CONGRATULATIONS TO HIS EXCELLENCY SEN. UBA SANI ON HIS ONE YEAR IN OFFICE CELEBRATION

By Mohammed Rabiu Bako.

While I congratulate Governor Uba Sani on a successful one year in office, the very least I can do is reminisce on his achievements in the last 12 months despite the chunk of challenges he has had to come across. In the words of Rosalynn Carter, “A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.” In an attempt to do better and transform the livelihood of citizens as well as provide essential governance in Kaduna State, Governor Uba Sani continues to write his name on the sands of history. In the last one year of his administration, it is evident that he has been able to put Kaduna State on the right track to progress.

EDUCATION: The Uba Sani administration has prioritized education by making some major and significant shifts, like reducing the cost of tertiary fees to make it affordable for all. This gesture by the government further touched the basic education where school fees were slashed. Beyond that, there has been a major rehabilitation of schools across the state and construction of new ones too. At least 2,326 new classrooms have been constructed and the renovation of over 707 classrooms all in one year. So unprecedented indeed!

INFRASTRUCTURE: In the area of infrastructure, the administration has done way more than any of his predecessors in the first year in office. Not less than 406km of road network have been awarded to be constructed across the 23 local government areas. His focus on rural development rather than the urban/metropolis set him in the league of leaders with the mindset of creating a lasting legacy of shared development across board. The idea to shift from the urban development program initiated by his predecessor to the development of rural areas and suburbs remains one of the high points of the administration because its economic impact cannot be overemphasized.

SECURITY: It is fair to say that the security challenges in Kaduna has been managed and dealt with by every measure, the Governor has left no stone unturned in combating insecurity. First, the Governor signed a law to assist government in tackling banditry and kidnappings. The law is accompanied by a special trust fund to support security operations. Further, the recruitment of about 7000 vigilante security outfit is not alone a contributory to successes of the war but has also covered the gap of unemployment. More so, by his constant interactions with security personnels, religious and traditional leaders, stakeholders in the state such as the Elders Forum and Senior Citizens, a formation of notable and respected senior citizens of the state that have been of great assistance in guiding and advising the government, and with that, Government have been able to manage and solve the major issues with regards insecurity. To mark the one year anniversary, Governor Uba Sani has donated 150 trucks and 500 to help in terms of mobility and swift service to help fight crime in the state.

In all, Governor Uba Sani has achieved a whole lot that stretches to  include foreign investments with the Qatari’s to build thousands of affordable housing units amidst so much investments both locally and internationally. All these are done with limited resources following the debts he inherited and deduction being made, but nevertheless he continues to prove that he is capable of managing the resources of Kaduna State and deliver good governance. Meanwhile, the highest point of the Uba Sani administration is his ability to unite the two paradoxical opposites, i.e. the north and the south, Christians and Muslims in a way that his predecessor wasn’t able to handle. However, the government must continue to remain focused and not to relent in working together with all stakeholders including the youth organizations, women and pressure groups so as to succeed in his programs for the development of the state. Lastly, the governor must continue to be for all irrespective of political affiliation –and must be open to criticism. He must be deliberate in closing his ears to critics and focus on the major tax of governance; in view that he has more years ahead. With that, people will have no choice than to have confidence in what is to be done and achieved in the years ahead –to plan well and also to give ‘marada kunya’.