Barnabas Manyam in Yola reports on some of the steps that Governor Mohammed Umar Jibrila of Adamawa State has taken that have raised hopes of transformation of the Northeast state
Destiny has a way of putting people in various perspectives and bringing surprises to many. The ascension of Sen. Mohammed Umar Jibrila (aka Bindow) to the hallowed seat of governor took the state of Adamawa by the storm.
Affable ‘Bindow’ became governor when many human judgments thought it was impossible.
The election in the state was keenly contested between All Progressives Congress (APC), Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other parties, but God smiled on Sen. Mohammed Umaru Jibrilla, who was undoubtedly the choice of the good people of Adamawa State.
He was described as always patient with a quite mien throughout the four years he served in the National Assembly as a senator representing Adamawa North Senatorial Zone, but one thing stood him out and that is that he is a hard-nosed businessman who has carved a niche for himself in business which was his second passion after politics.
Bindow may seem slow in appearance or his soft spoken nature may deceive many but he is certainly a guru in commerce; he sees it and smells it in the air and he knows how to go about it.
Governor Jibrila believes in proficiency in everything even as his associates said honesty is one of his major values. He has promised that his government will create an enabling opportunity for youths to get jobs as a way of facilitating development instead of the many wars and battles fought in the state.
He also said his administration will focus more on the people, as he wants to begin by reconciling the people involved in the many political battles recently fought in the state.
Given Jibrila’s background, observers said Adamawa state will move forward under him and commerce will also thrive because he knows areas that need quick attention. Now that the buck stops at his table, it is believed that he will move fast to increase the state’s financial standing by reorganising the Board of Internal Revenue (BIR), which under Tuta, its current chairman, looses millions due to illegal activities and low revenue generation.
Bindow is ambitious in putting Adamawa first among equals and revenue generation must be put in the hands of ambitious people who are driven by zeal to realise above one Billion Naira monthly not sluggish thinkers.
Agriculture is the main stay of the people and the governor will need to focus on bringing herbicides to the farmers and creating access roads to rural areas to bring harvested crops to the market.
Security will also be provided on the international cattle markets in Mubi, Ganye, Ngurore and other major cattle markets to avoid incessant attacks like what happened three years ago when the Ganye International Cattle Market was invaded by bandits who destroyed goods and carted away cash running into several billions of naira.
Notwithstanding what transpired during the Admiral Murtala Nyako’s controversial impeachment, observers believed the members of Adamawa State House of Assembly should cue in to the Bindow’s government because the role of a legislator is not meant to rule but to make laws and provide fair checks and balances to the leadership.
Observers pointed out that leadership is not the business of the any responsible legislature and the present legislature should not be finding faults or form an antagonistic barrier against Bindow. Instead, the House should join hands with Jubrila in moving Adamawa forward unlike the former legislature.
For now, the governor seems to be focused on key areas that can change the state for the better and so all shades of opinion have applauded him since he took the oath as the Executive Governor.
The state needs a Bindow at this point in time to steer the ship of state and move the state forward. The fruits of good governance and good things to come have already begun to manifest as Governor Jubrila has began the transformation with the inauguration of more than 234km roads in Adamawa State. So far, he has also being paying salaries as and when due even as reports confirm that other projects are coming on board.
The list of the commissioners have just been screened and passed by the Adamawa State House of Assembly. Some of the commissioners are highly knowledgeable to pilot the affairs of the state to greater heights.
This explains why many say Jubrila has started well.