BY ADAMU YALWA GABI
When the present administration with the slogan CHANGE MANTRA came on board precisely 29th May 2015, most of the elites in Nigeria expected the number one VIP of the country Muhammadu Buhari to carry along one of his freedom fighters or FIELD MARSHALL who occupies a full page on daily bases WRESTLING WITH THE WARRIORS in the Nigerian dailies to pave way for his boss get entrance in to the presidential villa.
The anticipation was by way of bringing the Professional Accountant and a career journalist by experience Mal. Adamu Adamu who does not even need more introductory background in the eyes of the readers as a COLUMNIST if not to follow a criteria in making my writing catchy and result oriented by attaching him closer to the government so as to enjoy THE SAME SHADE after years of battling with the PEN PROFESSION in protecting the interest of a person they share THE SAME IDEOLOGY.
Consequently, right from day one many politicians believed there is no way Adamu Adamu could not cut and eat from the MILKY BUTTERED CHOCOLATE CAKE placed on the Mr. president’s dining table, perhaps others thought he will be assigned with the portfolio of Ministry for information if happens to be among the FEC Members as as a journalistic icon.
Though, it has been a tradition in the country even when the presidential office was in DODAN BARRACKS, situated at OBALENDE area of IKOYI LAGOS just near the BROADCASTING HOUSE, headquarters of FRCN to assign any ministerial portfolio to a professional different from what he specialised on up to Abacha’s regime which i am more conversant with after relocating the FCT to Abuja by IBB during which he Abacha appointed pharm. Hamza Muhammad Sakwa Sarkin shanun katagum from Bauchi State as Minister for water resources,former IGP Gambo Jimeta Agriculture and a reknowned northern elder state man from funtua, Katsina state late Wada Nas as special duties Minister as well as chief Dan Eteteh Petroleum resources all of which they performed excellently well in the provisional ruling council.
To me, Mal Adamu Adamu has actually taken Nigerians by surprise with all the critics he suffered from being a non partisan politician prior to his appointment but since the power of God and constitution had empowered a sitting president to appoint anybody he so wishes as part of his cabinet, there by proving the saying WHAT GOD HAS JOINED TOGETHER, LET NO MAN PUT ASUNDER.
Contrary to one of my previous articles with the topic Adamu Adamu silence while in power, expressing my opinion for keeping his mouth shut on the academic unions strike unlike when he was not obliged to be in power, this time honour has to be given to whom honour is due for his resilience and steadfast in showing an unprecedented love and affection not only to people of his home town but entire katagum zone and beyond for establishing the new federal university of health and nutrition in Azare.
I strongly believed the Nigerian Minister for education wouldn’t have been offended or provoke for echoing my opinion on merely what almost everybody has observed but instead i thought he may even be oppressed to read such kind of TEXT from his child being an immediate junior to my late father in secondary school and his subordinate in the PEN PROFESSION.
However, myself as a classmate to his first son at FGC Azare, i knew he ought to be happy to see a young person trying to follow the footsteps of his biological father by ensuring i don’t run out of ink no matter the situation and coping with a sleepless night to announce my arrival on the most challenging scene as it is the wish of a good father to see his child excelling so long he receives the blessings of that father.
In order not to make readers of this piece feel i am beating around the bush, the write up is intended to salute, commend and ginger my appreciation in particular that of people of KATAGUM ZONE and by extension other well meaning citizens from remaining angles in the Bauchi state who does not view any progress or attempt to develop KATAGUM that is awaiting decoration with the highest rank of state soon insha Allah as a sentiment or otherwise.
Moreover, even with the criticism,sabotage and outcry that emanate when two ministers from Bauchi State were nominated from the same LGA, it shouldn’t be an issue to RAISE THE EYE BROW considering the zone is yet to be given opportunity in producing a governor since the return of democracy in 1999 with all the support GUDIRAWA give in electing previous governors and the incumbent under the umbrella of PDP in President Muhammadu Buharis led APC administration.
As the saying goes by, charity begins at home and opportunity comes at once Adamu Adamu had done the needful for setting the federal university of health and nutrition to his home town after all there is ATBU, Federal Polytechnic, Campus of the Bauchi State University and Tatari Ali polytechnic in the state capital. The development that came barely less than a year when a brother to Governor Bala Muhammad who is the executive chairman BSPHCDA Dr. Rilwanu Muhammad made a pronouncement that there was a mysterious death recorded as a result of high mortality rate in same Azare, statement that generates negative reactions from sons and daughters of the area to the extent he apologized that it was a sleep of tongue.
No doubt ,the new federal versity will provide job opportunities not only to people of the area, the state but the country in general as there is no embargo for restricting employment to any federal higher institution to only the host community where the apex learning institution is to be located.
Going into a simple analysis, immediate past chief of air staff who held from Giade one of the seven LGAs that made up the zone rtd Air Marshal Saddique facilitated the construction of Air force military base including a school and clinic with the state of art facilities in Bauchi zone which caters for the entire north east and Air force University in Bogoro LGA, but there was no any negative colouration to challenge him as the son and soil of the area because development is needed everywhere.
Infact, Saddique that was garbaged in diplomatic attire after his sack was said to have revalidated his APC membership card in preparation for guber election come 2023 even without a single project he ushered there but he shall continued to be remembered.
Remember, Mal. Adamu Adamu using his official previledge on this Matter and establishing of federal college of education Jamaare as well as federal technical college Misau is a thing to be reknowned with knowing that if he could be given the chance to relocate FCT to another place by Buhari based on the trust and confidence reposed on him, the career journalist will never have a second thought on Azare.
Hon. Minister Sir, while assuring you of my stand not to fold my hands in protecting your image on this subject at all cost as a result of unwanted utterances and politics of Calumny against you by some undesirable elements for pleasing your community, i equally remain resolute in firing back on the issue of BAUCHI-KATAGUM factor within the available God owned talent am blessed with so long it is baselessly farmented.
In conclusion, i solicit for your guidance and counseling for me to keep the torch aglow and MAY ALLAH CONTINUE TO GIVE YOU MORE WISDOM AND PROTECTION THROUGH OUT YOUR ENDEAVOURS.
Adamu Yalwa Gabi is a graduate of Quantity Surveying from ATBU, Bauchi
adamumgabi@gmail.com
08033990884