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  • Start preparing handover note, APC advises Yuguda

    Start preparing handover note, APC advises Yuguda

    Ahead of the governorship election in Bauchi State, Governor Isa Yuguda of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  has been asked to start preparing his handover note.

    Yuguda has also been charged to perish his senatorial ambition in the Bauchi South District and go back to his farm as he promised.

    APC chieftain Alhaji Adamu Lar gave the advice at a press conference. He said: ”Yuguda cannot win any election in the state again. Yuguda should get ready to hand over to the APC governorship candidate, Mohammed Abubakar, who is stooped to conquer the PDP governorship candidate, Hon. Auwal Jatau come February 28, 2015”.

    Yuguda, a former Managing Director of Merchant Bank, Minister of State for Works and Transport, Aviation  Minister is, vying for the Senate against a retired Controller of Customs, Malam Ali aWakili.

    Lar,who is also the Bauchi South Vice Chairman of the APC, said: “My advice to Yuguda is based on the truth that he has damaged and ravaged the state economy so very irresponsibly,and does not deserve any office in the state anymore”.

    “Besides, the governor has for the whole of his second tenure refused to democratically conduct local government election and by so doing he has deprived the people of development and due representation at grassroots level”, Lar stated.

  • PDP members stoned Jonathan’s campaign convoy, says Yuguda

    PDP members stoned Jonathan’s campaign convoy, says Yuguda

    •Fani-Kayode: it’s not true

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation and the Bauchi State Governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, have disagreed on the identities of those who pelted President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign team in Bauchi and Katsina last week.

    While Yuguda, who was elected on the platform of the PDP, insisted that the hoodlums that pelted the president’s team in Bauchi were recruited by Abuja-based PDP politicians, the Jonathan’s campaign organisation blamed the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) for the attack.

    Speaking on a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa programme yesterday, Yuguda said: “I am sure and I want to let the world know that the people who did this thing were PDP members and those politicians in Abuja were the ones behind it. They were not APC members.

    “They found these youths on the road and gave them brooms and they instructed them that when the President was passing, they should raise the brooms and pelt them at him.

    “They did that so that the president would think that Isa Yuguda is against him. They have been telling him in Abuja that we are not supporting him. They did that to show the president that Isa Yuguda is nothing in Bauchi and to show that despite being an indigene of Bauchi, Isa Yuguda could not be respected with his guests in Bauchi.

    “We were not aware of the plan ahead of the rally. They took us by surprise. Did you ever hear of such a disgrace to any guest in Bauchi, let alone the President?”

    The governor’s position corroborated the statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, that the stone-pelting hoodlums were recruited by certain PDP chieftains, as a decoy to blame the opposition for the dastardly act.

    But the Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP campaign organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, disagreed, insisting that the action was carried out by supporters of the APC.

    He described the statements by the governor and the APC spokesman as “lies, ridiculous and unbelievable”, adding that the claims were “absurd, reckless and asinine.”

    Fani-Kayode said: “Does it make any sense for the PDP to hire thugs to chant ‘’sai Buhari’’, to waive brooms in the air and to physically attack their own candidate’s convoy?  Does it make any sense for them to throw rocks at their own presidential candidate and injure his bodyguards?

    “Honestly, it is clear to all those with discerning minds that the APC have lost touch with reality. They have been blinded by their hate, deceit and their sheer desperation for power.

    “The truth is that they are the ones that have an inbred culture of violence and intolerance, and that encourage brutal and barbaric behaviour and not the PDP.

    “The PDP values peace, tolerance, a plurality of views, differing opinions and the sanctity of life; but the APC do not.”

    He warned the APC and its presidential candidate to be ready for what he described as “grave and far-reaching consequences,” if anything untoward should happen to Jonathan during the course of his campaign.

