Remembering the good, old GSS Birnin Kebbi

The current state of infrastructure in Nagari Science College puts a lie to the propaganda by Kebbi State government that it has built or rehabilitated schools in that poor, rural State. The truth is that the Kebbi State government does not understand what is expected of it in terms of providing education to the citizens. […]

The current state of infrastructure in Nagari Science College puts a lie to the propaganda by Kebbi State government that it has built or rehabilitated schools in that poor, rural State. The truth is that the Kebbi State government does not understand what is expected of it in terms of providing education to the citizens.
To start with, Nagari Science College is the only public boarding secondary school in Birnin Kebbi and this has been so since the return of democracy. Formerly, there also used to be Haliru Abdu Teachers College, but this was relocated to Jega by the Adamu Aliero administration about 13 years ago. One thought that whatever informed that decision, would have by now necessitated the replacement of that college in Birnin Kebbi. 
The people of Birnin Kebbi are convinced that there is a grand design by outsiders to starve them of education. Even in the former Sokoto State, before the creation of the so called Kebbi State, the people of Birnin Kebbi had played a dominant role in the supply of the state’s manpower, both at home and the federal level. This is what the latter day rulers resent and so there is a deliberate plan by the government of Saidu Usman Nasamu Dakingari to worsen this situation. As it is, Birnin Kebbi is the only so called state capital that has only one public boarding secondary school. By the same token, it is the only state capital that has only one boarding secondary school for girls – the so called Government Girls College, formerly Women Teachers College (WTC).
Yet, the state government announced in 2011 that it had built over 100 schools in Kebbi. Where are these schools located? How could a government build 100 schools in a State without citing a single one in the capital? First of all, it is a lie that the KBSG built 100 schools in the state. Secondly, if it ever did, bad faith has prevented it from locating one inside Birnin Kebbi. The village mentality exhibited by our current administration requires that it holds down Birnin Kebbi and its people in the forlorn hope that their fellow villagers would catch up with those in the state capital. It is well known that Governor Sa’idu Dakingari has this pathological hatred for the people of Birnin Kebbi. On many occasions, the Governor had allegedly been heard screaming, swearing and cursing the people of Birnin Kebbi, on account of his own lack of confidence. This colourless, publicity-shy, tongue-tied and rustic Governor holds the people of Birnin Kebbi in contempt for reasons best known to him.
Those who finished from GSS, Birnin Kebbi, will shed tears if they go back to that school today. The buildings housing Turaki House, Wali House, Magajin Gari House, Magajin Rafi House, etc, have all seriously deteriorated. It is the same for classes; the doors have fallen out, the windows are broken and the floors have peeled off. There are no flowers; the place is desolate. The only road leading into the school which Mr. Montgomery, the white Principal in the early 1970s, negotiated with his 404 Peugeot like a formula one driver, is almost impassable now. In all these years, the Kebbi State government has not deemed it fit to tar this road. There is nothing in that school that encourages learning. The staff quarters, where they stand, are decrepit. Worse still, the school is overcrowded. In a single class, one could find over 80 students attempting to learn. There is neither adequate teaching staff nor functional equipment. Yet, this is the flagship public boarding secondary school for boys in the state capital, under the nose of a performing State Governor.
The ex-students of GSS, Birnin Kebbi, some of them well placed, would be ashamed of what that school has become. There is therefore the need for a strong old boys association, or its revival, in order to reclaim that good, old school. The task of the old boys will be to find out the cost of providing functional dormitories, classes, laboratories, toilets and teaching staff, etc, and to get the state government to provide them. If the government cannot do so for any meaningful reason, then the old boys could meet it half-way by providing matching grants.  There are many ex-students of GSS, Birnin Kebbi who could help achieve this.
The following powerful Nigerians attended GSS, Birnin Kebbi; the Chief Medical Director, National Hospital, Prof Bello Bala Shehu; Special Adviser on Counter-Terrorism, Maj Bello Sarkin Yaki (rtd); Chairman, INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega; Professors Abdullahi Bagudo and Prof Bello Bada, (DVC, Admin) both of Danfodio University, Sokoto; Prof M.D. Magaji of National Agricultural Research Council;  former Permanent Secretary, Niger-Delta Ministry, Alhaji Atiku Kigo; the Ex-Emir of Gwandu, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo; the Wazirin Gwandu, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar; Alhaji Umar Ahmed, Mni, Jarman Gwandu; Alhaji Baka Aliyu, Commissioner, FRMFAC; Abdullahi Mohammed 440, Director in FCT;  Alhaji Umaru Hussein, also a Director in Federal service; Mohammed Nassarawa, Director, SSS, Presidency; Alhaji Haliru  Sarki, former student and principal of the school; Ahmed Jaafaru, ACG, Nigeria Prisons Service; Faruk Malami, Head, Transport  Services, INEC; Idris Galadima, Asst Director, CBN; Chairman PDP, Kebbi State; Mansur Shehu; Col Salihu Garbai and a host of other well placed individuals finished from the school.
GSS, Birnin Kebbi, needs a formidable old boys association in order to mobilise everyone to give their donation, in cash or in kind, to recreate the school. Here is wishing that when they meet at the end of this month, Allah will grant GSS, Birnin Kebbi, old boys the will and the large heart to help turn the school around for the benefit of all those who study in it.
Abu Najakku, 19, Shantali Road, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State