Tag: Yuguda
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I’ve not anointed a successor, says Yuguda
Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda has debunked claims that he has anointed his successor.
Yuguda said such claims were rumours and a figment of the peddlers’ imagination.
He said: “It is only God who knows tomorrow and He’ll ordain the next governor when the time comes.
“Yes, as a human being I must have interest in who comes after me but it is only God who can choose for us.
“God will give us the right person, who will continue with the good work we have started for Bauchi people. Someone who will make the people his priority; make life better for them, even better than what we have done.”
The governor said his government completed a few projects started by the previous administration because such projects were good and have a positive impact on the people.
Yuguda said the people would determine who will be the next governor.
He said: “Whatever happens, we should know that it is only God who gives power to whomever He wishes and takes it away from whoever He wishes”.
The governor appealed to the electorate to continue to support his government as it strives to make life meaningful for them.
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Alaafin to honour Yuguda
THE Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, will in the month of November, honour the Governor of Bauchi State, Mallam Isa Yuguda, with a chieftaincy title of Obasayero of Oyo Empire.
The Royal Ambassador to the Alaafin, Aare Ayandotun Ayanlakin, disclosed this in a media chat in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Giving the rationale for Alaafin’s decision to honour the governor, Ayanlakin said it was based on the passionate love for the culture and tradition of Yorubaland and the pleasantness displayed towards Yoruba indigenes by the governor that earned him the honour.
He added, “The Alaafin of Oyo has found in Governor Yuguda a burning passion for the continued vibrancy of the Youruba culture, which he admires so much and has through deeds and acts embraced and espoused.
“Apart from the fact that Governor Yuguda married a Yoruba woman of virtue, he has engaged some sizeable number of Yoruba indigenes at personal and official capacity and also being one of the few Fulani –Hausas who are committed members of the Yoruba Club.”
Aare Ayanlakin, who is the Chairman, Logistics Committee for the ceremony, revealed further, “The date of the conferment is being kept secret, but I am assuring you that it will take place in the month of November 2013.”
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Yuguda: Emperor without clothes
SIR: Has governor Malam (Dr) Isa Yuguda heard about the tale of “The Emperor’s new clothes”. If he has not, I will tell him. The story is about a self-centred emperor who was deceived by two weavers (like some of the people around Bauchi State governor today) into believing that they have made a new set of clothes for him that is invisible only to those who are unfit, stupid or are incompetent to occupy the office they hold.
While the clothes were being worked on, the emperor who can not see the clothes pretends he can for fear of being branded incompetent to occupy his office. His cabinet also buys into the game of pretence acting as though they can indeed see the clothes and that it is the most beautiful thing they have ever seen.
After the two weavers reported to the emperor that they have finished working on the clothes, the vain emperor decided to hold a public procession to show his new clothes. The emperor parades in his new “clothes” while his cabinet and courtiers were careful not to point out to the emperor that he was actually walking naked lest they be called stupid and unfit for their positions! The townsfolk also pretend that they can see the “clothes” and praise the quality of work done until a little child put paid to the charade by shouting that the emperor was actually naked!
Though this story was written over a hundred years ago, it is so true of the kind of government we have in Bauchi State today.
Since his assumption of office as Governor of Bauchi State in 2007, Governor Yuguda has carried on like the emepror in the story, paraded around naked with everyone applauding him. His cabinet would tell anyone that cares that the emperor-governor has the midas touch, that he was the best thing that ever happened to Bauchi State.
All the positive titles in the book were exhausted on him: ‘Gwamna Talakawas, Gwamna Gwamnoni, the action governor, the peoples governor to mention but few.
Despite the generosity of the monthly federal allocation to the state, the state is still marching backward in terms of social infrastructure and human development.
None of his political appointees has the courage to tell him that he has tragically lost touch with reality. Yuguda does not have the advantage of that little child who screamed that the ‘emperor has no clothes on at all’!
I have been a critic of Yuguda’s government mainly for what I see as lack of focus, incompetence and insincerity with fervent hope that the naked governor will sit up.
