By Usman Usman Garba
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Abraham Lincoln.
There is no doubt that Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State has become unique, champion, incomparable and methodical leader in the midst of all politicians in the state and beyond.
Whether one likes him or not, there are some outstanding qualities that no one can take away from him, and these lead to his success and continue doing so ad infinitum, in piloting the administration of the state.
For years, Baba Ganduje is well-known by his loyalty, dedication, humility, compassion, straightforwardness, simplicity, sympathy, benevolence, audacity, warm-heartedness and decorum.
These features and many more permeate his entire life to date. If one is skeptical on that, henceforth, pay a keen attention to his services, interactions and relationships to all; rich, poor, Ulama, businessmen and top government officials.
Truly, he who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness. Thus, it is of great advantage for all to know that he who is destined for power does not have to fight for it because, a great leader is an ordinary person with an extraordinary wisdom.
Lucky to the people of the state, before elected as the governor, the renowned Khadimul Islam (custodian of Islam) was a local government chairman, a commissioner, a Secretary to Lake Chad Basin Commission, a deputy governor, and now a serving governor with tremendous experience on administration.
In terms of work, he is like a clock with the slogan ‘Aiki, Aiki, Aiki Baba.’
Being a methodical man with a clear vision of his goal, he completely changed the outlook of the state from what it was to a modern city, like anyone in the world.
Today, the state is beautified with several flyovers and underpasses; roads and gardens; modern markets and skills acquisition centres for youths to be self-employed; hospitals and schools with full of equipment, to mention but few.
During Coronavirus, the incomparable governor fought the pandemic which lastly isolated it itself. I always remember his words as “Today, Kano is free from Covid-19. We followed all the protocols and isolated the isolator. No more Coronavirus in Kano,” he asserted.
Many were marveled at his extraordinary talent on how he strategically curbed the menace within few months. Brothers and sisters, this is the will of Allah as the governor engages Ulama to pray for the state daily.
What is extraordinarily unique to him, compared to other leaders, is simply that, he is not arrogant or unfocused. He is known for paying homage to elders, Ulama, business moguls, and talakawas irrespective of one’s social background.
He attends people’s wedding Fatima, burial ceremonies and commiserates with bereaved families as well.
Today, in the state, show me a leader with such qualities despite the burden of leadership on him? The answer is certainly no one except him, Baba Ganduje.
He often stands firm for the progress of APC and its leadership in the state and beyond by carrying all along. APC was known as a mixture party before, but now, he singlehandedly changes it to a compound political party which can never be dissolved by the use of chemical unlike a mixture party which can easily be separated.
One of the marvelous and charismatic styles of the governor is that, the words he spoke yesterday are still his words today.
This made him to be a visionary leader and one whose destiny of the state rests in his shoulders.
Sir, keep your head and your heart going in the right direction and you will not have to worry about your feet. Your style is what the state needs presently.
Let all know that, a slow movement of a tiger is not a mistake but a well calculated move. If Allah wills, you will one day pilot the affairs of the country as you said, during a press briefing that: “I am not yet tired on politics. I am in politics since 1978.”
Words are insufficient to enumerate his numerous achievements during his six years of administration in office. There is no sector left untouched.
He built and reconstructed schools and hospitals with adequate qualified teachers and doctors. Roads are in abundance. He establishes vocational centres where men and women are trained to be self-reliant (Dangote Skills Acquisition Center as example).
Jobless and orphans are often sponsored.
Many under-privileged women were married and empowered besides converting pagans to Islamic religion as Khadimul Islama of the state.
On health care services, the quality of equipment he invested at Muhammad Buhari Cancer Treatment Center, paediatric hospital and Giginyu Specialist Hospital are of the same with health facilities abroad. They are facilities that when you see them, you will not like to go abroad anymore.
As a bridge master, Dr. Ganduje provided standard roads, several flyovers and underpasses which significantly ease traffic flaw across the state in addition to beautifying and modernising the ancient city, as well as improving business activities.
Today, due to his tactics on security matters, the state is the most peaceful in the whole Northern Nigeria and beyond.
He invites all the security agencies to be part of his government in order to tackle the menace of insecurity within and outside the state, and all these efforts are not by accident as the governor installs many security gadgets in his office and police headquarters in the state.
He establishes military training ground at Falgore Forest, donated 100 hectares to Nigerian Navy, Barracks for National Drugs Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), creates community policing across the 44 local government areas headed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Usman Alhaji, installed CCTV cameras which from his office, sees what exactly is going on in the state and beyond, all in an effort to create an enabling environment in the state.
In terms of national integrity, we can strongly declare that Baba Ganduje is second to the non in our beloved country, Nigeria.
Garba is of the staff of The Triumph and can be reached via usmangarba100@gmail.com or 08069871400.