    According to him, “All hell will break loose. The stoning, attacks, violence and intimidation have to stop and the safety and security of our presidential candidate, our supporters and our members must be guaranteed, if we wish to avoid being propelled into a vicious and reciprocal cycle of violence, turmoil, destruction and catastrophe in this country”.

  • Start preparing handover note, APC advises Yuguda

    Start preparing handover note, APC advises Yuguda

    Ahead of the governorship election in Bauchi State, Governor Isa Yuguda of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  has been asked to start preparing his handover note.

    Yuguda has also been charged to perish senatorial ambition in the Bauchi South District and go back to his farm as he promised.

    An APC chieftain Alhaji Adamu Lar gave the advice at a press conference. He said: ”Yuguda cannot win any election in the state again”.

    Lar said Yuguda “Get ready to hand over to the APC governorship candidate, Mohammed Abubakar, who is stooped to conquer the PDP governorship candidate Hon. Auwal Jatau come February 28,2015”.

    Yuguda, a former Managing Director of Merchant Bank, Minister of State for Works and Transport, Aviation  Minister is, vying for the Senate against a retired Controller of Customs, Malam Ali aWakili.

    Lar,who is also the Bauchi South Vice Chairman of the APC, said: “My advice to Yuguda is based on the truth that he has damaged and ravaged the state economy so very irresponsibly,and does not deserve any office in the state anymore”.

    “Besides, the governor has for the whole of his second tenure refused to democratically conduct local government election and by so doing he has deprived the people of development and due representation at grassroots level”, Lar stated.

  • Akpabio, Yuguda, other PDP governors in secret meeting with Obasanjo

    Akpabio, Yuguda, other PDP governors in secret meeting with Obasanjo

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors on Thursday afternoon stormed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s residence, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, in over a dozen vehicle convoy.

    The governors, who arrived Obasanjo’s mansion on Presidential Hill -Top Estate at exactly 12:40pm, quickly went into secret meeting with their host who had been waiting for them.

    Although the names of the governors on the visit or their numbers could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report, it was discovered that the Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio, is in the entourage by virtues of the number plates seen on the governor’s escort vehicles. The vehicles bear the state’s marks.

    Other governors believed on the trip to the former president’s home are that of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke and his Bauchi State counterpart, Isa Yuguda.

    Our correspondent gathered that Niger State governor, Babangida Aliu, is also at  the meeting.

    The purpose of the meeting, according to sources close to the governors may not be unconnected with the frosty relation between Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The meeting is still ongoing.

  • Yuguda celebrates Sallah with kinsmen

    Yuguda celebrates Sallah with kinsmen

    Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda celebrated Eid-el-Kabir with his kinsmen in Yuguda for the first time decades after his parents left the quiet farming community.

    The village is 25 minutes drive from Bauchi, the state capital, and four minutes drive from Tudun-Gambo Junction, off the Yankari Games Reserve road in Alkaleri Local Government Area.

    It is located on a flat fertile farming land good for rearing domestic animals and producing cereals. The village has a population of about 2,000, including petty traders.

    Besides a newly built Cottage Hospital, with state-of-the-art medical facilities and a Doctors’ Quarters, which has not been inaugurated, Yuguda has a primary school and a few hand-pump boreholes.

    The governor, dressed in white babariga, was accompanied to the village by his immediate family, some security operatives and drivers.

    He gave “Sallah kolanut” to his guests, among who were nomadic Fulani, who were seeing him for the first time.

    Addressing his kinsmen in fluent Fufulde (Fulani language), Yuguda, who has barely seven months to complete his eight-year tenure, said his administration was committed to developing rural areas and giving every resident a sense of belonging.

    He said: “If rural areas develop, the economic potential of rural people will be greatly enhanced. Urban migration will be minimal and life expectancy of the people will increase.”

    The governor promised to link Yuguda to Juwara, Kundak, Bununu and Bauchi by road, adding: “The remaining part of my tenure will be used to empower the people and provide social facilities for you as part of your social rights, for it is your right to enjoy the dividends of democracy, having voted for people of your choice. My administration will do its best to make life better for you, so that you too will feel the positive impact of democracy.”