I believe that constructive criticism is one of the pillars of any promising democracy. All over the world, critics are regarded as the third eye of the community, state or nation.
They are the watchdog and guardian angels that constructively put the government on the hot seat.
What we have in Bauchi is an emperor with no clothes but which no one dares to point out that he is stark naked.
• John Akevi,
Bauchi.
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Open letter to Governor Yuguda
SIR: I feel duty bound as an ordinary citizen of the stateto draw your attention to an issue that is bordering the good people of Bauchi State.I am aware that you have many advisers who have the responsibility to guide you in taking decisions. But I am also aware that a lot of your appointees are interested in advancing their personal interest rather than guiding the governor in the right direction.
Since the creation of Bauchi State in 1976, Local Government administration has been governed by duly elected chairmen except during the military era. However,since 2007, when you came on board as the governor, there has been no autonomy for the local governments in the state. Council polls were last held in 2008; since then the state government instituted caretakers committee to man the affairs at the grass roots level. Instead of holding elections, your government has been dissolving an appointing sole administrators for all the local councils.
This is in spite of objections raised by the House of Representatives on the development.
Your Excellency, I wish to draw your attention to the following constitutional provisions: Section 7,of the 1999 constitution gave the government of every state the responsibility to ensure the existence of democratically elected local government councils under a Law enacted by the state House of Assembly providing for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils.
The Local Government Council is meant to facilitate equitable delivery of basic service to the local areas and it must ensure representation of all groups in the community in the delivery of these basic services.
Your Excellency, there is organic disconnection between your administration and the people at the grass root. And once the people of the grass root don’t matter; once the people at the grass root don’t participate in the governance of their area such a society with the government of the day is doomed. Sir, this matter needs to be address now!
• John Akevi
Bauchi
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Yuguda’s volte face on Northern Governors Forum
It’s no longer news that Bauchi State Governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, has rescinded his decision to put on hold his membership of the Northern Governors Forum sequel to the controversy that trailed the May election of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).
It was learnt that Yuguda’s volte face may not be unconnected to pressures put on him by opinion leaders in his state and the north that his decision may turn out to be counter-productive in the end. The governor, it was gathered, was also reminded that his Katsina State counterpart, Ibrahim Shema, has tactically refused to take the option of withdrawing his membership of the Northern Governors Forum in spite of his reservations over the outcome of the NGF polls.
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How elders persuaded me to return to NSGF – Yuguda
The Bauchi State Governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, on Wednesday said some elders persuaded him to return to the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF).
He said in spite of his return, he would only recognize Governor Jonah Jang as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
Yuguda, who spoke on the phone to some journalists, said “there is no dispute or crisis of confidence between him and Jang.”
He said: “As elders, who I respect so much, I cannot say no to them. They have beckoned on me to reconsider my decision and return to the forum, which works for the interest of the people. That is why I am returning to the NSGF.
“I recognize that the words of elders are words of wisdom and since I represent their interest as a leader, I have to listen to their yearnings and aspirations at all times.”
On the purported crisis of confidence between him and Jang, Yuguda said there was no any misunderstanding.
He added: “I can tell you that there is no rift whatsoever between Governor Jang and I, who also has deep respect and love for me and my administration.
“We shall continue to work symbiotically for the interest of the two states and Nigeria and shame our detractors.
“As I have said before, Jang remains my Chairman of the NGF and I cannot recognize anybody else.’’
Yuguda had after the NGF poll on May 24 quit the NSGF.
He said: “I don’t see any reason why I should attend the Northern Governors meeting again. Yes! If that is what we will do, I am not going to be a part of it. For the remaining two years of my tenure I will not be part of the Northern Governors Forum.
“I want any Northern Governor to come out and say yes, I voted [at the NGF election] and I voted against Jang. I will then ask him why, after sitting with me in the Northern governors meeting and agreeing on a consensus candidate, after saying Shema and I should withdraw for Jang, he then went and voted against Jang. I would like to know why.”
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Yuguda: I’m back at North’s Governors’ Form
Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda yesterday said he has returned the Northern States’Governors’ Forum (NSGF) in the interest of peace and development.
