Governor Shema In The Eyes Of History
Twenty-Seven years after it was created by General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida - the Niger-born general -Katsina State has become one of Nigeria's accountable and developing states, arising from the heritage of resourceful leadership that has seen Dr. Ibrahim ShehuShema as one of Nigeria's most prudent managers of resources.
Katsina state, although a non-oil producing state, has not taken any loan since 2007 in spite of the massive development that abounds across the state; yet no contractor is owed and the workforce get paid on time - on 22nd of every month.
Undeniably, governor Shema has proven to be an achiever of unprecedented feats.This of course, is achievable from various enviable foundations that have been laid by different distinguished military and civilian administrators that have had privilege to lead the state before governor Shema.
Colonel AbdullahiSarkiMukhtar (rtd) was the first Governor of the State (September, 1987 - July 1988) and succeeded by Colonel Lawrence Onoja (July 1988 - December, 1989), Colonel John YahayaMadaki (December 1989 - to January 1992), AlhajiSaiduBarda (January 1992 to November 1993), Navy Capt. Emmanuel Acholonu (9th December 1993 - 22nd August 1996), Colonel SamailaBatureChamah (22nd August, 1996 to August 1998), Colonel Joseph Akaagerger (August 1998 to May 1999), AlhajiUmaru Musa Yar'Adua (29th May 1999 to 29th May 2007) and presently Dr. Ibrahim ShehuShema.
The first civilian governor was Alhaji Saidu Barda, while Dr. Ibrahim ShehuShema took over the mantle of leadership in May, 2007. Katsina is home to two past Presidents; Major-General MuhammaduBuhari and AlhajiUmaru Musa Yar'Adua. Other Katsina dignitaries include late General Hassan Usman Katsina, Major-General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, former Chief Justice of the Federation AlhajiMuhammed Bello, two past Inspectors General of Police: AlhajiMuhammedDikko Yusuf and Alhaji Ibrahim Commassie, and pioneer Chairman of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, AlhajiHamzaRafindadiZayyad amongst others. Katsina is home to some of the best and brightest Nigerian public servants, politicians and military top brass.
Dr. Ibrahim ShehuShema became the third democratically elected Governor of Katsina State whose 7-year-tenure can aptly be summarized as the leadership of performance. He came in with unequalled drive to swiftly position the state along the veritable part of immediate and excellent infrastructural renewal overwhelmed by deep understanding of where the state was coming from, he wasted no time in offering the state an impressive infrastructural transformation through massive and all-encompassing developmental projects; either completed by his administration or started by him.
As a governor who shares nelson Mandela's thought that 'education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world' Governor Shema in 2007 initiated a complete overhaul of the educational sector in the state. He declared a free and compulsory education from primary to senior secondary school level for all Nigerian children resident in the State, irrespective of tribe, ethnic affiliation and religion. The free education policy is well thought out and adequately funded. With attendants availability of instructional materials as well as teachings aid; many schools were renovated, in addition to 200 newly constructed secondary schools, 34 new girl-child schools were built; 38 blocks of one-storey building new primary schools were constructed among others.
The governor also settles WAEC, NECO and NABTEB Examination fees. About 17, 157 teachers were offered in-service training and a backlog of 2, 560 Secondary School Teachers were promoted. Over 2000 Katsina State students were sponsored to Sudan, Jordan, USA etc to study various degree programmes including Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Arabic Computing, Calligraphy, Engineering, Manuscript etc.
Dr. Shema administration gave a commitment of over 2 billion Naira to the newly established Federal University in Dutsin-ma which saw the early take-off of the institution. As if not done, GovernorShema expended over 11 billion Naira for the completion of the state owned University - Umar Musa Yar'Adua University. The structural evidence on ground in the state owned university is proof the Katsina State government is committed to building a citadel of learning. He introduced the Governor's Teachers Award Scheme in which selected hardworking and outstanding teachers are given Hajj seat yearly amongst so many other incentives introduced by the Governor to ginger the performance of teachers in the state
In demonstration of Dr. Shema administration determination to ensure that every child in Katsina state have access to education, 70 Allo Model Schools were built across the 34 LGAs of the state to support Almajiri education. Presently, the Allo schools have a total student population of about 17, 091. Feeding, learning materials and clothing are provided for all these pupils and their 70 teachers by the government. It could be observed that the education sector witnessed a total overhaul within the last 7 years with target specific projects aimed at advancing the quality of pupilseducation in the State.