    Yuguda urged them to remain peace loving and accommodate visitors.

    Two rams were slaughtered after the Raka’at prayers, led by the village’s Chief Imam, Mallam Ahmadu Shehu.

    Shehu urged the people to be tolerant, forgiving, prayerful and show love to one another.

    Yuguda inspected the Cottage Hospital and treated the villagers to a sumptuous meal.

    The Village Head, Mallam Hamza Musa, thanked the governor for celebrating with them, saying: “We will tell the story to even our unborn children.”

    Musa said Yuguda’s actions showed that he was humble.

  • Obi, Usman, Yuguda win awards at summit

    Obi, Usman, Yuguda win awards at summit

    The two-day Presidential Summit at the Transcorps Nicon Hotel, Abuja, on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), ended yesterday with former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi winning the star prize tagged: “The Award for Mainstreaming the MDGs into Anambra State Development Agenda, 2006-2014”.

    Others who won awards are the Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Usman Dakingari and that of Bauchi State, Mallam Isa Yuguda, for Outstanding Performance on the Implementation of the MDGs.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on the MDGs, Dr. Precious Gbeneol, said the winners were chosen by an independent panel, which looked at the performance of the states  in all the  indices for measurement.

    He urged other states and governors to emulate the award-winning ones in their commitment to the MDGs, their states and their people.

    On the award to Obi, Geneol said although he is no longer the governor, his commitment to the MDGs was unparalleled and complete.

    She said under him, Anambra State partnered development partners, such as UNICEF, the World Bank, UNDP, the European Union much as it did with her office to achieve a lot for the state.

    Obi hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for his commitment to the MDGs and Dr. Gbeneol for seeing that the vision of Mr. President on MDGs was pursued with vigour and commitment.

    The Minister of Planning, Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman, reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to projects and partnerships that would contribute to the success of the Transformation Agenda.

  • 2015: Uncertainty in Bauchi over Yuguda’s successor

    2015: Uncertainty in Bauchi over Yuguda’s successor

    Governor Isa Yuguda’s refusal to make public his choice of a successor in 2015 has further complicated the Bauchi State’s politics, reports Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan

    The decision of the Bauchi State governor, Isa Yuguda, to remain quiet over his successor as he completes his second term in 2015, has created serious uncertainty over the political future of the northeastern state.

    The governor’s silence, amidst insinuations that he may have plans to install an ally of his in office come 2015 has led to a situation where many of those being rumoured to be interested in governing the state are finding it difficult to openly declare their ambitions.

    And with unending underground moves, both within and outside the ruling PDP, aimed at determining who rules the state after Yuguda, the inability of the political class in the state to read the mind of the governor over his choice of a successor, is adding to the political tension that is daily enveloping the state.

    Recently, the state was agog with the rumour that the governor may have settled for Ahmed Ibrahim Dandija, the current Secretary to the State Government (SSG), as his anointed successor.

    The SSG from Misau Local Government Area of Bauchi Central Senatorial District, who is perceived as Yuguda’s most dependable associate in many quarters, has been in office since Yuguda’s emergence as governor in 2007.

    To add fillip to the rumour, Dandija is not hiding his desire to succeed his boss. Close associates of the SSG say he has declared his governorship ambition to his supporters and political allies, seeking their support to help him prevail on the governor to endorse him.

    But contrary to insinuations that the governor may have secretly endorsed a particular person for the job, the governor seems to be finding it difficult to make up his mind over who to support among his array of allies and political associates. Sources close to him say he is under immense pressure from many quarters over the issue.

    “What many people seem not to know is that the governor is under severe pressure over who will take over from him. There are many issues to consider in this matter. While some of us want him to be concerned about the good works he has done in the last eight years when making that choice, there are those who daily remind him of the zoning issue. There are associates and allies who want him to remember past political alliances.

