THE REVOLUTIONARY CHANGE IN KEBBI STATE; THE GIANT STRIDES OF GOV. BAGUDU
PRINCE DAVID. O
BIRNIN KEBBI, KEBBI STATE
It seems like only yesterday when Alhaji Abubakar Atiku Bagudu was sworn -in on the 29th of May 2015 as the 4th Executive Governor of Kebbi State at the Haliru Abdu Township Stadium here in the state capital. The question on everyone’s lips including my humble self at the venue was “can Governor Bagudu take the state to the promise land? Can he supersede the performances of the great late Alhaji Shehu Kangiwa, the much loved Alhaji Muhammadu Adamu Aliero and that of his immediate predecessor Alhaji Saidu Usman Dakingari? The answer we didn’t get until he made his first inaugural speech which captivated us all.
In that speech, the Governor says he is determine to take the state to the next level in the social, political, economic, infrastructure and developmental arenas. He also said he is immediately going to set up an inter- governmental task force to assess the various challenges and issues militating against the smooth and seamless delivery of critical democratic dividends to the people of Kebbi State since the inception of civilian rule in 1999.
Two years on, the former Senator of the Federal Republic has made his presence known, not only in his State but the country at large through his purposeful revolution in the Agriculture Sector which to so many people has put an end to the extreme poverty in the country.
Ever wondered why in 2016 he was awarded the Vanguard and Leadership Newspaper Person of the year, for a man who in his first 100 days in office suffered criticism from his people for lack of growth and development in the state, little did they know that Governor Bagudu was playing the antics of an airplane that first of all understand the gravity of the ground in other to get the direct proportion of where it was flying to before taking off from the ground. That means the Governor takes his time to know the numerous problems and challenges his people are facing and the particular direction he was planning on taking them to. Two years into his administration, the same people criticizing and castigating him for lack of development and basic amenities, are the ones rejoicing and singing his praises for the developmental strides in the state.
Agriculture
Years ago, the people of Kebbi State will never have imagine that when the issues of agriculture is been discuss in this country today, the Land of Equity will be the beautiful bride every state will want to associate with. In 2016, he budgeted 12.8 Billion Naira to the Agriculture sector; this clearly shows that Governor Bagudu placed priority on agriculture in the state.
The governor through the help of Federal Government gave out incentives to farmers in all the 21 local governments of the state so they could grow crops most especially Rice which was and till today the most sought after food by both the poor and rich of any society today. Not only that, his government make provisions of supportive policies to farmers, including partnering with private firms to buy surplus that may be produced by these farmers so they can have reasons to farm again when the time comes again.
His MOU with Lagos State has made Kebbi the highest rice producing state in the country and that is why President Buhari in one of his speeches praised him magnificently and encourage other state governor to emulate Governor Atiku Bagudu by supporting farmers in their various states so that Agriculture will be a major boost of income to the country rather than the over dependent on crude oil.
Today the agriculture sector constituted over 50% of the Kebbi State Workforce, accounting for the estimated increase in the state IGR. A visit to settlements within and outside the state capital like Dukku, Makera, Suru, Bagudo, Illo, Argungu, Zuru and Yauri will convince one that both the rich and the poor, old and young, big and small are now into farming, because to them it is a lucrative business that gives one wealth within a short period of time. This was made possible by Governor Bagudu whose dream is to see foreigners come into the state to demand for higher-value foods like Rice, Onions, Wheat, and Water Melon, and this will in turn create employment not for only those in the rural area but the entire state.
Health
It has always been Governor Atiku Bagudu intentions to take his revolutionary change to the decaying health sector of the state when he took over in 2015; this is not because he is married to a medical doctor, but for the fact that he the governor knows the important of proper health care in the lives of every citizen.
The governor commence work by awarding contracts for the renovation and rehabilitation of 16 General Hospitals in the state, as he quickly order for the replacement of decaying facilities at the Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital in the state capital which has eluded repairs since 2009.
He is also ensuring that the primary health care in the state have enough facilities to give proper care to those in the rural area. This he did by setting up a committee to look into the already passed Primary Health Agency Care (PHCA) Laws as amended to accommodate the Primary Health Care under One Roof. By doing this, the governor has also device means of securing funds from the federal government for the maintenance of these facilities.
Governor Bagudu as part of his revolution in the health sector enters into MOU with some notable NGO’s in the country like that of his wife Zainab Atiku Bagudu (Medicaid) and that of the Saudi Arabia Government to assist in the treatment of over 5,000 eye patients in the state and those suffering from Cancer, Liver, Kidney and other related diseases, in which over 15,000 patients were operated upon.
Education
Governor Atiku Bagudu a product of education and a former teacher in the state believes education is the bedrock of development in any nation and that is why in his first 100 days as the Executive Governor of the state, he declared state of emergency in the educational sector.