The health sector in Katsina has experienced an unprecedented revolution since the advent of the administration of Alhaji Ibrahim ShehuShema. The government has invested enormous financial resources through the Ministry of Health to revamp and restructure the sector in order to make health care delivery not only accessible for every Katsina person, but also to ensure that nobody dies from preventable disease.
Like the free and compulsory education which has impacted positively on the people, the administration's free medical care for children, pregnant women and the elderly has resulted in the elimination and reduction of notorious killer diseases like polio, measles, tuberculosis, malaria etc among these vulnerable groups in the society.
The governor who believed in the maxim that health is wealth completed work on the 169-bed TuraiYar'Adua Maternal and Children Hospital, Katsina. He improved the condition of all the existing general hospitals throughrenovation and upgrading and procurement of modern hospital equipment/implements across the state. The Shema administration provides free treatment for all antenatal care including delivery and caesarean section, all cases of malaria, psychiatry, accidents within the 48 hours and renal dialysis. The BabbarRuga hospital has been providing prompt care to patients of VVF, Tuberculosis and leprosy diseases. It is the largestcentre that has been providing number of VVF surgery in the whole world. He constructed 250-bed space othorpaedic Hospital in the state.
The government provided the Katsina Eye Hospital in Gambarawa with modern equipment and staff and is jointly run with the Tulsi-chainrai foundation with very good results. As at now, the hospital has achieved 100% post surgery restoration of sight. To remove the obstacle to access to health care by people that lived in the remote areas, Governor Shema introduced the Mobile Ambulance Scheme. 34 Mobile Ambulances were procured and deployed to provide health services to rural communities without health facilities.
Agriculture, till date, remains the major occupation of more than 75 % of the population of people in Katsina state, the tilling of the soil for the cultivation of the vast agricultural land in the state was still in subsistence basis when Shema came, which results in the production of food for consumption, with little or nothing to export to earn foreign exchange, the governor has explored every avenue to boost the agricultural yield of the state.
Analyst believed that Shema administration and boosting of agriculture are like Siamese twins, this undoubtedly is changing the state into another food basket of the nation. The Shemagovernment envisioned and boosted Garhi, Sabke, Jibia, Zobe, Mairuwa, Kusa and Kusadairrigation projects to sustain cultivation of crops throughout the year.
In furtherance to its commitment in boosting the agricultural sector in the State, Governor Shema signed an agreement, known as Katsina - Songhai initiative, in which the government plans to spend the sum of 3.4 billions to actualize the agreement. So far over billions of naira has been spent on this project.
The government purchased 340 tractors to boost mechanized agriculture with each Local Government getting not less than 10 tractors at 40% subsidized rate. The farmers were asked to deposit 10% of the total cost and pay the balance in 15 years.
In the area of livestock development, the administration attached importance to the sub-sector because the country depends on it for the supply of meat to the country for exportation. The government is also set up a Neem Tree processing company in Katsina. Since 2007 the administration has continued to import and distribute fertilizers on regular basis at subsidized rates. The ensured the fertilizers get to the farmers directly, middle men were eliminated in the distribution of the fertilizers by delivering it directly to the polling units.
The government also engaged agricultural specialist from Port Novo, Benin republic and Ahmadu Bello University Agricultural Research Institute and invested about three billion naira for training of youths in modern agriculture.
The Sarkin Yakin Hausa's administration has constructed 32 different road projects covering about 500 kilometers. Twenty four of these roads were initiated by the new administration, while eight others were inherited and completed. The total cost of the projects stands at more than N36.76 billion, out of which the inherited projects amounted to over N11.28 billion, while the ones initiated by Shema administration gulped about N26 billion.
The administration constructed 40 kilometers 6-lane ring road around the state capital. This singular ring road project, as hugely futuristic as it is, has in the present, opened up the state capital for present and future expansion. That has also made getting around and out of state a lot easier and pleasurable.
It will amaze you to know that the entire areas where these roads traverse have never witnessed anything like asphalted road in their entire life, and construction of the roads there, it is a gift that the people will eternally be grateful to the Shema administration.
