CELEBRATING A HUMANIST

Martins Nwamadi pays tribute to Atiku Bagudu, governor of Kebbi State

In a society where the rich and mighty see themselves as demigods that must be served and worshipped, there is always a palpable fear and trepidation among those considered as lesser mortals. Such social divide is further worsened by the fact that each side sees the other as the enemy. The lack of trust has always been a source of discontent, especially among the downtrodden who take to violence anytime they find occasion for it. Without doubt, the blight and desperation among the teeming masses have continued to influence the way the poor and marginalised live. Most times and in the absence of alternatives to improve their lot, the poor can only hope and pray that someone with the milk of human kindness comes their way and banish poverty and destitution from their midst. With luck this prayer is being answered in Kebbi State through the person of Alhaji Atiku Bagudu.

Atiku Bagudu is not only humanist and philanthropist par excellence; he is also the governor of Kebbi State. In a milieu brimming with political propaganda as tool for image laundering, Bagudu stands out as a superstar with a sense of mission for justice and development. Over the years, this former banker and venture capitalist has been engaged in economic revolution to transform the once sleepy state into an investment El-Dorado.

As a result, Bagudu has been enriching the state through constructive engagement while leveraging the potential of the vast arable land into productive industrial and agricultural ventures.

Before going into details on how Bagudu is achieving such revolution in Kebbi State, it is pertinent we take a closer look at the man and his antecedents. For the records, Bagudu was born on 26th December 1961 in a well to do family. His father was the director of Primary Education in Kebbi State. Atiku Bagudu attended the Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics.

He later proceeded to the University of Jos, for a Masters Degree also in Economics and later Columbia University, USA where he obtained another Masters Degree in International Affairs.

After a short but eventful spell in banking, the prodigious Atiku Bagudu succumbed to the call of his constituency to go into active politics. For him, it was another opportunity of giving back to society and also harnessing the potential of the people with a view to making that part of Nigeria a reference for industrial and agricultural success.

Unarguably, one can posit that since his public service to the people, the fortune of Kebbi State has been on leaps and bounds. In an environment where politics is seen as an end, Bagudu has taken to harnessing its potentialities to improve the industrial and economic development of Kebbi State. He has not only brought his ingenuity as a hands-on manager to effect, Bagudu has continued to lead by example.

Those ardently following the antecedents of this manager of men and material will attest to his uncommon touch and zeal for details. It is therefore not surprising that he is the ViceChairman of the National Food Security Committee. Of course, he is living up to this billing given that he has brought some multinational companies like Wacot and Dangote group who have established rice mills in the state, while also an indigenous company has entered into partnership with the state government for the construction of a $330million sugar processing plant.

A gifted grassroots mobilise and ardent bridge builder, Bagudu recently sent 57 agricultural experts to Imo State to train agriculture extension officers in industrial rice production. Undoubtedly, Bagudu believes that providing good and efficient services like quality education, affordable housing, good road networks and integrated agricultural programme would make life more meaningful for the ever increasing population in Kebbi State.

For one at home with the rich and the poor, he has been able to harness the innate abilities of the two groups for a common bond of friendship that is helping to launch Kebbi into the elite club of fast developing states in the country. To further energise his drive for economic emancipation, he recently approved the commencement of registration exercise for 30,000 young artisans and small-scale business owners to benefit from an interest-free micro-credit support from the Bank of Industry.

While the exercise is free of charge, women have also been encouraged to apply for the micro-credit support to boost their income.

Those to benefit can access up to N250, 000 to expand their existing enterprises but starting with initial disbursement of N50,000. This interest-free credit is repayable on weekly basis and within a maximum period of six months. No doubt the drive and zeal to create more job opportunities for the youths, has compelled him to champion the revival of the Argungu festival. He believes that this famous tourist attraction would provide opportunity for many people to generate income and take care of their families.

Away from the klieg lights of publicity, no one would attest that Bagudu is a man of compassion and universal humanity. This was demonstrated at a recent visit to Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital Birnin Kebbi to sympathise with four journalists involved in an accident along the Augie-Zagi-Dundaye road. There, he gave the sum of N100, 000 to each of them as financial assistance. On August 21, and during the past Sallah celebration, Bagudu saw an eight year- old- boy with a fractured skull resulting from a wound inflicted on him by a farmer. He did not only show compassion, he stepped out of his car to take the victim to a hospital. He also paid the bills for the treatment and upkeep. True to type, and given his life of philanthropy Bagudu adopted the boy into his family.

His love for the less fortunate is responsible for the agreement between his administration and the local National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the 21 local government areas to convey any pregnant women to hospital whenever called to do so. For effectiveness, his administration has established a toll-free line. It is interesting to note that the government will also pay the bills without cost to the affected person or family.

Such act is in conformity with his philosophy of helping those in need and making sure that the state gives mothers and their children the opportunity to grow and prosper in a healthy and productive environment.

Asked of someone he admires and what makes the individual stand out, Atiku Bagudu was quick to mention the late Bashorun Moshood Abiola. For him, Abiola was the one who saw the degradation suffered by African slaves in the hands of European rubber barons and greedy capitalists and demanded reparation from America and Europe for this inhuman act.

Bagudu believes there is need for African leaders to rediscover themselves and embark on progressive programmes to slow and eventually stop the exodus of Africans to the advanced economies of Europe and America.

Married to a medical doctor, Bagudu is an avid reader of books and consummate golf player who likes socialising with people in order to listen and learn. A firm believer in the unity of Nigeria, he continues to advocate inter-ethnic and religious dialogue in order to reduce tension aggravated by misunderstanding. For him, Nigeria is an emerging economy with huge potential that can only be harnessed for the technological and economic development of Africa and the black world.