| By Aliyu Dangida Jigawa State is one of the new states created by Nigeria’s Former Military President, 0n 27th August, 1991, who after extensive deliberations with his plan came to the conclusion that, there was every justifiable premise to create new states in the interest of progress and development. Looking at the cosmopolitan nature of Kano with its vast population and human and natural resources, Nigeria’s Former Military President General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida willfully responded to the agitation for the creation of new states two decades ago which saw the birth of new states carved out of the then existing old ones. The essence of creating new states is for all sectors of socio-economic development to be tapped in addition to exploiting and resources at disposal for such a drive to reach fruition. Successive Nigerian Governments have seen the compelling need to accord a human face to the persistent agitation for states creation. The persistent clamour for states creation was as the result of the fierce agitation mounted by competing forces, whose penchant for progress and rapid development was at high ebb. Where such a laudable endeavor got the much-needed impetus to forge ahead, an appreciable amount of progress is recorded to the advantage of those on whose behalf such a state is created. 27th day of every August will forever be remembered as the day Jigawa was curved out from the present Kano state. As a demonstration of the General’s avowed commitment in lending credence to marching words with action, the adroitly conceived the idea of deploying a military colored as the First Governor of the state in person of Col. Olayinka Sule, from 1991-1992. Out of the colonel’s penchant to prove his mettle as, he wisely fashioned out his own blue print that created Ringim and Dutse Emirates thereby increasing the number of such emirates to five from three. He also appointed and installed first class emirs for Dutse and Ringim. With the whistle blown for a democratic transition, a young and enterprising legal luminary, Barrister Ali Sa’ad Birnin-Kudu was saddle with the task of propelling the newly created state to greater height. The first civilian governor of the state from 1992 – November 1995, launched the pursuit of rural oriented programmes which focused attention on the provision of accommodation to the Jigawa state civil servants with a view to reducing the risks and cost involved in shutting from Kano to Dutse. On rural development which is the corner stone of his government, Governor Ali Sa’ad ensured that town and villages were provided with basic amenities of life such as portable drinking water and electricity in addition to making effort the state capital Dutse was connected to the national grid. The Governor Ali Sa’ad was succeeded by another colonel in person of Colonel Ibrahim Aliyu apart from addressing the problem of housing for civil servants in the state capital also continued with some of uncompleted projects he inherited from the past civilian administration and vigorous pursued a programme of commercial and industrial development. He was succeeded by LT. Col. Rasheed Alade Shekoni who apart from completing the three Agro allied industries, introduced the industrial leasing scheme in order to encourage prospective investors to establish small and medium scale industries. Lt. Colonel in person of Zakariyya Maimalari, took over from Lt. Shekoni whom is short stint in office busied itself with the completion and commissioning of inherited projects in addition to initiating and completing a modern abattoir in the state capital and also constructed five Guest Houses for Emirs in the State. With the advent of the fourth Republic in 1999, Alhaji Ibrahim Saminu Turaki emerged as elected Governor and his administration focal point was to join the world trend of shifting government policies from mere provision of social services to economic based activities so as to empower the populace economically. Turaki also saw the establishment of an access broad band company in the state capital which is the second in Africa apart from the one in South Africa, and the Informatics Institute with other computer learning centers located in different Local Government Headquarters. With decentralization of government machineries expiration of his tenure in office after spending eight good years in the saddle. His government focused on long term polices. (1999-2007) From glorified village to world class city In 2007, Alhaji Sule Lamido was elected as the governor of the state under the then ruling PDP, on assumption of office embarked on the development, constructions and management of housing estates within the state capital. The education sector has under Governor Sule Lamido witnessed lots of transformation in terms of the provision of new structures, renovation of schools, equipping and the establishment of Science and Computer laboratories as well as improved teachers and student’s welfare in addition to the encouragement of the private sectors participation and contribution towards rejuvenating the sector. On economic empowerment, Governor Lamido established new skills acquisition centres and renovated the existing ones across the state to provide training for youth that are unemployed. Out of his flair to make the transport sector viable, Governor Lamido saw the execution of multi-billion Naira Roads Projects aimed at facilitating transportation of goods and services. Governor Sule Lamido who has much concerned on the teeming masses of Jigawa state has initiated and conveyed a forum call TALAKAWA SUMMIT and Economic Summit where intellectuals, stake holders and elders of the state were invited and presented papers related to improving socio-economic well being of the masses of Jigawa state. More so, during the forum people with different trades, businesses small and medium displayed their products and sought assistance from government on how to boost their businesses. The governor however, introduced N7,500.00 Monthly allowance for physically challenge persons which was the first in the country and a total of 100 physically persons have been selected from each of the 27 local government area of the state. Other projects includes construction of Airport at the state capital, state owned University at Kafin Hausa, remodeling of Government House among others, urban and rural transformations, construction of high court, state secretariat, speaker and deputy residence, LG quarters in the state capital, renovation and provision of furniture in the 27 LGA`s among others. Water being essential to human lives, Governor Lamido made a concerted effort to provide safe drinking water to the people of the state. Looking at his resume of achievements in a period of about seven years on the saddle, other sectors of human endeavour like Women Empowerment, Information and Communication, Rural and Community Development, Health had noticeably received the priority attention of Governor Sule Lamido. With the creation of Jigawa State in the past thirty years and the promising pace it is governed under Governor Badaru Abubakar, moving the state forward according to pundits is just a matter of time. In 2015, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar was elected as the governor of Jigawa state under the APC, he was called ‘The Calculator Governor’ because of his transparency and accountability in public financial management. He policies and programs in health, agriculture, education, empowerment, road network, water supply to mentioned but a few are worthy of emulation and a thing of pride to every progressive citizen of Jigawa state. Badaru emerged as governor of Jigawa state at the time the country`s economic is dwindled with price of crude oil decrease, the situation has thrown the nation into recession as many states cannot to pay workers salary, Jigawa state having inherited from successive governments policy of prompt payment of workers’ salaries, pension and other entitlements as at when due this has up to date ben maintained. Governor is known for continuity in governance, judicious utilization of the meager resources as well as initiated additional ways of generating funds to the state as revenue with a momentous increase from N400 to about N1bn, he continued with projects initiated by the successive government and paid huge amount of funds to construction firms as liabilities for the road contracts and others across the state. The 30th years journey to Jigawa state creation is indeed a milestone achievement looking at other states created before Jigawa or those created on the same date is incomparable. We celebrate Jigawa state @ 30 and wishes the state, its people and leaders more fruitful years of giant strides and blissful memory. |
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