By Ismail Omipidan, Lagos and Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi
To many stakeholders, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state has given them two important things that call for celebration: Security and stable power especially in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital.
But another indigene of the state, a veteran Journalist and Public Relations Consultant, Yakubu Ahmed BK, thinks otherwise. He believes the governor’s two years so far was a sheer waste of time, adding that he has done little or nothing to address development problems of the state, especially Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, which he noted was the smallest in the entire country, yet the least developed in Nigeria.
However, other stakeholders believed that within Bagudu’s two years in office as governor, citizens could sleep with their two eyes closed, while enjoying steady power supply.
Daily Sun gathered that the incumbent governor, who defected to All Progressives Congress (APC), from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the eve of the 2015 general elections, appear to have identified the critical needs of the people, may have drawn up strategies of how to confront them.
Among the experienced stakeholders working with directly with him to deliver on his promises to the people of the state, it was learnt include emirs of the four emirates in the state, Retired Military Generals, his Special Adviser on Security and other top academics. These stakeholders were said to have provided professional advice and strategies on to combat crimes in the state.
While speaking with Daily Sun, Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Musa Hassan Kalgo disclosed that the present administration was working closely with emirs of the four emirates in the state namely: Gwardu, Yauri, Zuru, and Argungu; all of whom are retired professionals in the military and education sector. He noted that beside that, every citizen of the state have always seen themselves as agents of security irrespective of their locations and status in the state.
Justifying Bagudu’s performance in the last two years, a leader of the National Union of Kebbi State Students Association (NUKSS), Comrade Muhammad Adamu Kichinga, told Daily Sun that the Union was in total support of the second term bid of Governor Bagudu based on his performance on security, education, investment in the state stable power and agricultural revolution.
“We are also supporting him for a second term because he paid our school fees, scholarship and bursary. If he decides to run for a second term, we shall support him,” Kichinga, declared.
He further said that the governor had settled the backlog of debt owed WAEC and NECO, adding that “a breakdown of payments to these examination bodies showed that in the year 2015, the government paid the sum of N280 millions as outstanding balance inherited from the previous administration to enable Students access their result withheld by the bodies. Similarly, in 2016, the payment of N391 million was made to WAEC and NECO which made it easier for students to secure admissions without any hitch.
“I want to state categorically that no state in the country is ahead of Kebbi at the moment in terms of tuition fees as it is on record that while an average payment of a Kebbi student is as much as N100, 000, as against N10, 000 obtained in some other states.”
The state governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu who still appear worried that other local government areas are yet to be connected to national grid, at one of the interactive sessions told the people of the state that he was ready to respond to their questions and challenges on his administration. He noted that people should be free to ask him anything about his government which is not clear to them.
He seized the occasion to disclose that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved additional 330 KV transformers for transmission lane to supply electricity to Kebbi state which would cover Yauri sub- station that would link up the Zuru emirate and its environment. He added that out of 21 local government areas in the state, 16 of them are yet to be connected to national grid. He was however quick to add that before end of tenure in two years time, they would enjoy electricity.
One of the critics of the present administration who don’t want his name mentioned said that the administration had broken the record in the area of electricity, Security, health sectors.
The source that is still in civil service of the state said: “as we can seen the administration has done well on electricity, security in the state. Before, we can’t boast of electricity in Birnin Kebbi for 24 hours. They promised that and we have seen it. The cattle rustling have also been tackled. Before, farmers, cattle rearers cannot go to their farms and field. Now we are all living witness to rice farmers going to farm to cultivate. If there is no security, would it be possible for them to do that? That is kudos for them”.
The source however wants the state government to improve on poverty reduction, road networks, adding that” we still have many beggars on streets, people are suffering at the grassroots and most importantly, more efforts should be put on infrastructure development.”
Also contributing, Kebbi state chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had also demanded from the state government immediate release of fund for the two years payment of Primary School Teachers leave grant and harmonise pension payment to reflect current salary structures of Civil Servants.
The NLC Chairman in the state, Comrade Umar Halidu AlHassan who made the demands during the May Day celebration in Birnin Kebbi insisted that government should consider payment of 2017 leave grant for civil servants and local government employees.
“In the same vein, government should also approve and release funds to implement payment for primary school teachers’ outstanding two years leave grants. The Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) are suffering multiple crises of inadequate allocation of funds and personnel; therefore labour is requesting more allocation of funds to MDAs to reflect the ever increasing cost of goods and services in the society as well as employment of staff where necessary to reduce unemployment.
“The contributing pension scheme of workers in the state have suffered a setback because government has reneged in contributing their own percentage to the scheme, therefore, Labour calls on government to commence payment of their own percentage to the contributory pension”.
Also speaking former State Chairman of defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Chairman BoT of APC in the state, Alhaji Sani Zauro noted that the present administration under Governor Bagudu’s leadership has done well in the last two years.
He said Bagudu’s achievement on security, agriculture, education among others have made him a “saleable product to the electorates anytime, any day “.
He added that: “We at the BoT of APC are satisfied with his performances in the last two years. He is doing well and we are solidly behind him.”
The state Chairman of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Comrade Aliyu Haliru Bunza noted that the youths in the state would continue to support Bagudu because of his track record in education.
“His prompt payment and improved students scholarship and other academics needs, have endeared him to the youths. There is prompt payment of students registration fees; remodeling of our schools all over the state. Providing academic materials and enabling environment in all the schools across Kebbi state.
But speaking to Daily Sun on the governor’s performance so far, Yakubu BK said “Bagudu should not be supported for a second term. The motto of our state is about equity, Bagudu has so far not shown that he can be just and fair to the entire people of the state. How do I mean? Kebbi state capital, Birnin Kebbi is divided into: Old town and Nasarawa. The governor is from Old town. Right now, he is doing a road in Tudunwada, which is just about 20km. The road he is doing in Old town is better in terms of quality, to the ones he did in Nasarawa. So how can someone who is creating division in the area where he comes from be trusted to be fair to the whole state?
“He is the first governor from Birnin Kebbi town. All other three before him are from the villages in the state, and they all developed their localities. Adamu Aliero took the state University to his village in Aliero, and you need to see the level of development there today. Dakingari, who succeeded Aliero, also took the state Polytechnic and the NYSC orientation camp to his village, in Dakingari. Birnin Kebbi needs to be developed. It was neglected over the years, and the governor is not doing anything to reverse the trend. Our capital is the smallest state capital in Nigeria and it remains the least developed in the whole of the country. There is no water. There is no light.”
Reminded that the governor had done well in Agriculture, the PR Consultant said “what has he done? Kebbi state has always been known for rice farming. All he did was to open up the area for people to come in. But he has not put one physical development on ground in terms of infrastructure to enhance the development of the farming activity.
“But I will give him pass mark in the education sector. However, even at that the schools he built have no equipment. The key components that would ensure sustainable development in that sector are still lacking. You know Kebbi, come down and see things yourself, only then you will appreciate the things I am telling you on phone,” Yakubu BK, added.