By Habibu Nuhu Kila
From 1977 to date, it was a long journey of 46years.That was the beginning of our association with His Excellency, Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar. He was one year my senior at Rumfa College Kano. Since then we have been closely related both at the school and after. In the school, he was humble and never participated in the act of what was known as seniority discipline. At Rumfa College Kano, Juniors were at the mercy of seniors who organized mid night discipline known as ‘CONGO’ the name that up to this moment I don’t know where it derived from and I don’t want to know because I hate to remember how we were subjected to harsh inhuman treatment. I never saw him among our seniors and to us juniors ,any senior who did not participate in that act earned our respect. we cherished and like him.
Governor Badaru was one of them.Since then, the tie of that respect remain unchanged, I derived so much joy working with him that cannot be quantified .
During the regime of Governor Saminu Turaki, he was the Chairman, Chamber of Commerce Mines and Agriculture while I was the Director of Press Affairs and Public Relations to the Governor, we closely worked together. I was privileged to travel with him and I can attest to his zeal and commitment to contribute to the development of Jigawa state.
When he appointed me as His Special Adviser Media and Public Relations, Then, I was at the peak of my carreer in broadcast journalism at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, where I pioneered as head of the New Media Department, Kaduna National Station and also the vice president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in charge of nineteen northern states and Abuja.Before then, I had worked with five out of eight Jigawa State Military Administrators or elected Governors at different times either as Assistant Press Secretary, or Director press Affairs and Public Relations. I had learnt a lot from them.
Our profession requires that, The position of a spokesman in any organisation, public or private, for an individual or multinational, is a moral one. If you do not believe in your principal, totally, wholeheartedly and unequivocally, do not take the job. A spokesperson wholly subsumes himself in the cause. He must be passionate and convincing. Self-convinced! No self-doubts. No scepticism. Criticism? Do not take an appointment as a spokesperson if your heart’s not in it. It is not a calling for the fainthearted.
When you choose to serve as a government spokesman, you position yourself as a salesman, the front office manager. The culinary equivalent would be the first person who tastes the food and confirms to customers that the menu is good for them.
This I learnt from my friend and a colleague Dr Sule Yau Sule. From the time I knew Governor Badaru I personally believed and trusted him. I took the offer for the sixth time.
I went with a- ten -list menu as my questions, on what his expectations are from me. In his brief, he had answered eight and one the fundamental answers that he gave to me that guided me in the discharge of my responsibilities was “ Don’t exaggerate” a correlation of the first law of Journalism which says ‘ Tell the truth’ he also made me to understand that, I should know why he doesn’t want to publicize most of his achievements, viewing that as unnecessary expenditure . He would say that let it be used in some areas of development.He gave an example of an hour television live broadcast which may cost the state government millions of naira and would rather choose to use the money where a lot of people could feel the impact.
That made my work easier, I was so comfortable that my boss’s inspirational and motivational words of advice enabled me to do my best for the rest of my life. I thank him for being such an amazing human being.
It may not be easy to explain the genesis of the name “Baba Mai Calculator “to someone who does not know the governor at close range, except, of course, for those who knew him before he became governor.
Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar has achieved for himself, resounding and highly respectable personal credits and qualities through his service to humanity in public and private life which is glaringly remarkable and memorable.
Badaru has been an international businessman long before he joined politics. In fact, his business acumen and successes were the propelling factors that friends relatives and associates saw in him that made them encourage him to become a partisan politician.
Their thinking was that he could bring into governance of Jigawa State, the same careful and meticulous financial discipline that he used to build and sustain his business empire.
So far, the governor has not disappointed those who vouched for him into politics. Since he became governor. Jigawa State has moved from a pauperized state to one with abundant resourses for developmental projects.
The goal being to educate people to produce better believers, law abiding and responsible citizens with high morals and characters living peacefully in the society. To enlighten community members having strong faith, performing good deeds, and have a sense of accountability to Almighty God.
The journey began on the 29th, May 2015. Of course, it has not been that easy, for it was like attempting the impossible with nothing. But through God’s guidance, Governor Badaru’s calculator lights through the dark tunnel and gives hope to the people of Jigawa state.
The financial liabilities and contractual commitments on ongoing and new capital projects at that time was more than the annual budget of the state which was about N110 billion. The inherited liquidity was only N16 million in the state treasury.
To make things worse, the monthly federal allocation dropped from an average of about N5 billion to N3 billion.
But Governor Badaru did not panic. In his effort to effectively face the challenges despite the economic situation at that time, he adopted several measures in order to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the electorate whose hope was to have the dividends of democracy at their doorsteps. In this regard, the tenets of good governance, particularly accountability and transparency, were adopted with the aim of having the principles of prudence and value for money, became the binding ethic under his watch.
That was the point at which the calculator came into reckoning. Money no longer came out of the state coffer without due scrutiny. The businessman in the governor was unleashed on those who thought state money could be recklessly wasted.
The high cost of administrative governance was addressed, running costs of ministries and departments was reviewed and reduced in addition to the review and verification of all inherited contractual liabilities and commitments.
The governor was able to save as much as N8.28 billion through discount and other cost saving measures which made it possible to complete all inherited projects and new ones,
as according to him it will be a waste of resources to abandon projects that gulped huge amount of tax payers money.
Timely completion of the annual financial statements by the state ministry of finance made a significant progress in the implementation of the fiscal sustainability plan which is a precondition for accessing Federal Government’s Budget Support Facility.
Civil servants active and retired are receiving their salaries and pension as and when due, a situation which attracts almost twenty states to visit Jigawa and learn how to implement the most successful system of the administration of pension and gratuity.
jigawa State under Governor Badaru’s administration initiated One Village One Project as a product of an all inclusive governance. This earned the state as the most transparent and accountable Government throughout the federation. The state is the first and best in road network as over one thousand six hundred kilometers of roads were constructed thus making the state to access everywhere in terms of road network.The administration also executed One health care facility in every political ward throughout the state that provides affordable and accessible health care in the state .
Jigawa state is first and best in the provision of water supply throughout the country under Governor Badaru. Every sector is being given considerable attention in Jigawa State. The government is so much concerned about Value for money in all its Programmes and projects.
Comrade Badaru of Jigawa State is the most friendly labour Governor in Nigeria an award bestowed in him by the National Association of Local Government Employees NULGE.
The benefits of Good Governance, has continued to earn Governor Badaru a self-disciplined citizenry, whose good governance help to strengthen democracy and promote economic prosperity and social cohesion, reduce
poverty, the sustainable use of natural resources and deepen confidence
in government and public administration.
Before appointing me as your spokesperson the memorable moment I can’t forget about you forever was when you came to my house to rejoice with us on the return of my daughter from Saudi Arabia who had a challenge in our life time, despite what you offered for her to freedom.
I most sincerely appreciate and happy to be associated with this gentleman, It is really hard to say goodbye to someone who became a part of your everyday life.
Farewells are sad and giving farewell to one of my favorite mentors is more depressing. It has been an amazing journey working with you. I hope your future is as joyful as your personality, sir!
I would like to express my gratitude to you for being such a role model and an inspiration. Thanks for teaching me so much.
Ever since I started to work under your leadership, I have learned a lot that really helps me.
I can only pray to you Allah’s continued guidance and blessings.
