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Tag: Bauchi State Governor

  • Bauchi: Of awards without impact

    Bauchi: Of awards without impact

    • By Yasir Shehu Adam

    Sir: The recent award presented to the Bauchi State governor by the Presidency for good governance has attracted wide applause in political circles. Awards of this nature are meant to celebrate leadership, accountability, and improved quality of life for citizens. However, beyond the ceremonies and official statements, a critical question remains: does the lived reality of Bauchi people truly reflect the ideals of good governance being celebrated?

    In governance studies, good governance is measured by clear indicators — quality education, accessible healthcare, job creation, timely payment of salaries, social welfare, and human development. Infrastructure is important, but it is only one part of development. When these broader indicators are examined in Bauchi State, the picture becomes mixed and deeply concerning.

    Take education, for instance. Across many public schools, learning conditions remain poor. Classrooms are overcrowded, roofs leak during the rainy season, and basic teaching materials are lacking. Teachers work under difficult conditions with little motivation. More worrying is the absence of a strong scholarship policy that enables Bauchi youths to study within or outside Nigeria and return to contribute to the state’s development. A society that neglects education is silently postponing its future.

    The health sector reflects similar challenges. Many health facilities lack essential drugs, modern equipment, and adequate personnel. Reports of delayed salaries and poor welfare for health workers continue to surface. In such an environment, quality healthcare becomes a privilege rather than a right. Governance that improves lives must first protect life itself.

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    The issue of workers’ welfare also deserves attention. Civil servants experience irregular salary payments and weak welfare systems. Economic theory and public administration agree that a demoralized workforce cannot deliver effective public service. Timely payment of salaries is not generosity; it is a basic responsibility of government.

    On youth development and employment, the situation is equally troubling. Bauchi has a large youth population, yet structured job creation programmes, skills development initiatives, and innovation hubs remain limited. Human development — investment in people — is the true engine of sustainable growth. Sadly, many young people feel excluded from the state’s development story.

    To be fair, the Bauchi State government has made visible efforts in road construction and flyover projects. These projects have improved urban movement and aesthetics. However, development experts consistently warn against placing infrastructure above human needs. Roads should serve people; people should not be sacrificed for roads. At this moment in Bauchi’s history, education, health, employment, and welfare demand greater urgency.

    This is not a rejection of recognition or an attack on leadership. Rather, it is a call for honest reflection. Awards should align with measurable improvements in citizens’ lives. When recognition comes before widespread impact, it risks losing meaning.

    True good governance is not proven in Abuja halls or award plaques. It is proven in functional classrooms, well-equipped hospitals, paid workers, empowered youths, and communities that feel seen and valued.

    Bauchi State has the potential to rise. But that rise must be built on people, not just projects. Until then, the conversation about good governance must remain open, critical, and people-focused.

    •Yasir Shehu Adam (Dan Liman),

    Bauchi.

  • Bauchi gov commends INEC for prompt exercise

    Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, has cast his vote at his polling unit in Duremi Jahun, Bauchi Local Government Area, lauding the Independent National Electoral commission, INEC, for prompt commencement of voting activities as early as 8:00am.

    The governor, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, arrived Gindi Durimi polling unit 078, alongside his two wives, Hajiya Adiza Abubakar and Hadiza Aisha Abubakar, by at 9:55 a.m. to cast his ballots.

    Abubakar, who came almost  two hours late, said he was surprised that voting commenced so early,  compared to the last presidential and national assembly elections, where voting was delayed. He added that he was pleased with the large turn-out of voters.

    He further told newsmen that he was ready to accept the outcome of the gubernatorial election, provided it was free and fair.

    The Presiding Officer at the unit, Mukail Salisu, told The Nation correspondent that there were no hitches of card reader failure or shortage of materials as at 10am.

    He said in the three voting points at the polling unit, over 1000 voters turned out en masse to vote for the candidate of their choice.

  • 2019: Defections won’t affect APC, Says Bauchi Governor

    The Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar on Wednesday said that the series of defections from the All Progressives Congress (APC) would not affect the fortune of the ruling party in the 2019 election.

    Among the recent defections were two Senators from Bauchi State, including Senators Sulaiman Mohammed Nazif and Isa Misau that defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Abubakar, spoke with State House correspondents after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He explained that the result recorded during the election in the congresses conducted in the various states was an indication that the APC would not suffer defeat in the forthcoming general election.

