Bauchi 2019 and the burden of trust
As the campaign for the 2019 governorship election in Bauchi State reaches the home-stretch, the voting population in the state has been inundated with all manners of lies about why Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar should not be re-elected, all in a desperate bid to gain cheap political advantage, or out of sheer mischief. But the […]
As the campaign for the 2019 governorship election in Bauchi State reaches the home-stretch, the voting population in the state has been inundated with all manners of lies about why Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar should not be re-elected, all in a desperate bid to gain cheap political advantage, or out of sheer mischief.
But the harder they try to sell mischief and outright lies as truth the clearer it is becoming that the current All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in Bauchi State under the mercurial leadership of Governor Abubakar has surpassed the benchmark for good governance.
In governance, like all other spheres of human endeavours, “trust is the name of the game.” Governor Abubakar has earned the trust and admiration of the old and young with each step he has taken since he was sworn-in as governor on May 29, 2015. The governor’s stride impressed the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bauchi State chapter, so much that during Christmas homage to the governor on December 26, 2018, the association declared that, “Bauchi State under Governor Abubakar is the safest in the Northeast zone.”
The CAN delegation, which was led by Rev Joshua Maina, its chapter chairman, couldn’t have lied. Majority of indigenes in Bauchi are of the view that ordinarily, it is needless for governor Abubakar to dissipate energy or resources to campaign for re-election, as his footprints are so obvious in all sectors of the state’s economy. Studies have proven that there is a correllation between economic hardship and high rate of crime or insecurity. But because Governor Abubakar has within the last three and half years transformed Bauchi State economically, the state is not only adjudged the safest investment destination, but also a state where religious harmony has prevailed, needless to re-emphasise the security of lives and property.
It is no news that the insecurity that has been ravaging the Northeast, of which Bauchi State is an integral part of, started rearing its ugly head in the time past? But because Bauchi State under Governor Abubakar has witnessed a new lease of life in all sectors of the state economy, security threat is now a long forgotten issue.
Unlike in many states of Nigeria where civil servants have become a mere shadow of their boisterous selves, in Governor Abubakar’s Bauchi, core civil servants are thanking God everyday for giving them a governor with a milk of human kindness and heart of gold.
Instead of the curses and insults that pensioners and teachers rain on their state executives when they go to bed at night on empty stomachs and are unable to fend for or send their children to school, Bauchi civil servants, pensioners and teachers pray daily to Allah to grant Governor Abubakar good health, long life and ‘re-election without tears,’ so that they can continue to live meaningful life.
For pensioners, teachers and civil servants in Bauchi State, the question at the moment is, ‘What is more to fancy in a tobacco than smoke?’ Or better still, ‘is there any need to change a winning formula?’ The thinking is that they have found a Messiah in Governor Abubakar, and they have lined up behind him, and all that is there is “carry Go Until 2023, In sha Allah!”
Another thing that has worked excellently well for Governor Abubakar is that he came prepared to serve and not to be served. He came into power fully steeped in the philosophy of the late Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of the Northern region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, who believed that it is meaningless to corruptly enrich oneself instead of leaving indelible legacies.
Having seen Governor Abubakar’s sincerity of purpose like the Bauchi State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria did, a coalition of 30 political parties in Bauchi State unanimously pledged to support the governor’s re-election recently.
In declaring their support, the coalition of 30 political parties said, “We have firmly resolved to support and campaign for Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, the governorship candidate of APC in Bauchi State. No crack shall be allowed to thwart our collective success.”
Governor Abubakar’s astonishing performance has not stopped him from rendering his social responsibility to students of Bauchi State origin scattered all over the various citadel of learning across Nigeria.
Power belongs to Allah, and he gives same to whomever he so pleases. He has enthroned Governor Abubakar and so far, the governor has not betrayed Allah’s trust. Allah says leaders should use the wealth he has entrusted in their hands to better the lives of the people, and this, Governor Abubakar has been doing. Allah says we should be humble if he gives us power; this, Governor Abubakar has done by remaining on the side of the ordinary people and truth always.
Allah commands that leaders should not manipulate their followers for personal aggrandisement. Governor Abubakar has been doing that faithfully by refusing to be corrupt. How else should such a man be rewarded than be given another term of office to continue his good work?
Gombe wrote this piece from Bauchi.