When in 2019 John Gabaya was to square up with incumbent chairman Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Musa Dikko, of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), many pundits predicted Dikko’s victory, considering incumbency power in Nigeria’s politics. Against all odds, Gabaya defeated Musa Dikko in that election. Instantly, Gabaya was nicknamed “giant killer” for defeating an incumbent with a lot of financial warchest.
Probably aware of the major reasons Dikko was defeated – bad governance – Gabaya elected to do things differently in Bwari Area Council. Little wonder that he won re-election on February 12, 2022. Stakeholders in Bwari Area Council have reasoned that Gabaya has been delivering democracy dividends to Nigerians in the second biggest Area Council in the FCT since the renewal of his mandate. But what is the barometer to fact-check or measure this viewpoint?
There are key sectors to look at when probing the performance of Honourable John Gabaya in Bwari Area Council. The most important among these performance indicators are: works and housing/power supply, health, education, empowerment, agriculture and environment. Gabaya, on assuming office, promised he would take up road projects that will impact positively on his people. Thus, he prioritised the roads including the one towards market side and up to Kaduna road bypass. The urgency the road was given encouraged Bwari Area Council residents to keep faith with him as he keeps working to deliver the dividends of democracy. Sabon-Gari road received due attention and Nigerians around that corridor are very grateful to Gabaya-led Bwari Area Council.
An elated resident of the council, James, said, “We are very happy with the work the chairman is doing because we do not need him to share money for us but to see him work for the development of the town. You can see the market road now, down to JAMB headquarters has been rehabilitated. So are Kuduru, Tudun-Fulani and Sabon-gari roads. These are some of the highly populated areas of this town which had bad roads for years, until now. What remains now is Baran-Goni and the area council secretariat roads which are also important”.
Suma bridge that needed urgent attention which Gabaya inspected on June 21, 2021, has been completed. This, too, attests to Gabaya’s commitment to providing democracy dividend to the good people of his council. On April 18, 2023, Gabaya inspected two major road projects being executed by his administration. The 6.6 kilometer road cut through Igu, Kawu and Shere as well as the 500m Bwari Central 16-16 to SCC roads. Today, the projects have been completed. This writer to appeals to Bwari council to as a matter of urgency rehabilitate the popular road from Madam Edo to Channel 8 Junction. The rehabilitation of this road will surely boost business in ultra-modern Kubwa market. The council will also generate huge revenue from the market.
On empowerment, Gabaya distributed motorcycles and wheelchairs to people living with disability and able bodied people alike. The first batch of the event took place on September 22, 2021. The empowerment has continued till this day.
As part of efforts towards bumper harvest in Bwari Area Council in 2023, the chairman distributed 20 bags of fertiliser each to the 10 wards in the council. The policy of empowering farmers with fertiliser and other farm implements has been a yearly event though. While flagging off this year’s event, Gabaya, said that the gesture was to support the farmers in order to boost crops production in the council.
According to him, farming was the major occupation of the indigenous people of the area, adding that there was no better way to complement their efforts than providing the inputs. “We deemed it necessary to assist these farmers so as to boost production in this year’s farming season. We were able to afford a trailer load of both the NPK and Urea fertilisers to be shared among the farmers in the 10 different wards of this council. The councilors for each ward are here and would receive the input on behalf of the different wards.”
He said that traditional heads of the council would take a bag or two each, as well as other individuals in identified groups of the area. Gabaya, who cautioned the people against selling the product, said that although the council bought them at subsidised price, it is given to free. “This is our own way of supporting the farmers; please it must not be sold at any point. I also encourage the farmers to make good use of it.”
Just as Gabaya is making life better for the people of the council, his wife is not left out. On August 29, 2019, Mrs. Yemi John Gabaya facilitated the training of over 100 youths and women on the production, processing and marketing of orange and sweet potatoes. Mrs. Gabaya said the programme, aimed at eradicating hunger, would also provide job opportunities and keep youths and women off the streets.
Speaking earlier, the chairman, Dr Gabaya tasked farmers to always seek new agricultural skills to enable them compete globally. He said his administration would continue to support agriculture, adding that women and youths were relevant in his government. The FCT Orange, Sweet Potatoes Desk Officer, Mrs. Iheomu Mary, said the new variety of potatoes has a three month gestation period, “it is rich in vitamin “A” which is very important for the eye. The potatoes can be used for juice, moi-moi, queen’s cake, biscuit, baking bread and has high market value that can generate more income to the farmers.”
Gabaya-led Council has renovated a number of health care centers. His goodwill has attracted investment from some organisations in the health sector. The immunisation effort of the council has also been applauded. More investment should be undertaken in this sector, particularly in the construction of more health centers.
It is noteworthy that Gabaya has taken steps to priorities education in the council. Not long after he took office, he visited Bwari Area Council library at Bwari extension Area of Bwari Central Ward on August 10, 2020. The library was in bad shape and abandoned for years without operation. To underscore the importance Hon Gabaya places on education, he ordered the renovation of the library and grading of the road leading to the library.
Gabaya sank and repaired many boreholes in the wards of the council. He also got assistance of Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) to distribute electricity to some markets in the council. Many see Gabaya’s action as big move for modern development. It is hoped he will see through this wonderful idea. Some wards are said to be mapped out for the provision of solar powered electricity.
Clearly, Gabaya has elevated the status of Bwari Area Council in the last four years, In a nutshell, Gabaya has lived up to expectation in terms of provision of democracy dividend, by the standard of Area Councils’ Barometer Of Good Governance (ACBGG). It is commendable that he has ensured equal distribution of impactful projects in the 10 wards in Bwari Area Council. Other Nigerian politicians would have prioritised the development of their immediate area in terms of providing democracy dividend. If we are to go by Gabaya’s speed in delivering this vital dividend of democracy, the next three years will witness even more purpose driven projects in Bwari Area Council.
Oraetoka (Chancellor), Area Councils’ Barometer of Good Governance (ACBGG) 09039094636, 08056031187.
