In today’s democracy, the quest and dream of having good governance has been a backbreaker to our growing and complex democratic system. It’s the belief of many Nigerians that, politicians are in the game for self-enrichment, prestige, and ascendency over certain segment of people at the local government, state, or federal level. And this could be the reason and rationale behind people not showing interest in politics and believing politics and voting is only a business and the concerns of those partake in politics.
Still in Nigeria, only inconsiderable and middling part of the population are taking part in the voting processes with the larger percentage intentionally avoiding the process of electing their leaders and usually failing in calling the attention of erred leadership or holding any accountable in whatever scenario.
Today, the unclaimed voter’s registration cards are still stocked piled at different INEC’s offices in the country signifying that, many aren’t ready to vote in the 2019 general elections and have lost faith in political leadership.
In every ruptured and lamentable bearings, there’re always a silent few that do things differently in order to rescue the situation and give hope to the hopeless, encouragement to the despondent, and faith to the disheartenment. Governor Muhammed Abdullahi Abubakar of Bauchi state is one of the rare political gems and paragons who had ventured into politics with a clear vision and unperturbed commitment to change the disenchanted and jaundiced democracy to better the lives of his people and inculcate hopefulness in the minds of the already despaired and despondent citizens of Bauchi state.
Like President Muhammadu Buhariof Nigeria, like Muhammed Abdullahi of Bauchi state. Their missions are similar and their challenges are synonymous in virtually all aspects of democratic leadership. PMB is seen by many Nigerians as an emancipator and God sent political liberator. Today, he has justified even to his immediate opponents and impenitent adversaries that, he’s in the game for the betterment for all Nigerians, regardless of political, tribal, and ethnic considerations. His sterling record of achievements within only three years of his stewardship has equally radiated in all the nooks and cranny of the country which is overwhelming and second to none in the history of democracy in Nigeria.
On coming down to my state and the only place I can call my home, Bauchi state, we’re well-endowed and gifted with a selfless leader, committed, and steadfast whose ideals are synonymous to that of our leader, President Buhari in doing all they could to change the life of a common man for the better and against all the hurdles and political impediments. Today, Bauchi state has witnessed an exceptional and marvellous record of achievements by the Abubakar administration in the state.
To any casual visitor or anybody who visited the state last before the emergence of Governor Abubakar, they either guide or may lose their ways to their destinations or homes because of the road network constructed by the present administration in the state and some local government areas of Bauchi state. In all the 20 local government areas of Bauchi state, hospitals have been constructed, health training institutions refurbished and are wearing a new outlook with many courses being upgraded.
In his administration’s readiness to boost agriculture in the state, Governor Abubakar has reinvigorated the abandoned state owned fertilizer company. Today, the company, apart from being the main source of fertilizer to the farmers, is also a source of job creation to the teeming population. Yes, the fertilizer is made available, farmers are recording high yields and the economy is booming in the state.
Not done, the governor recently paid a working visit to Morocco where a lot of bilateral agreements were signed between Bauchi State Government and various industries and institutions all in an effort to boost agricultural development and other key economic indices of the state. During the recent working visit to the state by President Buhari, apart from commissioning roads as encapsulated in the governor’s urban renewal drives and other projects like the distribution of sewing machines and generators, agriculture has seen greater light where farming machineries and implements which include tractors, ploughs, agricultural tricycles, mini trucks, and host of others were commissioned by Mr President.
He met the state where everywhere was in disarray and raunchy, and one of the vital sectors that was begging for rescue was the state civil service. Before the coming of the present administration in Bauchi state, the state civil service was a gory picture of itself where government owed workers backlog of salaries for several months while ghost workers were existing in all the ministries and departments. But with his clear determination to clean up the system from what has been the bane of development the system has entirely got overhauled, the backlog salaries have been paid, monthly salaries are subsequently paid regularly.
In every neck of the woods, change the old ways of doing things especially for the better and when certain people are going to be unclad from their whims and caprices, it used to be bumpy ride and only the dogged, above-board, and honest could join and remain in the train.
You could see why some have to let go their appointments and seek alternative where there would be time business as usual. Here, the credible man is on the wheel and the co-travellers have to be of the same mission or downswing along the line.
But the most interesting part of the journey in Bauchi state is that, the foresighted and those with functional cognitive faculties are in for the ride and the good people of the state know the best and could not be hoodwinked in the demeanour of politics. The best is always the best and Governor Abubakar is the best.
Zubairu Bauchi writes from Bauchi