    “In all these, I can tell you that the governor is yet to endorse anybody. He is studying the situation critically with a view to determining what is best for the state. Those saying he has endorsed them are merely flying political kites. The governor, though willing to ensure that Bauchi gets the best, is not a dictator. He will allow due process to be followed in arriving at that decision,” an associate of the governor told The Nation.

    Another source revealed that the governor is currently busy, working at resolving some of the crucial issues threatening the political equations within the state.

    “With issues like zoning of political offices currently threatening to tear the state apart, the governor is not endorsing any candidate yet. I can tell you that his pre-occupation currently is how to resolve the nutty issue of zoning. Until there is an agreement on that issue, the governor cannot throw his weight behind any of the aspirants.

    “You must also understand that all the aspirants currently jostling for the job, especially within the ruling party, are allies and associates of the governor. Consequently, there is need for him to tread softly and seek popular opinions before deciding who to support.

    “He is cautious enough to learn from what happened to his predecessor, who supported an unpopular candidate and gave room for Yuguda to win even on the platform of an unpopular political party. It is not just enough for people to say the governor has endorsed them,” our source said.

    With politicians from both the ruling party and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) scheming to succeed Yuguda, the cloud of uncertainty that now hangs over the politics of the state can only get darker as there are no inkling of which way the 2015 gubernatorial contest is likely to go.

    As the election draws nearer, all the three senatorial zones in the state are clamouring to produce the next governor. These have led to unending arguments and counter arguments between the agitators, creating a situation where the next gubernatorial contest appears to be between the zones and not political parties.

    While the people of Bauchi South have produced the state governors from 1999 to date, namely former Governor Adamu Muazu and current governor Isa Yuguda, Tatari Ali who ruled in 1979 came From Bauchi North. This forms the bases for the agitation of the central zone that it should be allowed to produce the next governor of the state.

    But gladiators from the southern and northern zones are quick to put a lie to the demand, saying all the three zones have had chances to govern the state. To this school of thought, the 2015 contest should be left open for aspirants from all the three zones to slug it out.

    Adamu Tatari is a chieftain of the ruling party and a leading campaigner from one of the aspirants from the southern zone. According to the politician, it is wrong for the central zone to say it has never produced a governor for the state.

    “Dahiru Deba from Old Bauchi Central, now Gombe State, was governor in 1983 in the old Bauchi State. He was elected as governor when Gombe was still part of Bauchi Central. This fact must not be swept under the carpet. This is why we are saying all the zones have had their fair share and it is time to start all over again,” he said.

    The inability of the gladiators to reach an agreement on how the zoning issue should be approached has given rise to a scenario where all the three zones are currently fielding aspirants who are viewed as serious contenders for Yuguda’s job.

    In spite of producing both the incumbent governor and his predecessor, Bauchi South is currently parading aspirants that include the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed; Dr. Ibrahim Yakubu Lame, a former Minister of Police Affairs; Senator Abubakar Maikafi and Mallam Ali Wakili.

    From Bauchi North are Senator Babayo Garba Gamawa; Alhaji Muhammadu Garba Gadi; Alhaji Baba Tela; Alhaji Yayale Ahmed,;Dr Musa Babayo; Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; Senator Nazif Muhammad Gamawa; Engineer Sadiq Mahmud and Engineer Nuhu Gidado.

    Bauchi Central Senatorial District has in the race: Alhaji Ibrahim Makama; Deputy Senate Leader, Abdul Ningi (PDP); Barrister Dandija and Alhaji Nadada Umar, amongst others.

    Offering what analysts say may be the mindset of the ruling party in the state, a state official of the PDP in Bauchi State, Alhaji Bashir Bukar Rimin Zayam, said it is wrong to zone the position to one zone. According to him, the party must avoid repeating the mistake made by former Governor Mu’azu in 2007.

