many reasons, writes Adamu Muhd Usman Even though a ruler may be wise as a sage, he must humble himself and yield to others. Then the intelligent will offer him their c
Iwant to use this medium to congratulate His Excellency, Alhaji Muhammadu Badaru Talamis, as the 4th civilian governor of Jigawa State. I do not regard him as a loser despite the numerous challenges he will encounter in maintaining and continuing with Sule Lamido’s numerous achievements especially the developmental projects cutting across all sectors and areas of the state, because people voted him for change and some people are of the opinion or expectation that his position as a governor and experience as a business tycoon will enable him to continue to move Jigawa and its people to the great height most especially for the mandate the masses have given to him to lead them for the next four years term. But Alas! That is on the contrary.
I may not be certain that Governor Badaru knows and understands the problems of our modern state, Jigawa and the system of governance with relation to all necessary reforms. He should be reminded that he will lead the state up to 2019.
It is our sincere hope that the confidence reposed in him by the people and our expectations in terms of selfless services should constitute the motivation force in all his deliberations, programmes and activities, in which there will be a positive and urgent change in his style of leadership in the near future for continuity with meaningful development, which the people of Jigawa have enjoyed, benefitted and witnessed during Sule Lamido’s administration.
Five months of Governor Badaru in office has been characterised by chains of criticism. This is because how can the Governor of Jigawa of today at this critical and crucial time engage in distribution of pillows, stoves and goats to widows as an empowerment agenda and poverty eradication?
I thought Governor Badaru will follow suit the way of his predecessor, Lamido did for the establishment, renovation, upgrading and equipping of Jigawa state Skills acquisition centres in Kazaure, Hadejia, Gumel, Ringim, Dutse and Birnin Kudu respectively, which together trained over 10, 000 youth in various skills such as Carpentry, Paint Making, Tailoring, GSM Repairs, Satellite Installations, Chalk and Shoe Making and many more which earned Jigawa State credit as the most valuable and active state on youth and women empowerment programmes.
Also the establishment of Kila Cassava processing plant by the Lamido administration in Gwaram LG was meant to empower youths and adults of both sexes. The reduction of ministries, MDAs and government agencies is improper. It seems the governor wants to add unemployment crisis in the state. This will also lead to work overload and there will be no efficiency and commitment among the staff and the leadership of all sectors.
One of the major things that bother me much is the stand of the governor for discrediting and condemning the first class Airport of an international standard built by Sule Lamido’s administration in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital while he uses the Airport in these few months more than Lamido who built it.
Governor Badaru should bear in mind that, having this Airport, as he is acclaimed to be a business colossal, it is indeed a credit to him and something he will be proud of and also praise Lamido for the giant stride. But Alhaji Badaru is oblivious or pretending to know or recognize that.
Lamido built this Airport to facilitate the easy movement of goods and services and to facilitate the coming of investors, who are set to cash in on Jigawa State’s rich potential. The governor forgot that the Airport was also used to Airlift Jigawa pilgrims this 2015 Hajj exercise and the airport was as well used to airlift the pilgrims of Jigawa, Yobe and Maiduguri to the Holy land during last year’s (2014) Hajj exercise respectively.
During the tenure of Sule Lamido, he provided the 27 Local government Headquarters in the state with streets light which made the towns look like big cities and helped or facilitated the safety and security of lives and properties in the towns. Nevertheless, the lights also serve as a motivating factor to the people for carrying out their normal businesses, events and ceremonies and move freely everywhere and go back to their destinations at all times even during rainy season and Boko Haram’s activities without any fear of intimidation, victimisation, humiliation, deprivation and attack.
Since the coming-in of this present administration, in less than one month, the streets light in some places and precisely in my home town, Kafin-Hausa have been on and off. Even some are not working at all. What a magic of Change? It seems the Jigawa State governor is living in another planet. If not so, how on earth can he sabotage the progress of educational sector in the state? Recruitment of teachers without good and enough provision of food to boarding students, teaching materials, prompt payment of salaries and lack of putting sound and qualified leadership in the sector is a great failure.
The appointment of Education Secretaries (E.S) across the state was not done on merit because it has been politicised by appointing even grade 11 teachers to head those with vast experience in the sector who hold Masters and degree certificates. What a change? Please let Governor Badaru borrow a leaf from his Kaduna State counterpart, Malam Nasir ElRufa’I over the criteria he put in place for anyone to occupy that post as E.S. I appeal to Alhaji Badaru to give more priority to education which is the backbone or grassroots of every development. No society can truly develop without sound education since Sule Lamido has led a strong and good foundation to that respect.
As he promises and preaches agricultural production in the state of small and medium scale, as one of the three factors or agenda, he will solely concentrate on, so let us hope that, farmers in the state will continue to enjoy the maximum support in crop production, including the use of mechanised farming system in order to encourage and support livestock farming which will go a long way to reduce or stop clashes between the farmers and the Fulani cattle breeders as Lamido did.
We still hope Governor Badaru will continue to look at health sector which is very important, as he promises more clinics/ hospitals would be built for us and existing ones that were built would be renovated. Also, as you pledged to up-grade some hospitals, we hope all will be maintained with adequate equipment, drugs and qualified medical staff with their incentives given or paid promptly as usual.
You should as well bear with any criticism, opposition and problems that might have come your way. It is good to continue to be honest, faithful and dedicated to accountability and transparency as the focus of your government, in line of thinking of positive ways to maintain what Sule Lamido’s administration did in the state in order to move the state forward.
I still appeal to Governor Badaru to be on the lookout because there are certain groups of people, who want to sabotage your effort, advise you on unpopular policies, disorganise the state and its people, and destroy the humanitarian relationship that exists, create enmity, hatred, and encourage envy, hostility. They are also heartless and lack respect for the political leaders in the state. You should do everything possible to have a peaceful and a united Jigawa. Remember, united we stand, divided we fall. And coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress while working/living together in peace is a success and we want you to be successful.
I want to remind His Excellency, Governor Badaru to know that, one of the major factors that made the previous administration successful was the good working relationship Governor Lamido had with the state legislature, the advice from the traditional institutions, the elders and Ulamas, etc.
To be candid, Sule Lamido has been praying, hoping and calling on all indigenes to pull ourselves together and avoid rancour. We must form a collective will to move our state forward believing in God Almighty. Lamido insists that Governor Badaru needs our prayers and support. So, we must support him in order to succeed, because if he fails, all of us will be in trouble, Lamido re-affirmed. May God help us and guide our leaders aright; bless Jigawa and Nigeria as a whole. Amen.
You should do everything possible to have a peaceful and a united Jigawa. Remember, united we stand, divided we fall. And coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress while working/living together in peace is a Success and we want you to be successful