Badaru: APC’s Silent Achiever
By Ghali Tade
AREWA AGENDA – The Former Governor of Jigawa state, Mallam Muhammad Badaru Abubakar is one of the distinguished politicians in Nigeria’s political space. He is an accountant who applies the knowledge and training of his field of study to politics which earned him respect that could not be bought. Mallam Badaru, Mai Nasara as he was addressed by our fathers or Baba Mai Calculator as he is called in Jigawa state, is a personality who understands the need to be God-fearing, honest, transparent, accountable, focused, determined, dedicated, and committed.
How he managed to be what he is today may be surprising to those who do not know him, but we see it as a reflection of the Hausa sayings ” Kyan ɗa ya gaji mahaifinsa and barewa ba ta gudu ɗanta ya yi rarrafe”. I loosely mean he inherited most if not all of his qualities from his parent who happened to be a renowned Islamic scholar in his time. These backgrounds have made him see himself as a public servant, not a ruler. A governor who led Jigawa state to a new world with a heart full of passion, compassion, and patriotism.
When I learned that Mai Calculator was leaving office as our governor this year, I was worried about who will be like him or better than him. Luckily enough, Baba Badaru has handed over power to another copy of Badaru with a workaholic Deputy Governor, Engineer Aminu Usman Gumel.
The present governor of Jigawa state, Mallam Umar Namadi who served as finance commissioner and deputy governor to Baba Badaru’s administration is an engine that played vital roles in ensuring that their campaign promises were fulfilled and Badaru succeeded in all sectors. Both Mallam Badaru and Mallam Namadi shared certain things in common. Apart from being the sons of renowned Islamic scholars in the state, they are chartered accountants who performed excellently. They are problem solvers and people who are concerned about the populace and the best way to sustain the reputation of their families.
Mallam Namadi’s loyalty and zeal to stand firm on justice, fairness and truthfulness earned him respect and made him the choice of Mallam Badaru and the good people of Jigawa state. The bond between the two leaders of the state is unbreakable considering the cement of truth that was used in building it. I think this is even why there are Mai Calculator’s men in the new administration serving as commissioners and other roles.
The political twin brothers achieved more than expected of them when they were governor and deputy of Jigawa state. I could vividly recall that in the speech he delivered at a farewell reception in his honour held at Banquet Hall Government House Dutse on Sunday, the 28, May, 2023, His Excellency, the Former Governor, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar listed numerous achievements of theirs in different sectors.
Despite inheriting Jigawa State with contractual liabilities of 114 billion naira, and all the economic hardships while he was in power, Mai Calculator left the state with only 711 million naira debt to pay. Unlike other governors who abandon the projects of their predecessors, Baba Badaru distinguished himself by completing all inherited projects and focusing on transparency and accountability programmes to ensure the safety of investments.
Recall that ICAN had awarded Jigawa State as the best in Nigeria in Public resources accountability in 2021 and 2022 and the same also in Budget transparency. In health, 18 more general hospitals were built to address the needs of the citizens in healthcare services. When he came on board, there were only 12 but he amplified them to 30. Also, three specialist hospitals and one orthopaedic hospital were established. Still on health, the people’s governor provided one comprehensive Health centre in every electoral ward of the state.
The number of hospitals that are on 24 hrs services was increased which addressed the infant mortality rate.
In infrastructure, all the ongoing 700 kilometers of rural roads inherited were completed. In water resources, 5278 hand pumps have been repaired, 7792 solar water schemes were constructed and 3500 PHC latrines were built which made Jigawa State an open defecation free. These efforts earned Jigawa number four in safe drinking water in Nigeria and number one in the entire Northern region.
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On the other hand, Baba Mai Calculator’s administration witnessed massive federal government projects in the state. Beginning with the power sector, first time in 20 years, the Gagarawa power station project was completed and commissioned under the administration of Former President Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari also awarded four substations in Gwaram, Kazaure, Babura, and Birnin Kudu.
It could be recalled that 164,000 families enjoyed #5,000 monthly stipends from the federal government. This is in addition to the feeding of a million pupils which created jobs for 9,200 vendors. My state also benefited from Trader Monie, GEEP, Npower, Anchor Borrowers, and other human capital development projects.
On FG’s road projects, the Dutse to Kano, Kano – Danbatta – Kazaure – Gwiwa – Daura – Katsina to Niger Republic roads are practical and visible development. Another road that I will never forget is Kwanar Dimawa- Kanya Babba- Ɓaɓura-Baban mutum road.
I could vividly remember that Former President Muhammadu Buhari was in Jigawa in 2018 to flag off Hadejia Valley Irrigation Scheme. Joyfully, he returned to the state to commission the same project after the successful completion of its rehabilitation and expansion. The project, which is an irrigational land of 5,700 hectares, is currently providing jobs, food, and economic diversification.
Let me openly state that these are just a few blessings Jigawa state got from Baba Mai Calculator and Baba Buhari’s administrations.
What are Badaru’s contributions to APC and the emergence of President Tinubu?
Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar was the first governor to win from an opposition despite the PDP having control of Jigawa and Nigeria in 2015. His emergence as Jigawa’s governor laid a solid foundation for APC which attracted thousands of loyalists of other parties to APC.
As an APC Leader in governors’ primaries and general elections in some states like Ondo, Ekiti, Imo, and Bayelsa, Baba Badaru performed wonderfully well. This has made APC stronger in these states and many votes were pulled from them in the last three elections.
Under his watch as Northern Nigeria’s coordinator for Tinubu’s campaign organisation, higher votes were got from his zone -North West with over two million and six hundred thousand in presidential elections. It was the dedication and determination of Mai Calculator and other APC stalwarts that gave President Tinubu more votes from the north-west than the south-west.
Baba Badaru has dedicated his time, energy, and resources to fighting all the propaganda by negative minds on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. As a person who comes from the same discipline as the President, Badaru is well-informed about the leadership qualities of Jagaban. These qualities were unknown by some people in the North, hence enemies tried to paint him black but to no avail.
There was a time when the Former Jigawa State Governor, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, refuted insinuations that the APC Presidential candidate, Ahmad Bola Tinubu would be a Southern President if he won the election. He assured that the presidential candidate’s antecedents indicate he is not a betrayer.
Abubakar, who spoke in Kano during an APC Presidential Candidate meeting with the Muslim Ullamas from Northwestern Nigeria, said, all Bola antecedents, clearly vindicate him as a non-ethnic and religious bigot”. He even added that everything Bola Tinubu has done in his presidential aspiration, he has done it with the full participation of Badaru, Ganduje, and Nuhu Ribadu, people who are known for their nationalistic outlook.
He stressed that the choice of Bola Tinubu was done by every stakeholder in the Nigerian project. Talking about his mental health and his fitness, our recent visits to Mecca on Ummara where Tinubu walked miles without joining a car and his performance of Rituals of Tawaf and Saai shows that he is not only healthy but mentally alert on issues”, Mai Calculator explained.
The man of integrity also revealed that Nigerians n
should know that the era of using sentiment, ethnic, and religious bigotry is over, all the talks and baseless allegations against Bola Tinubu were mischievous creations by those who can not win elections using basic democratic tenets to bring down the popularity of the APC candidate.
In summary, Mallam Muhammad Badaru Abubakar is not only a blessing to Jigawa state but APC, and Nigeria at large. Jigawa is lucky to have an accountant as a President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, an accountant as a Governor, and an accountant hoping to be a minister representing the state at the Federal Executive Council.
Badaru is indeed an APC’s Silent Achiever!
Ghali Tade writes from Ɓaɓura, Jigawa state.
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