    “Although we have not started talking about 2015, the best interest of democracy is to allow whoever is eligible to contest from any zone because Tatari Ali, who ruled in 1979, came from Bauchi North and ruled under the then NPN. After him, Dahiru Deba from Old Bauchi Central, now Gombe State, was governor in 1983 in the old Bauchi State. Mu’azu and Yuguda are from the south,” he said to further compound the many uncertainties about 2015 in the state.

    While the inability of the governor to make up his mind about who succeeds him and other issues within the ruling party are directly or indirectly responsible for the cloudy nature of politics in the state ahead of the 2015 general election, political analysts are also of the opinion that the emergence of the APC as a formidable opposition party is another factor currently heating up the political landscape of Bauchi State.

    “The coming of the APC has provided an alternative platform for aggrieved members of the PDP who will not mind rocking the boat to scuttle the chances of the ruling party come 2015. Bauchi is no longer a one-party state and this will be proved for all to see in 2015.

    Now the people have choices. They are going to have alternatives and options to choose from. It is not just about what the governor or his party wants. It is going to be about what the people want. That is what the APC has done by coming to Bauchi,” a chieftain of the opposition party said.

    And with the APC daily gaining new grounds and winning converts in the northeastern state, the opposition party is becoming very popular especially with the masses at the grassroots and pressure to alter all known and unknown political calculations ahead of the general election in 2015.

    Already, chieftains of the opposition party are vowing that the APC has what it takes to dislodge the ruling PDP during the next election. According to Nasiru Ibrahim Darazo, spokesperson of the party in Bauchi State, whatever is the calculation within the PDP, the party will not win the election in 2015 because the party has failed the people.

    “PDP has failed to address the problems of insecurity, poverty, water, electricity, infrastructure, unemployment during its 16-year rule. So, Bauchi people need positive change in 2015,” Darazo said.

  • Yuguda blasts ACF, Afenifere, Ohanaeze

    Yuguda blasts ACF, Afenifere, Ohanaeze

    . . . Alleges divisive comments by groups on confab, 2015 poll

    Bauchi State Governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, has taken a swipe at the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), the Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other ethnic nationality groups in the country for what he described as their divisive tendencies.

    Yuguda accused the regional socio-cultural cum political interest groups of fanning the embers of disunity among the Nigerian people with their inflammatory statements about the polity and the nation’s leaders.

    The governor is particular miffed by the apparently combative posture of the groups on the upcoming National Conference and their parochial views on the Presidency in the run up to the 2015 general elections.

    Speaking with reporters in Bauchi at the weekend, Governor Yuguda cautioned the groups against setting the stage for political violence that could arise from their unguarded utterances.

    He said, “Some of these people who are old men of about 90 years appear to have lost focus. They are busy abusing one another and abusing leaders from different sections of the country.

    “Most of them were privileged individuals during their prime, but they have now turned around sowing divisions among the various groups in the country. It is high time they stopped instigating the peace loving people of the country against one another.”

    The governor called on the youth population to shun the divisive tendencies of the groups and challenged them to work towards bridging the gaping developmental gap in all facets of the economy.

    The youths, he said, must strive hard to harness the nation’s abundant human and material resources and to forge unity among the diverse groups for the progress of the country.

    Yuguda blamed what he termed the mercantile approach to power by some members of the political class, saying their actions were responsible for some of the woes besetting the country.

    According to him, “these politicians are busy competing for power just for the oil money. They see politics as an enterprise, with the sole purpose of making profit.

    “Instead of focusing on how best to serve their people and develop the economy, they see political power as a means of making money for their children, their grandchildren and their generation unborn.

    “It is high time they changed their perception if we want our country to grow and the media have a vital role to play in this self discovery campaign.”