The governor established the Katsina State Road Maintenance Agency which has the responsibility of maintaining state owned roads, repairs and maintenance of street lights, construction of solar traffic lights as well as intervention in the repairs and maintenance of other roads, such as rural roads that are under jurisdiction of local government areas. The Agency has so far recorded positive achievements with more than 50 projects to its credit since inception in the state.
It is actually true that the seat of government that houses the leadership of any administration the world over is a reflection of the signature of the administration since this is very often the first port of call for visitors tosuch a place. Governor Shema constructed a befitting state of the art government house for the state. The old Government House was the residence of the District officer during the colonial administration. Although some renovations were carried out by successive and Shema administration to improve its status, there is a limit to which you can renovate a building which would have been discarded long ago in some parts of the world where the life span of buildings is strictly adhered to ensure the safety of its occupants.
Constructed at a cost of over 8 billion naira, the list of the projects in the government house include: The Governor's office, Banquet Hall, Clinic, Deputy Governor's office, Security control gate, Press centre, Canteen, Energy/Central workshop, Presidential aide quarters, three mosques, Steward quarters, Sport court, Governor's lodge, Juma'at mosque, Landscaping, Internal road network, First Lady's office, three Governor's guest chalet, Presidential lodge etc.
As you read this article, you are likely going to be carried away by the sheer magnitude of the Shema revolution that you could fail to notice the economics of it which is the very essence of Shemanomics. It is a principle that enables Katsina accomplished both modest and big projects without recourse to big budgets. It explains why, with a combined monthly federal allocation and internally generated revenue earning of less than 3 billion naira, the Katsina has accomplished landmark achievements without recourse to borrowing. In Katsina, Governor Shema never started any project without the 100% money needed for it at hand.
After the contractor is paid his mobilization, the rest of the money to be paid on completion is put in a fixed deposit for the state. That way, no contractor is owed after completing his work, since the money is not tempered with. But that's not all. In three years, interest accruing to such deposits came to an unbelievable 8 billion Naira. It is with this seeming bonus that the Governor has put up a befitting governor's lodge in Abuja and a brand new government house in Katsina which was commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan in March this year.
Who could have believed that a Lawyer from Dutsin-ma - who does not hail from any of the Katsina State emirates ruling house and whose father hails from a humble background - has not only held his own, but has held everybody spell bound and, in the process, inextricably wrote his name on virtually every good thing that has to be said of modern Katsina state and surpassing all successive administration in the State's transformation.
For Governor Shema, provision of Shelter to Katsina people is not a matter of privilege but a right, with that in mind, the Governor constructed the 500 houses at Barhim village; he constructed 1, 020 houses across the 34 Local Government and the presently constructing 250-Kabakawa housing estate in Katsina.
In the last seven years, the Governor has constructed over 4, 000 housing units across the state to improve shelter to the ordinary man in the state. The Governor upgraded Katsina Motel to a three star hotel (3 Suites, 47 Chalets, 30 single rooms, a swimming pool etc). It is worthy of note that the Motel was established in 1975 and was last renovated in 2000.
To the governor electricity is an essential requirement for all facets of our life and it has been recognized as a basic human need. It is the key to accelerating economic growth, generation of employment, elimination of poverty and human development especially in ruralareas. The administration 91 transformers to upgrade power supply across the state; constructed 30MW solar power plant in Kankia; established the bio-gas electrification projects and paid 81.5 million as compensation to farm owners for power Windmill project at LambarRimi. As if not done, 91 communities have been provided with electricity and connected to national grid.
Water is the essence of life. Safe drinking water and sanitation are indispensable to sustain life and health, and fundamental to the dignity of all. The administration completed 22 semi-urban water supply projects and billions of naira spent on different projects executed by the administration to boost and provide water supply for the populace. Over 1000 communities have access to portable water through the massive drilling of boreholes in all the nooks and crannies of the state; over 300 solar-powered water works and over 1,000 rural water supply programmes all through Millennium Development Goals.
Dr. Ibrahim ShehuShema improves the welfare and physical health of young people through empowerment for self actualization as well as to promote and popularize sports in all its ramifications while providing instructors, coaches, and role models to develop sportsmanship for character building, competitions, and tournaments.
