In search of a new Bauchi

WHEN the Bauchi State electorate trooped out to cast their votes during the last governorship election in the state, it was a vote to bring in CHANGE, a vote to reinvigorate, rejuvenate, reconstruct and bring good governance to the people of the state. It was a vote to actualize the Bauchi state of our dream. The high expectations of our people and trust invested in this government have no doubt put it on its toes. This necessitated the search for a new Bauchi. A Bauchi where no mother will lose her child as a result of lack of medical facilities and malnutrition; where no family will mourn their love ones because of bad roads; where no indigene will have to look for greener pasture elsewhere; where prosperity is the mainstay; where the future of the youth is secured and the aged is guaranteed.

I have lived my all life in Bauchi for 40 years, I cannot remember any government that is responsive to real not imaginary problems of the people in the state. I am not politician and never pray to be one, but if all politicians could act or behave the way the present governor is conducting himself, I may think of changing my stand.  The Bauchi of our dream is definitely achievable. Education is however the way. No nation developed in the absence of education. Educated citizens are the pillars and promoters of development. This is why the state government is overhauling the education system in the state. The overhauling is promised to be total and thorough. The governor made the pledge in September this year, and the renovation and reconstruction of all dilapidated public primary and secondary schools in the entire state have commenced.

The governor does not focus on infrastructural rejuvenation alone but is also making sure that qualitative education is free and accessible to all.  He has also ensured that enrolment is mandatory.  Education task force has also been set up to understudy the challenges facing the sector and proffer solutions. The success of this initiatives is not always immediate but posterity will judge Governor Muhammad Abubakar as the educational reform begins to bear fruit.

Aside that, the governor has also started a vocational training for youth within and outside the country. This initiative, according to the governor, is aimed at “provision of vocational training for the youth so that they can be gainfully employed.” The governor has also focused on training youths in agriculture and agro-allied industries, with modern technologies and techniques in agriculture. The agricultural revitalization programme is aimed at deploying youths to each local government of the state where the government have secured farmland which will therefore be allocated to the young farmers. This initiative will not only ensure food security in the state but also provide source of income.

As a leader with foresight, realizing that mobility of farm produce has been part of the challenges facing farmers in the state, the governor with support from federal government had also distributed over 200 farm-to-market tricycles to internally displaced persons and the host communities in the State in order to ease the transportation of farm produce to the desired markets. If the agricultural revitalisation must succeed, farmers in the state must be able to transport, process and package their product within the state.  Without the needed infrastructure, government cannot gainfully generate income from agriculture.

Also, Bauchi state is blessed with a lot of sights which have international tourism standard. This administration is out rightly working assiduously to promote tourism and attract tourist to the state. All this can only be achieved if there are infrastructures in place.

For Bauchi state to really compete with other states of the federation by boosting its internally generated revenue, it must harness its resources and utilized them judiciously. This explains the resolve of Gov. Abubakar to make Bauchi state one of the leading state in the federation in terms of infrastructural development and improved social welfare despite the dwindling allocation from the federal government as a result of decline in the federation’s account, Bauchi state is undergoing uncommon transformation infrastructural wise.

No matter the quality of infrastructure put in place by the government. Security of life and property is paramount. Despite the security challenges bedeviling the country and the northeast region to be specific, Bauchi state has been peaceful and secured. However, the government is not leaving anything to chance.  The current administration is being proactive by ensuring that all security apparatus in the state are up to the task. The security agencies have enjoyed good and cordial working relationship with the government in the state. This has foster community policing and intelligence gathering from local communities. This bond has so far witnessed the arrest of 117 suspected kidnappers and cattle rustlers in some forests in the state.

On health, Bauchi state’s health sector no doubt in an abysmal shape. This is due to years of neglect which amounted to decay in the sector. A healthy society most definitely is at liberty of rapid development. The state cannot achieve meaningful development if the health sector remains obsolete. Getting to the Bauchi of our dream will be challenging. Many obstacles will be faced. Many feathers will be ruffled, hurdles overcome and mountain climbed but with firm loyalty of people of the state, Bauchi will definitely rise.

• Muhammad lives in Tamsuguri Misau, Bauchi State.