LAMIDO AND JIGAWA AT 28
On 27 August 1991, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida created nine new states. Jigawa is one of them. Others are Abia, Enugu, Delta, Kebbi, Osun, Kogi, Taraba and Yobe, bringing the total number of states in Nigeria to 30.
When Sule Lamido came to power in 2007, Jigawa was at the peak of political, social, economic and even mental degeneration. Our schools, hospitals, roads, etc., were down. But within a short time he restored a new social life for the people by providing almost all the necessary developmental facilities that changed the social, economic and mental thinking of the people of the state.
Schools were constructed or reconstructed and they were adequately staffed, equipped with functional libraries and laboratories, while classrooms have modern instructional technologies; computers connected to the internet and audio-visual and video conferencing equipment. He constructed an airport of international standard and over 2000 kilometers standard road network. He also brought into life Jigawa Radio and Television (JTV), NYSC orientation camp,
state secretariat, Malam Aminu Triangle event centre, a high court, two new universities, a teaching hospital, three polytechnics, an informatics institute, a college of education, schools of nursing and health technology and many others. There was peaceful co-existence in the state.
From 2007-2014 every year, Sule Lamido used to celebrate Jigawa birthday by organizing prayers, symposia, lectures, etc., with the attendance of all past governors, emirs, Ulamas, politicians, academicians, journalists, women, youths, civil society groups and the physically challenged persons which enhanced awareness, unity of purpose and peaceful-coexistence.
But to our surprise, this year’s anniversary was silent. No sign of any event to showcase Jigawa at 28 years. What a change!
When Sule Lamido left in 2015, he left with his experience and foresight. We still hope and pray that the present administration will keep the process, hold the tempo and maintain the institutions especially feeding and resumption of pupils and students on time and discipline in workplaces.