Since assumption of office the Governor has continued to vigorously tackle the issues of youths and sports development in the state. To buttress this, the Governor upgraded Dutsin-ma, Kankia, Funtua and Mani stadia; the Governor for the first time since the creation of the state in 1987 established a state football club, the Katsina Spotlights FC, it made its debut in 2009/2010 professional league. The administration constructed a millennium size modern stadium in Katsina. The stadium - known as Karkanda Stadium -is among the best in the country and Katsina people can watch national and international matches organized by either FIFA or NFF.
In youth empowerment, His Excellency, Dr. Ibrahim ShehuShema established the Youth Craft Village in 2009. The Craft Village is located within the vicinity of the State National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp located in Barhim village. The centre is a one Stop-Shop for youth skills acquisition in a broad variety of areas including computer and GSM phone repairs, pottery, woodwork, tie, and dye, wrought iron, welding, auto repair, electric vulcanizing, blacksmithing, photography and film production. The facility is equipped to train 2000 youth in different trades per annum.
The Youth Craft Village enrolls 48 youth from each of the 34 local governments in Katsina to train in their respective fields of interest. The youth are resident, feed and given allowance for the duration of their respective programs which is either 6 months or 1 year depending on the type of the training programme. As at last count, the centre has turned out over 7000 youth. The beauty of thiscentre is that it is creating job creators instead of job seekers and due to the success of this centre, the governor plans to build these same centre at Funtua and Daura Senatorial zones with the cost of the projects captured in the state's 2014 budget.
The Governor is presently constructing an ICT and Business institute in Katsina, the works has reached and advanced stage and the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2014. The Governor set up 28 Paint Cottage Industries and 20 Chalk Cottage Industries where youth are trained. He constructed a Fertilizer Blending Plants at Batsari, Maiadua, Safana and Bakori.
The government also distributed 100 Million Naira as soft loans to about 6000 traders and artisans under the Small Trades Special Credit Scheme. The government also distributed 106 Million Naira under the Youth Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprises Loan Schemes. Over 200 people, including women, benefited from the Quarry Operations Support Program. 50 youths were trained on high tech welding at Nigeria Naval Engineering Training College, Sapele at a cost of 301 million.
Public transport in Katsina state is another area in which Governor Shema administration has written its name in gold. The Katsina Transport Authority can now boast of a modern functional transport system, with enhanced welfare for the common man. The Authority has over 120 vehicles that are of different brand, size and specifications.
The fact that KTSTA is being utilized in daily basis, devoid of all odds, such as high cost of spare-parts, petroleum hike, scarcity etc transport fares charged by the authority remained the same. The governor completed the construction of an airport of an international standard in the State, now Hajj operations are usually taken off from Katsina to Jedda in Saudi Arabia directly.
Governor Shema has constructed new mosques in all the local governments of the state while the Central Juma'at Mosques in all the old seven local governments were rehabilitated and upgraded.
The administration is presently construction an ultra modern shopping mall - opposite the ICT and Business Institute - and an ultra modern international market beside Natsinta Army Barrack, Jibia road. The contract for these projects has been awarded to Mother Cat and Cops Engineering Services respectively.
An attempt to summarize the achievements of the Katsina state government under the leadership of this enterprising, energetic and exemplary visioner would be an effort to diminish his achievements on the scope of these overwhelming evidences that witness to the truth that politics could be played differently and purposefully. Governor Shema has undeniably proven that the whole essence of governance is to be rooted and connected with the people for the purpose acceding for their needs through the instrumentality of government.
A man of immense intelligence and an astute manager of men and resources; thinker and champion of idea based politics, Ibrahim ShehuShema has exemplified politics of performance by setting Katsina on the hills as a measurement for development enshrined in politics.
As those who left their footprints on the sand of time are not easily forgotten, history will judge and acknowledge Dr. Ibrahim ShehuShema as the father of modern Katsina State even long after his tenure would have been over. In recognition of his enviable achievements, his humility, accessibility and prudence in the management of state resources, he has been turbaned Sarkin Yakin Hausa, Attah Ojah of Igala Land, Sarkin Fulanin Katsina and Lamido Fulben Gusau by the Emir of Daura, Attah of Igala, Emir of Katsina and Emir of Gusau respectively. He has received so many garlands and awards among which is the best primary school performance governor in Nigeria at Ukraine and the Niger Republic's second highest national honour to mention but few.
Usman Baba Ahmed, a Public Commentator Wrote in from Minna, Niger State.
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