From Olanrewaju Lawal Birnin Kebbi
The Special Adviser to Kebbi State Governor on Communications and Strategy, Alhaji Abdullahi Idris Zuru in this interview revealed the reasons the administration of Governor Nasir Idris is waxing stronger, in less than two years in office.
You have been a media aide to the past administrations in Kebbi State. What makes this government of Governor Nasir Idris stand out from previous governments in the state?
To the glory of God, I have been opportune to serve two former governors before the last as media adviser. I had, to the best of my knowledge and ability, served creditably well, and my colleagues in the various governments and indeed the people of Kebbi State, particularly my professional colleagues in the nation’s media industry, can testify to that.
To be fair to the three former governors, each of them did what they were able to do, which they believed made significant impact in the development of the state during their tenures. As human beings, they must have different perceptions of leadership in democratic governance, approach to politicking and development, and that’s where you find very clear differences between them and Comrade Governor Nasir Idris. To be candid with you, Kauran Gwandu (Governor Idris) is an advocate of continuity in governance, and that is why he included completion of ongoing or abandoned projects in his programmes.
What do you think Governor Nasir Idris always consider before pronouncing programme or policy for the people of the state?
He consults his political party, major stakeholders, traditional and religious leaders, as well as experts in the programme or project related areas before making his final decisions on project and programme implementation. Another area of difference worthy of note, is his sincere regards and respect for elders, regardless of their political and ethnic affiliations. The governor always demonstrates actions with humility, generosity and selflessness in his relationship with people of all categories in the state and beyond. Kauran Gwandu has he is fondly called in the state, also prioritises his programmes and remains committed, focused, and unshakeable in their implementation.
We have been seeing a lot of capital projects going on in the state simultaneously. Do you think these projects would not become abandoned projects?
The fact that I told you that Comrade Governor is an advocate of continuity in governance doesn’t mean that he is contemplating handing over abandoned projects after his two terms tenure Insha Allah. It may interest you to know that Kauran Gwandu has never pledged to do what he can not and will never fail in the actualisation of his dream of positive transformation of Kebbi. He doesn’t just start implementing his programme or executing any project which are not in his developmental plan. All these projects you are seeing around are well planned for and they are being executed in stages, spread over a period of time and will never commence without sourcing for funds for the execution.
Contracts are being awarded based on the availability of funds, and contractors are equally being paid at different stages of the project execution as long as the terms and conditions of the contract have not been violated. Therefore, don’t be scared of the numerous projects in different sectors being executed because adequate funds are being provided.
Kebbi State is well known for being a rice producing state, we know that the incumbent Governor was a professional teacher before he became the governor. Is he not going to jettison Agriculture and focus more on Education and teachers’ welfare?
You are absolutely correct, and Kebbi State, under the leadership of Comrade Nasir Idris, will continue to maintain its position of being the largest producer of paddy rice in Nigeria. That is why the agricultural sector was given the required priority by the governor on the assumption of office. If you recall, this administration procured a large quantity of fertiliser and distributed it to real farmers free of charge. He also procured solar powered irrigation pumps and sold to the farmers at highly subsidised prices. His total support for farming is to ensure that cultivation of farm produce, both food and cash crops, are for business purposes which will serve as another viable venture for economic empowerment and ensure that there is sufficient food in the state and in the country.
That is why the government introduced a number of support services and incentives in addition to sustainable provision of farming inputs and implements for all categories of farmers in the state. So, bear it in mind that Kebbi State will soon be the number one nation’s food basket.
You are also correct on the position of Comrade Governor Nasir’s interest in the educational sector. Let me also remind you that the governor is not only a thoroughly trained professional teacher, but a leader in the nation’s highest decision-making body responsible for the welfare of workers in all sectors of the economy and how to improve the standard of education in Nigeria. I am sure that you have not forgotten that he rose from the state Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) to its National President and reached the peak of the leadership of the nation’s workers union, by becoming the Deputy National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Having said that, let me say without fear of contradiction that teachers and all categories of workers at all levels in Kebbi State have never had it so good, like they re having under this administration. It is on record that Comrade Nasir Idris has cleared about 20 years backlog of civil servants gratuity including death benefits inherited, maintain regular payment of monthly salary and pensions, clearance of the huge debt on payment of scholarship for both local and foreign students and payment for NECO and WAEC examinations fees and collection of results.
