“I become more optimistic that Kaura is not just a replacement of inept Makama Babba, but a better choice for Bauchi State” writes Dr. Faruq Muhammad Abubakar
Alhamdulillah! The people of Bauchi State deserve applaud for exhibiting high level of political maturity, first and foremost, for the peaceful conduct during the 2019 general elections and secondly for the voting pattern that produced combination of elected executives and representatives across assortment of political parties. I therefore congratulate us for this unprecedented feat. It could have been the usual ‘sak’ because of the cult-like popularity of President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) and the symbolic hand raising (endorsement) of other candidates of APC by PMB. One can boldly conclude that the peoples of Bauchi State have voted for competence rather than political affiliation of the candidates. It is on this note that I congratulate Sen. Bala Muhammad Abdulkadir (Kauran Bauchi) for not only defeating the incumbent and incompetent governor, but for being the Bauchi people’s preferred candidate.
Kaura inspired me with his post-election speeches, where unlike the insinuation from certain quarters’ that his tenure will bring back thuggery, Kaura’s utterances proved otherwise. His acceptance speech was full of humility and gratitude to Allah. He urged his supporters to attribute his victory to the will of almighty and to never bully the opposition. I become more optimistic that Kaura is not just a replacement of the inept Makama Babba but a better choice for Bauchi State. I am also optimistic because of Kaura’s legacies of initiating the much celebrated Abuja rail project (infrastructure) and getting the federal capital rid of prostitute (morality) among other projects he either initiated and/or executed. After all, the Prophet Muhammad SAW admonished us to expect good from a believer (Zannoo lil mu’uminina khaira).
Hence the objective of this piece is to outline some key policies, strategies and projects I have the premonition that Kaura will implement in his first term of office as Executive Governor of Bauchi State.
- I am certain that Kaura has learnt some lessons from the failed regime of Makama Babba. Hopefully, he will not give chance to sycophants to ruin his government. Makama’s government was full of praise singers who only told him what pleased him even if it was glaringly clear he was being misled.
- Because Kaura is fully aware of the failure of Makama Babba to complete some projects he embarked upon and that the former is mindful of the fact that governance should be a continuous process, I am also optimistic that Kaura will complete the abandoned projects. This is necessary because the funds so far expended on these projects belong to Bauchi tax payers, thus they need to be efficiently utilized.
- I foresee Kaura executing ‘need-based micro projects’. Mini projects that will have wide and direct positive impact on the electorate. He may perhaps adopt what I term ‘polling booth approach’, where, each polling unit or Registration Area or a cluster of them will be evaluated to ascertain what it is in dare need of but which is within the financial capabilities of the State. Some polling units may just need a borehole, while others might just need to construct some drainage, supply drugs to their PHC clinic, build school fence and so on.
- Being a Prince himself, there is no doubt Kaura cherishes and values the role being played by traditional rulers. Therefore, reinstating traditional District Heads and Ward Heads unfairly sacked by the past administration will assist the government to leverage on the roles of this important institution.
- Studies have established that public service delivery in Nigeria has been poor, inefficient and ineffective. This is largely due to the workers’ attitude to work, lack of requisite skills and their perception to service delivery. Therefore, there is urgent need to reform the public service with a view to improve the quality of the services being rendered by public servants.
- It is disheartening to note how our major cities, especially Bauchi metropolis are being littered with pyramid of garbage dumbed on almost all major streets, how illegal structures called ‘container’ deface our cities and violate urban development plans, how people disobey traffic rules with impunity and the proliferation of motor parks. One of such glaring examples is on Gombe road, where there are no fewer than 10 of such motor parks. I am aware that getting Bauchi State rid of all these is not going to be a popular policy, however, the Kaura I know is bold, brave, fearless and emphatic as well. Therefore, I am optimistic Kaura will execute policies aimed at restoring the beauty of our cities, orderliness, safety and discipline among us. Appropriate sanctions such as fines and/or prosecution should be imposed upon violators. In other word, Bauchi needs a certain KAROTA to enforce laws relating to road traffic, building construction among others. Such a move will also enhance the state’s revenue base and create job for our teaming youth.
- Economic Theories have demonstrated that developed economies always leverage on the area of their comparative advantage. Northern Nigeria is known for animal breeding for beef production and fortunately, Bauchi Meat Production Company has been in existence since independence. However, the successive state governments have failed to leverage on this unique advantage. We have the advantage to feed the entire country and export to other countries. I was in UAE from January to March 2018 and I have studied and documented the feasibility study on Bauchi State export potentials to Middle East and Asia. All we need is to increase our capacity to meet their regulatory standards and arrange an efficient logistics. This will definitely boost the state revenue and create jobs.
- Although the frequency of thuggery attacks on individuals and communities has reduced lately, however, the menace has resurfaced with an alarming cruelty that can only be equated with what we watch in movies such as Spartacus. These thugs and their parents (and sponsors if any) needs to be engaged head-on. Some pasts governments tried stick and carrot in stemming the tide, while others dangled carrot, but that did not solve the problem. I am therefore equally optimistic that Kaura’s government will get rid of them. I strongly recommend that government should strictly enforce ‘an-nafs-bin-nafs….’ Law as enshrined in our penal statutes.
- Going by the deteriorating economic condition, vis-a-vis the decline in revenue to the government, provision of all the needed infrastructure for development alongside sustenance of the already huge and exponentially growing recurrent expenditure is practically impossible. Therefore, going by Kaura’s exposure and experiences with multinational and reputable local companies, Bauchi state stands the chance of engaging into Public Private Partnership in the provision of such infrastructures.
- The best of wisdom is to learn from your mistakes and of course that of others. The high-handedness and kangaroo like politics that characterized the primary elections of the immediate past Bauchi State ruling party, orchestrated by Makama Babba is a big lesson to learn. Therefore, Kaura, MUST (as a matter of emphasis) give chance to internal democracy to flourish in his party. However, he must keenly watch and possibly intervene in the event infractions and/or treachery moves begin to play out.
- Finally, I am more than ever optimistic that the people of Bauchi State will rally round the new Governor and pray for his success. The success of the governor is the success of Bauchi State. And I think Bauchi people have learnt from the mistake of the past, where people passed blasphemies on their leaders instead of praying for them. That mistake was made on all the past governors and we have reaped from its devastating effect. It is therefore pertinent to call on all of us to pray and support the new governor. I am confident his memory will be forever fresh on what happened to Makama Babba, thus he would not betray us in sha Allah.
Dr. Faruq Muhammad Abubakar lectures at Bauchi State University Gadau. He can be reached via [email protected]
The views expressed in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect WikkiTimes’ editorial stance.