Yuguda spoke through his confidant and Chief of Staff to the Government House, Alhaji Musa Yusuf Gumli, at a media briefing.
He said his return to the forum was also because “some serious progressive northern elders prevailed on him”.
The governor, two weeks ago, in the heat of the NSGF, boycotted the forum’s meetings, for what he called “a breach of agreement by some Northern Governors’’.
The Chief of Staff said: ‘’Boycotting a meeting of an organisation is not the same as withdrawal or resignation from same organisation.’’
He, however, noted that Yuguda did not make extensive consultations before boycotting the forum’s meetings, chaired by Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu.
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Yuguda canvasses fiscal federalism
Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda, has identified fiscal federalism as solution to the nation’s protracted struggle with development challenges.
Yuguda spoke as guest speaker in Ado-Ekiti , the capital of Ekiti State, through his Commissioner of Youths and Sports, Alhaji Mohammed Lasisi, at a national summit organised by the National Coalition of Yoruba Youths.
The governor said that “only an equitable distribution of funds can aid even development of the country.”
According to him, other tiers of control, including states and local governments, need sufficient autonomy especially over solid mineral resources within their boundaries to undertake independent developmental projects.
He added that such right to mineral resource exploitation is currently the exclusive list of the federal government.
Speaking on “Nigerian federalism: The journey so far and the way forward,” Yuguda explained that the frequent unrests and frictions being experienced across the country “would be resolved with proper redefinition of the nation’s federalism.”
Yuguda also advised that the American presidential system practiced in the country should be modified for reduction in the cost of governance, which he noted was unnecessarily high.
Calling on youths to shun acts, which could truncate their progress, the national president of the group, Mr. Wale Ayeni, canvassed for profitable avenues to engage youths as another election approaches.
The Senior Special Assistant on Youth and Student Matters to the President, Mr. Jude Imagwe, tasked youths to cooperate with law enforcement agents to ensure adequate security in the country.
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I have no VP ambition, says Yuguda
Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda has declared that he has novice presidential in 2015. He described his purported vice presidential aspiration as a figment of imagination, adding that it is an attempt to create suspicion and distrust between him and Vice President Sambo. The governor spoke with reporters in Lagos on the activities of his administration, insecurity and the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said: “It is a figment of imagination. I look up to Sambo as a senior brother. He grew up in Bauchi, where I knew him. He is competent. We have close family relations. I am an average intelligent man. I graduated at 20, started work at 21. I even weepat night when I remember how the Almighty God has been nice to me. I had a good career in the banking sector. I was the Managing Director of NAL. At 27, I was the youngest branch manager in Savannah.
“I have five graduate children, with masters degrees. Another four will graduate next year. I joined Obasanjo’s cabinet as the youngest minister. I was a two-time minister. I do not begrudge the Vice President. What do I want to be as the Vice President that God has not tested me with? When I was the MD of bank, I was recruiting my classmates. Many of them were more brilliant than me. I am loyal to the PDP. I am loyal to the Vice President”.
The governor, who spoke on the activities of the administration, disclosed that the Bauchi airport will commissioned in July, stressing the power plant project embarked upon by the state would also remain a priority. He also revisited his tenure as the Minister of Aviation, lamenting that the agreement between the Federal Government and Virgin Airlines collapsed because of policy summersault.
Yuguda submitted that the Boko Haram insurgency has persisted because of the activities of the restless sect, whose members were being manipulated by certain politicians. He also said that Bauchi State is safe for living and business, blaming the media for blowing the security situation in the state out of proportion.
The governor urged Nigerians to emulate the religious tolerance displayed by the Southwest, which he said, had foster religious and tribal harmony in the region”.
He said: “The first Sharia Court was established in Iwo, Osun State. In the Southwest, you have a church upstairs and mosques downstairs and there is no quarrel. Anybody who kills is not a Muslim or Christian. He is a killer. Any person who wants to balkanise Nigeria through religion is a criminal. He is not a Christian or Muslim. A terrorist is a killer and criminal, not a Muslim or Christian”.