     

  • Yuguda is Obasayero of Oyo Empire

    Yuguda is Obasayero of Oyo Empire

    Whatever yardstick one uses to assess Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, the conclusion is that he is a man whose consistency in anything he does produces remarkable results. While many achieve greatness through inheritance, Yuguda’s achievements in life are a product of sound vision, hard-work, dedication, and above all, the fear of God.

    In appreciation of these sterling qualities, Bauchi State was literarily grounded last Saturday, as the cross-section of residents and indigenes stormed the ancient town of Oyo to witness the historic conferment of a chieftaincy title on the governor by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi. Yuguda was installed as Obasayero of Oyo Empire. His four wives were also installed with chieftaincy titles as well.

    The chieftaincy title covers not only all Yoruba speaking States in the country, but extends to other countries such as Benin Republic, which form part of the old Oyo Empire.

    Among eminent personalities that attended the event were the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, his wife, Florence, former Governor of the State, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, Speaker, State House of Assembly, Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Akin Olujinmi,   as well as traditional rulers from Oyo and Osun States. The Sultan of Sokoto, Emirs of Kano, Lafia, and  Katsina  were ably represented at the occasion.

    The Alaafin said that the Obasayero (the upholder of the world) of Oyo Empire is number seven on the principal list of traditional chieftaincy titles in Oyo Empire, noting that it is a very significant title. At page 61 in the classical book-The History of The Yoruba written by Reverend Samuel Johnson, first published in 1911, the roles of Obasayero was further enunciated.

    He added that the last holder of the title was the Late Chief Babashola Rhodes SAN, an eminent Lagos lawyer, adding that the last chieftaincy title he conferred was in 2008, when Aare Afe Babalola was conferred with Aare Bamofin of Yoruba land, which buttresses the fact that Alaafin rarely confers chieftaincy titles and whenever he does, it is only to somebody that justifiably merits the position.

    The paramount ruler observed that with all certainty, Governor Isa Yuguda is a complete re-incarnation of his forebear, the late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.

    “Like Balewa that was also popularly known as ‘Balewa the good’ and the man with the golden voice coupled with his performances that were outstandingly brilliant  to the extent that the British press described him as disarmingly patient and reasonable. The striking resemblance with the late Prime Minister gives  me every confidence  to believe that Mallam Isa Yuguda will continue to ascend higher heights and live to old age insha Allah,” he said.

    Continuing, he added: “Yuguda is today being admitted into the pantheon of Yoruba political mystery on personal merit and recognition of what he represents as the Executive Governor of Bauchi State in Northern Nigeria. The historical linkages between Yorubaland and Hausa/Fulani land are multi-dimensional and inter-penetrating. Bauchi especially, occupies a special place in the sense that a good number of Yoruba people have made it their home. Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Prime Minister of Nigeria better known also as the Right Honourable Gentleman and whose political mantle, has fallen on Alhaji Isa Yuguda, re-defined relationship between Bauchi and Yorubaland.

    “His personal physician and confidant was Dr. Moses Olukoye Majekodunmi, and his trusted friend and confidant was Sir. Adetokunbo Ademola, the son of Oba Ademola, the Alake of Egbaland who mentored me. I lived with him in the Royal Palace at Ake, Abeokuta at a tender age and was also with him on exile to Osogbo, after the Egba Women Riot of 1948. What we are doing today is a confirmation of our kindred spirit and age-old diplomatic relationship between us.’’

    Describing the conferment of traditional chieftaincy title on Yuguda as a reflection of a beautiful handshake across the Niger, Alaafin  noted that it is his pleasure on behalf of the people of Oyo Empire ‘to honour a truly self-made man, a patriot, a tireless and hardworking man, a statesman, a courageous and dedicated man, a philanthropic accomplished at home and abroad, a caring and kind  leader known for his candour and high intellect, with the prestigious title of Obasayero of Oyo Empire and his amiable and adorable wives as Hajiya Aisha Yuguda (Yeyeloyin Obasayero), Hajiya Mariam Yuguda (Yeyeniwura Obasayero), Hajiya Abiodun Hauwa Yuguda (Yeye Obasayero), and Hajiya Nafisat Yuguda (Yeyedunni Obasayero) .’’