His Excellency to date has been reforming and rehabilitating schools at all levels in the state, this includes providing modern and useful facilities to Government Science Technical College, Bunza; Government Secondary School Gwandu, Government Secondary School, Bunza, Nagari College, Birnin Kebbi Model Primary School, Kalgo , Adamu Augie College of Education, Argungu, The Polytechnic Dakingari among others.
To ensure maintenance and the genuine use of these facilities, the governor set up a committee that will monitor the day to day running of public schools, fish out teachers with poor and fake certificates and to terminate the appointment of those who don’t attend classes because he is a man that believe in hardwork and self dedication.
In other to propagate reading culture in students so they could become leaders of tomorrow, the governor mandated his Commissioner of Education and his committee members to improve on the school feeding system of students in the boarding school, while those in the day section should at least be given a meal per day as part of the promise he made to them while campaigning.
In January this year, his administration advocated for the welfares of school teachers, and in so doing, governor Bagudu ordered the ministry of education to design proper ways and channels of rewarding both primary and secondary school teachers in the state.
Welfare and Social Amenities
It is a well known fact that for any government to achieve any meaningful development, civil servants’ welfare should be given top priority because takes it leave it they are the power room of any government in the world.
Between 2015 to date, aside Lagos, Kano, Rivers, Kaduna and few other state with higher Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Kebbi is the only state in Nigeria in which it civil servants enjoys best welfare packages from it government despite it meager allocations and lesser IGR.
During his campaign before the 2015 governorship elections, Governor Bagudu promised the civil servants in the state that their well being will be his topmost agenda; and he has done that by clearing logs of outstanding salary arrears, leave grants and pensions in the state.
Unlike the previous administration when salaries were paid on the 28th, 29th and sometime the first week of the following month; Governor Atiku has ensured that his administration pays civil servants salaries before 25th of every month despite the dwindling resources of the state to enable them put their household together.
Even the critics of the governor that are in the commission convey their appreciation and sometime sing his praises behind close door in their various offices’ or home.
On the issues of basic amenities in the state, months ago the governor approved the sum of N2.3 billion for the construction of four access roads in Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area. The roads are Makera, Gwandangwaji, Sabongarin and Tsoho gari.
In other to reach out to those in the rural part of the state, Governor Bagudu ordered for the immediate installation of bore-holes in every community that is in need of clean water, in other to avoid dangerous and contaminable diseases; this is aside the numerous road constructions in that area.
Those residing in the state will attest to the fact that no state in the federation enjoys better power supply like Kebbi; light in both urban and rural part of the state is almost if not 24hrs. The frequent supply of electricity got the state nicknamed “Small London” by tourists and visitors of the governor; this is due the collaboration between the government and the Kaduna Electricity Company in the state so the people can enjoy what they are paying for.
Security
It is a well known fact that Kebbi remains the most peaceful state in the country today. From the day it was created till now, it has never been heard that there was security in the state has been bridge. Even when little crisis tend to come up from some section, previous administration from the time of late Shehu Kangiwa devices means of restoring peace in that locality. That is what the administration of Governor Atiku is building on, as he is not leaving any stone unturned in trying to maintain the peace and stability in the state.
The Governor in the last two years has donated vehicles and gadgets to the security outfit in the state like the Nigeria Police Force, State invigilate, NSCDC among others.
His cordial relationship with these personnel has motivated them into contributing not only to peace and security of the state but also to participate in en¬suring food security in Kebbi and the country.
Sports
Recently, Governor Bagudu apportioned N1 billion to the Sports and Recreational activities in the state which is a welcoming development considering how it was neglected by the previous administration. Kebbi youths need an avenue to express their physical and mental endowments like their counterparts in other states of the federation. Before the inception of this administration, the Sport sector in the state was abandon and the youths are getting frustrated seeing athletes and footballers in neighboring state like Sokoto, Zamfara and Niger State achieving greater goals in sporting activities.
There is no doubt, the Governor must do more in this sector if he wants to keep the loyalty of sportsmen and women that made up the over 30% of the population that voted him into office in 2015.
The Governor need to start by re-establishing the inter-schools sporting competitions at both primary and secondary school levels, as a basis of finding talents in the state; Governor Bagudu should also invest money in new stadium and sporting grounds where Kebbi can create its stars in athletics, basketball, badminton, football, handball, volleyball, lawn tennis, table tennis, scrabble, and swimming. This will firmly motivates the youths to contribute to national and societal development of the state.
In conclusion, the people of Kebbi State cares a lot about Governor Bagudu and his family because to them he is a leader, whom they firmly believe is committed to solving the toughest problems facing the state. They admire the tenacity with which he implemented and carried out different projects which makes Kebbi today the eye-saw of development.
His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar Bagudu has done so much for Kebbi State in respective of tribes and religion in two short years, and he is never tired of doing more. That is why so many stakeholders comprises of youths, elderly men and women in the state including those in the opposition party can’t wait to drum support for him if he eventually declares his bid for another four deserved years come 2019.