By Aliyu Dangida
Barely 72hours from today, the 8 years administration of Alhaji Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa state will be out, and over for goods, but will certainly be remembered for its legacy, especially, the rise and fall of Babura mafia he forced on Jigawa while the reign last.
The emergence of Babura Mafia which were seen, present and controlled juicy MDA’s in the new world was birthed by culture of nepotism by successful civilian administration in Jigawa state solely designed to promote the interest of his country’s men at the expense of larger populace they swore by Holy Quran to serve without fear or favour.
Interestingly, during Alhaji Ibrahim Saminu Turaki’s era, people from his country home, Kazaure enjoyed the corridor of power in various juicy MDA’s, sensitive positions are occupied by Kazaurians. Men of yesteryears that peopled “Kazaure Mafias” includes the Permanent Secretary Special Services, Principal Private Secretary Government House, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance, Auditor General, Accountant General, SSG/Acting Governor, Commissioner of Commerce,
Others include Managing Director Galaxy Backborne, Managing Director Solid Minerals Development Agency, Executive Secretary Senior Secondary School Management Board, Managing Director Savings and Loan Ltd, Personal Physician, Personal Assistant among others.
The trend as initiated by Turaki’s administration, the first civilian governor of the state was adopted by his predecessor, and the man known as talakawa philosopher, Alhaji Sule Lamido as he queued and adopted the culture by leveraging appointment of his kinsmen from Birnin-Kudu into position of influence between 2007 to 2015.
In today’s Jigawa under the incumbent governor, Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar, Babura mafia or clique left no one in doubt that they are not only in government, but controlled power and authority.
In what appeared a scripted blueprint designed to super imposed the minority and subvert the clause of the oath of office, Badaru elevated the nepotism culture to high heaven as he appointed his kinsmen from Babura to juicy position.
Analysis conducted by Hotpen indicated that “Babura Mafia” occupies the following position currently in Jigawa state. The long list of juicy MDA’S includes Executive Secretary SEMA, Director Admin and Finance, Pilgrims Welfare Board, Executive Secretary, Contributory Pension Board, General Manager Housing, DAF Housing Authority, Chairman Civil Service Commission, Provost JSCEO Gumel, Permanent Secretary/Acting Commissioner of Health.
Other position of influence occupied by this power clan from Babura include, S A, Political Affairs, M D Radio Jigawa, Registrar, Jigawa State Informatics Institute Kazaure, Director Planning Ministry of Health, Special Adviser Youth, Permanent Secretary Govt. House, Special Assistant Radio, Personal Physician to the Governor, Permanent Commissioner I LGSC, Secretary SUBEB, Permanent Commissioner I, SUBEB, DAF, Ministry of Land among others.
For sure, the retiring administration of Badaru Abubakar means sunsets on Babura power clan whose power and authority will certainly be reversed by the next government especially political appointees and possibly may be replaced with a new set of mafia or clique from the backyard of the new henchman from the New World.
With the coming on board of Mal. Umar A. Namadi Danmodi as the fifth civilian governor of Jigawa state come May, 29, will he espouse the policy of Hadejia Mafia or will be different from other administrators, only time will tell.
