Since its creation 23 years ago by Ibrahim Babangida administration, Jigawa State has, no doubt, recorded some tangible achievements in its quest for development.
On August 27, this year, Governor Sule Lamido and the people rolled out the drums to celebrate its creation. This has been the tradition of the Lamido administration since he assumed office as Governor over seven years ago.
In attendance were people from the academia, the private and public sectors, past leaders at the state and national levels, ex-governors and many others, including the traditional rulers.
Visitors to the state, especially Dutse, the state capital, will always see something new in terms of development projects.
Lamido’s efforts to transform Jigawa into a modern state did not start when he assumed office as governor. He had been making efforts towards developing the area even before the state was created and has remained in the forefront of the quest for transformation.
With an uncommon steadfastness, courage and wisdom, Lamido turned around the fortunes of Jigawa State, together with those of the people. Developmental projects are evenly distributed across the 27 local government areas. Even his critics praise him for the equitable distribution of projects for the development of all the nook and cranny of the state. It was an issue his predecessor, Saminu Ibrahim Turaki wanted to address when he distributed ministries, parastatals and agencies of government in the state across the five emirate councils; though the action did not produce the desired results.
Lamido’s critics had argued that Jigawa State being a rural state with 80 per cent crude farmers, emphasis should be on development enterprises that are capable of addressing the poverty level of the people. They also maintained that Dutse, the state capital, is not in need of an airport, or any gigantic edifice such as the Deputy Governor’s Office, State High Court, Human Resources Development Centre, the NYSC Orientation Camp and the Jigawa State Television, let alone Jigawa State University at Kefin-Hausa, among other facilities.
However, when critics realised that Lamido remained undaunted, they accused him of spending much of the state’s lean resources on quality projects which the rural dwellers may not appreciate.
In the past seven years, Lamido has brought to Dutse, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, the late Chief Solomon Lar, Atiku Abubakar, Jerry Gana and many others to inaugurate one project or the other.
From what one may consider a pariah state, Lamido has cautiously brought Jigawa and its rural people to limelight. Last year, former President Olusegun Obasanjo had declared that “Lamido can do the job”, a statement that was interpreted to mean the former President endorsing him as the next presidential candidate. Lamido believes that physical infrastructure help in enhancing the well-being of the people.
This explains his administration’s concentration on road construction and rehabilitation across the state, providing adequate education and health infrastructure, encouraging the rural farmers with incentives and award of scholarships to students.
As if those are not enough, workers are also highly motivated. Sources told our correspondent that Lamido wants to justify the consensus of opinion that his long years of experience in politics and personal qualities are helping him significantly to rebuild the state.
The governor has always emphasised that his administration would complete all ongoing projects. The governor argued that since the constitution spells out the terms and duration of any government, he is constitutionally bound to spend the monies accruing to the state on specific projects that would impact positively on the lives of the people. He was quoted to have advised whoever may take over from him on May 29, next year to be prepared to generate revenue to fund development projects he may embark on.
Investigations revealed that in its first four years, the Lamido-led administration constructed 1, 061 classrooms across the state and purchased 62,981 pieces of classroom furniture.
In 2011, he was quoted to have said: “Out of the total number of 779 dilapidated schools we inherited in 2007, we have renovated and restored 648 to full standard and equipped most of their laboratories to the standard prescribed by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). Another 19 new junior secondary schools were also established in addition to two new primary schools.”
Since 2011, the Lamido administration has established a number of rewarding infrastructure that touch the lives of the people.
For instance, he built the Jigawa State University at Kefin-Hausa and an International Airport in Dutse. Among the infrastructure being undertaken by the Lamido administration are the legislative quarters, the Abubakar Rimi Housing Estate, the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Birni-Kudu, the Jigawa State School for Gifted Children Bamaina and the ultra-modern office complex and official residence of the Deputy Governor, among others. Roads networks and street lighting have become a common place in the state, especially in Dutse, Hadejia, Kazaure, Ringim and Gumel.
While celebrating its 23 years of existence, Lamido said there was the need to consolidate on the gains the state has recorded in the last seven years of his administration and in the last 23 years since the state was created.
He insisted that for that consolidation to be a reality, someone who would not fly Jigawa flag at half-mast would succeed him as governor.
Malam Ibrahim Aliyu, a primary school teacher in Dutse, told our correspondent that Lamido should not look for loyalty alone in the choice of his successor; rather, he should go for competence, hard work and the kind of single-mindedness he himself had exhibited in the past seven years.
Aliyu regretted that someone like Lamido would be quite difficult to find, considering his passion for the less-privileged. He, however, said the people should pray for the governor in making the right decision.
A Jigawa State-based journalist and former Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel, NUJ Abdullahi Ishaku Shugaba said Lamido should ensure that his legacies of social, economic and political developments are sustained. He said the governor should go for a level-headed, God-fearing and humble politician to continue the good work.
Shugaba, who is also the state Editor of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said: “Lamido became governor at a period Jigawa was in a shambles. The state civil servants were living in Kano, their morale was low, there were no accommodation for them and most times salaries were delayed. Lamido not only transformed the state beyond the expectations of the people, but also united all the segments in a manner that service delivery yielded quick results.”
He praised Lamido for bringing back all the ministries to Dutse at the beginning of his administration.
His words: “Lamido really tried his best for the people of Jigawa State. He transformed the state from the status of being the poorest in the country to being the most-visited in recent times because of the development of infrastructure. Dutse, the state capital, is now a beauty to behold because of Lamido’s hard work. This is a place that was lost in the map of Nigeria before Lamido became the governor.”