    Responding, Yuguda said that as a government ‘we are of the view that Nigeria must continue to survive as a united, sovereign, indivisible nation living in peace and economic prosperity. As a practical demonstration of this stand, our government has abolished contract appointment for Nigerians from other states. All Nigerians irrespective of their states of origin are now given permanent appointment in Bauchi State. Furthermore, we have offered political appointments ranging from Personal Assistants to Advisers to fifty Nigerians from other states across the country.’

    While appreciating the roles of traditional rulers not only as custodians of culture and tradition, but also in the maintenance of law and order especially at the grassroots, Yuguda hinted that the state government has been providing traditional rulers in the state the necessary support to perform their duties effectively.

    He said government has created additional districts and village areas to ensure effective coverage of the State by traditional administration. “As a holder of your (Alaafin) traditional title, I want to assure you of my unalloyed loyalty and cooperation. I would always strive to give you constructive and honest advice whenever the need arises. May God continues to give your Imperial Majesty good health, more wisdom and long life on the throne of your fore-fathers to continue to lead your people with sense of justice, fairness and courage,’’ he assured.

  • Yuguda gets Oyo title

    Yuguda gets Oyo title

    The Alaafin of Oyo does not confer chieftaincy titles on people for the fun of it. He selects only those deserving of the honour because as the Alaafin everything he does generates interest. Not only that, people also tend to read meaning to his actions. So, the Alaafin exercises caution before bestowing honour on people.

    By virture of the 1914 grading of Chiefs in Oyo Province titled: Oyo Prof 6/1 file No. C 924/914, the Alaafin is accorded a pride of place. The memo dated December 11, 1914, notes: “The Alaafin is far and away senior to all and was and is more powerful”. But the memo does not make the Alaafin the sole monarch in Yourbaland. Whatever the Alaafin does, he does with the power conferred on him by law.

    It instructive to note that despite this power, the Alaafin from history and especially the incumbent, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has been circumspect in the use of such power. For instance, unlike some of his brother Obas, Oyo tradition does not allow the Alaafin to create flamboyant titles such as listed in Reverend Samuel Johnson’s book on Yoruba history. Besides, few attributes have to be noted in such prospective awardees. This is best illustrated by the comment of the notable Yoruba scholar of History and International Relations, Prof Jide Osuntokun in the defunct Daily Comet of November 6, 2003. Thus, “The Alaafin does not look at your wealth before he honours you and all Oyo titles have old pedigree, there are no such frivolous titles there. Oyo Alaafin remains the repositioning of political decorum and sagacity in Nigeria”. It is on this premise that the choice of Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda for a chieftaincy title be viewed. Although, he is a second term governor, this could not have been the sole reason for his appointment for the prestigious title of Obasayero of Oyo Empire.

    The first attraction can be traced to his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) days in Oyo in 1980 where he first had the opportunity of meeting Oba Adeyemi in his full regalia in one of his public appearances at that time.

    That Yuguda is a man of challenges can be seen in his tenure as the MD/CEO of the defunct Nal Merchant Bank during which he initiated several reforms which changed the bank’s fortunes. It is also of special note that Yuguda had the singular honour of being elevated from Minister of State for Transport to a substantive Minister in charge of Aviation under for President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2005.

    As Minister of Aviation, he saw to such infrastructural reforms and changes like the Student-pilot training at the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology in Zaria, Kaduna State. He also saw to the resurfacing of the runway at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, as well as the construction and commissioning of a new lounge at the park, among other innovations.

    Some of the reforms he initiated as governor included prioritisation of human capital development in governance. This is in the area of education. In the health sector, he ensured that Bauchi has a teaching hospital, with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University running a medical college in addition to eight new general hospitals in the state.