Bauchi 2019: The imperative of Abubakar’s return

Apparently, the Bauchi state governor, Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar has a harculean task before him in 2019 – returning to the Bauchi Government for a second term in office. At least, so it seems given his formidable opponent – a former Minister of FCT, Bala Muhammed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). For those of […]

Apparently, the Bauchi state governor, Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar has a harculean task before him in 2019 – returning to the Bauchi Government for a second term in office. At least, so it seems given his formidable opponent – a former Minister of FCT, Bala Muhammed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

For those of who nurse the fear, they are likely base their unfounded fears on the aftermath of the primary election that produced Abubakar as the governorship candidate given the utterances of the aggrieved aspirants who lost out.

On the contrary, the All Progressives Congress (APC), on whose platform Governor Abubakar is seeking re-election, couldn’t have made a better choice of a governorship flag bearer and the reasons are not farfetched.

Given his giant strides in Bauchi state in his over three years of stewardship, Abubakar is poised for another victory at the poll against his opponents.

Besides his array of support bases within the APC and beyond, his scorecards in different spheres of human endeavor are enough to guarantee him victory at the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

No doubt, Abubakar has revolutionized the education, health, agricultural, tourism, housing, roads and security sectors of the state, among others, within a short time, thereby enhancing the human capital development index of the Bauchi people.

It will suffice here to mention just a few of his giant strides in order to justify the imperative of Governor Abubakar’s return to office come May 29, 2019.

There are 5,000 units of houses being built across the state for sale to the poor by the state government in conjunction with African Nations Development Programme (ANDP). This is a sort of low cost housing scheme to be benefitted by ordinary Bauchi people.

In the agricultural sector, 500 tractors were procured for onward sale to Bauchi farmers at subsidized at 25% discount.

For infrastructural developmental projects, they are visible in Jama’are, Itas-Gadau, Giade, Toro, Dass, Ganjuwa and Bauchi town to mention but a few.

In the area of security, Bauchi state feels the heat of the insurgency in the far North-East and the governor has never rested on his oars in making the state safe and secure for all residents.

Abubakar is able to make Bauchi safe through his participatory governance style. He synergizes with heads of security agencies in the state – military, para-military and police formations.

He inherited and cleared a backlog of salaries and pensions owed by the state on assumption of office. His much criticized civil service biodata capture had uncovered thousands of ghost workers and saved the state much needed revenue.

It is on record that more than 80% of workers in the state workforce have received their salaries up till as at when due, despite dwindling Federal Allocations and overcoming a court order freezing the state’s account. Capital projects are still springing up both in Bauchi town and in the local government areas.

Worried by the decline in the economic and commercial activities and increased dependence on government for employment opportunities in Bauchi State, Governor Abubakar offered N1billion interest-free loan to traders and artisans in the state.

Also, in order to complement her husband’s strides in the area of women empowerment, the wife of state governor, Hajiya Hadiza Abubakar, empowered 100 women randomly selected from various skill acquisition centers across the state as part of activities marking her 60th birthday anniversary in October 2018.

Presenting the items to beneficiaries at a ceremony in Bauchi recently, Mrs Abubakar explained that the gesture was aimed at showing gratitude to God for sparing her life, and for the support the Bauchi state government enjoys from the people for the past three and the half years.

According to her, items donated include 30 sewing machines, 30 knitting machines, 20 grinding machines and 20 embroidery machines. She said five women each were selected from skills acquisition centres in various parts of the state to receive the donation.

“I am also grateful to my husband, the Governor of Bauchi state for the immense support he gives to me and our programmes. And I thank everyone who has given us support all these years. Because without your support, we cannot be here” she said.

In addition, she secured the release of 49 prisoners in Zaki, Tafawa Balewa, Nabardo, Alkaleri, Ningi, Misau, Jama’are and Bauchi prisons respectively in December 2018 and has also organised vocational training for the ex-prisoners as a way of rehabilitation and reintegrating them into the society.

It is worthy of note that Governor Abubakar was awarded the Vanguard Governor of the Year 2017 Award for his continuous sterling performance and consistent development strides. Aside his track records, Abubakar enjoys support of all and sundry, which has put him in good stead to win the governorship election.

Many observers have wondered whether there is an ideological backing to the activities of Governor Abubakar administration of Bauchi state, and have without due evaluation dismissed the administration as lacking in any concrete precept. Others on the other hand have consistently submitted that the current administration in the state poses an ideology that is reflected in the several developmental strides of the governor.

It is however my strong opinion as a neutral writer that the government of Mohammed Abubakar has a unique philosophy behind its leadership strides. Though subtle, it is reflected in the impactful projects and programmes being executed by the state government across the state and therefore, he deserves a second term in the Bauchi State Government House.

Gbadebo wrote this piece from Abuja