    He said “I don’t want to boast but you know election is local, some people want to come to Abuja and play to the gallery, I am talking about the defectors. My answer is the congresses in Bauchi state along with other states in the APC and in many states that parallel congresses were conducted, because some members of the party were in opposition to the governors who were strong enough this parallel congresses, in Bauchi state, there was no single parallel congress that was conducted.

    “Secondly the August 11 election took place, the APC won resoundingly. Let me tell you that all of those people who decamped including these two senators rallied round and spent a lot of money in order to defeat the APC in the election but the results like I said is out in the public and we have won resoundingly, so I am sure the result of 2919 elections are not going to be any different”, he added.

    Abubakar also said that he was in the Villa to brief the President on the recent senatorial by-election conducted in his state.

    He said, “This is the first opportunity I have had since the election of 11th August to brief Mr. President because when the election took place, the President was away on short leave abroad and I just came in today to brief him adequately about what transpired in Bauchi.

    “The results are out in the public and the APC won resoundingly in the election and I have told him that we have learnt a lot of lessons from the the election. For example, close to 200,000 votes were cancelled. This is an eye opener for us that we have to work very very hard and train agents very well to be able to safeguard this kind of situation” Abubakar said.

  • Nude photos: Abubakar debunks lawmaker’s allegation

    Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar has dismissed a claim by a member of the state House of Assembly, Maryam Begal that he intends to blackmail her by exposing her nude photographs.

    Begal, who contested the Bauchi South District Senatorial bye-election, allegedly claimed that Abubakar was behind those intent on “humiliating” her by portraying her as “immoral”.

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    She allegedly claimed that the governor’s agents were in possession of her nude photographs which were superimposed onto other pornographic images.

    Begal was said to have claimed that an envelope filled with copies of the photo-shopped nude pictures was delivered to her, followed by a phone call and warning to “desist” from being “antagonistic” to the Abubakar administration else the images would be made public.

    But, the governor, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Ali M. Ali, described Begal’s allegations “fantastic claims”.

    It reads: “We found this amusing. At no point did Bagel constitute a ‘threat’ or even a ‘nuisance’ to the government of MA Abubakar to the extent that it will resort to this reprehensible measure.

    “The governor has a cast iron reputation of moral uprightness. His moral credentials are beyond reproach.  It is, therefore, inconceivable that he will encourage let alone sponsor such desperate measure.

    “He has repeatedly and publicly stated that he bears no ill-will or malice against anyone especially antagonistic elements. The upliftment   and progress of Bauchi State is his main focus.

    “The frolics of a desperate attention seeker will not distract him from his grim determination to change the depressing narrative of our state. The governor is currently on hajj and is praying for the development of the state and nation in general.

    “We strongly suspect that Bagel is resorting to this hallucinatory measure to deal with her electoral humiliation in the recent Senatorial bye-election in Bauchi South District. She is looking for a fall guy.

    “The media should be weary of sensational claims of desperate politicians as we approach elections.”

     

  • 1m Nigerian children die yearly of lack of water – USAID

    1m Nigerian children die yearly of lack of water – USAID

    • 57m Nigerians lack access to potable water

    United State Agency for International Development (USAID), has said that over 57 million Nigerians have no access to potable water in the country.

    This was also as it said that, one million Nigerian children die yearly for lack of potable drinking water.

    USAID Mission Director, Stephen M. Haykin stated these in Kaduna on Thursday at the occasion of official launch of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).

    To this end, he said the USAID is supporting the WASH programme with 2.5 million Dollars to enable Nigerians have access to potable drinking water.

    According to him, “Having a clean water and sanitation is very essential for the development of a healthy society”.

    “Research has shown that, over 57 million of the Nigerian population don’t have access to potable water and sadly, about one million Nigerian children die yearly for lack of potable drinking water,” he said.

    Earlier, WASH project Coordinator, Timeyin Uwejamomere, said the project is expected to last for two years, ending in November 2018, adding that it will primarily target urban areas and focus the States of  Bauchi and Kaduna.

    He said this was because the respective State government have demonstrated firm commitment to the water sector.

    He said, “This is why we established a country office in the city of Kaduna, and last month a satellite office was opened in Bauchi.

    “The programme will strengthen institutions as well as research and knowledge management to support urban water, sanitation and hygiene”.

    In his speech to the occasion, Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-rufai who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Malam Bashir Saidu said when Zaria water work is completed, it will provide 150 million litres of water for the populace.

    Also, the Bauchi State governor, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar regretted that the influx of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the State has increased the demand for water supply at the expense of original supply.

    He therefore pledged the commitment and political will of his government to ensure the success of the project.