He didn’t stop there; he has also increased the years of service for teachers from 35 years of service to 40 years or 65 years old age. Similarly, he had renovated many primary and secondary schools, employed additional 4,000 teachers for both primary and secondary schools, constructed hundreds of classroom blocks. And now he is in the process of establishing additional primary and secondary schools across the state. All these have been achieved within two years of this administration. You can imagine what will be achieved in the next six years, Insha Allah.
Since the assumption of office of the governor, what do you think has been his major challenge that if he overcome it, his administration would have moved faster than this in term of infrastructure development?
The major challenge is the scarcity of funds for the much-needed transformation of the state that suffered serious neglect in virtually all sectors in the past. Particularly, the decay in the infrastructure facilities including the state capital which has been tagged as a ‘glorified local government headquarters’.
The express development achieved so far are the products of Comrade Nasir Idris’ transparency, accountability, and focused and judicious utilisation of the scarce fund. His all-inclusive policy, which involves major stakeholders, traditional and religious leaders including non-partisan respected elders, and dedication of civil servants, also contributed to the successes recorded so far.
If Governor Nasir Idris could have access to more funds with the rate at which he is executing viable projects and implementing socio-economic development-oriented programmes and policies now, I can assure you that within the shortest period, Kebbi State would be among the fastest developing states in Nigeria.
Many critics of the governor, see his administration as a welfarist government which spends a lot on the people’s welfare. They wonder that the government might not have enough to face other government businesses. What is your reaction to this?
I don’t know why you are avoiding calling him his popular name among the people of the state. It is in the public domain that people now call him ‘the Grand Commander -in-chief of Hospitality and Welfare’ (GCOW). You must have observed or heard what people are saying about his humility, selflessness, generosity, and accommodating attitudes towards people.
Till now, Governor Nasir Idris have not forgotten his childhood friends, schoolmates, colleagues at different places of work, neighbours at home and away, as well as comrades in Aluta continua community. He receives and attends to their individual and collective problems and requests. These qualities and exemplary attitudes have been his trait of leadership before he ventured into partisan politics.
He is also carrying along his wives Hajiya Zainab Nasare and Hajiya Nafisa Nasir Idris who are providing for the needs of the aged, people with special needs, the less privileged in the villages, by providing them with food, clothes, medicine and training in different trades so that they could be self-employed through their pet projects. Despite all these, Governor Idris has been able to change the narrative of socio-economic development, after all, governance is not only about provision of infrastructure but also ensuring peace, rest of mind and welfare of the people, particularly the aged and less privileged families.
Don’t forget that the motor or slogan of Kebbi State is ‘The land of Equity.’ Therefore, Comrade Nasir Idris administration is only demonstrating his commitment to the actualisation of the slogan by ensuring equitable distribution of projects and services based on the acceptable rational consideration. The expansion and beautification of township roads you witnessed in Birnin Kebbi will be replicated in the Emirate headquarters, although not the same size with the state capital. Thereafter, we shall move to the local government headquarters and major villages for execution of various capital projects. That’s justice, equity, and fairness.
With the implementation of N75,000 for all the cadres of workers in the state. Don’t you think that would be a huge burden on the state?
Do you expect a former leader of the Nigerian workers to be left behind in the implementation of a policy that will improve the well-being of the workers? You remember the minimum was N70,000, but the Comrade Governor confidently increased it to N75,000 in Kebbi State, conscious of the position of the government coffers. Comrade Governor Nasir is now being considered a role model by the present generation of politicians in view of the success of the implementation of his administration’s policies and programmes.
What is the government doing about Lakurawa?
This administration is determined to ensure the safety of lives and property of the people. Comrade Governor Nasir has provided the necessary material and financial support to all the security agencies operating in the state in order to effectively discharge their responsibilities. In a situation where there is an urgent need for reinforcement, the governor usually requests for additional support from the Armed Forces Command’s headquarters just like it happened during the recent attack by Lakurawa bandits. I am saying it without fear of contradiction that Kebbi State is comparatively safe, relatively free of armed banditry attacks, and comfortable for business transactions.
