Sokoto 2023: Mallam Ubandoma coasting to victory

 By Ahmad Naseer

As political gladiators in Sokoto State begins preparation for the gubernatorial election scheduled for March 2019, the political space is ex­panding with more personalities showing interest in the process that would produce the next governor of Sokoto state.

Though several persons are nursing the ambition for the governorship seat in 2019, it is a fact that only one person will occupy the seat. On the basis of this, there is the need to go into the political market to shop for that leader whose fate is synonymous with the fate of the people.

In all fairness, the PDP flag bearer, Malam Saidu Umar is an experienced leader going by his exploits as former Commissioner of Finance and Secretary to the State Government. The consensus is that, he is indeed a man of higher de­gree of intelligence who is fully prepared for the task ahead. Since his emergence as the flag bearer, Sokoto State PDP has been receiving a boost, both locally and nationally, as it is crystal clear that he is prepared to face the myriad of challenges confronting the state through a well-artic­ulated and multispectral approach with a view to usher in significant transforma­tion in the lives of the people of the state.

Mallam Ubandoma is a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria who also holds an MBA from Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto. The astute former banker and a lecturer with no political past was first introduced to the murky waters of politics when he was appoint­ed Commissioner of Finance during the early days of Gov. Tambuwal’s first ten­ure. He also chairs the widely referenced and highly praised yearly Ramadan Feed­ing Program, which impacted on many hungry mouths in the State. He also en­joys considerable admiration and support among the different sections of youths in the State.

Saidu Umar has a gifted ability to solve most complex problems at a snap of a fin­ger. His selfless leadership quality which radiates confidence and experience saw him into several public and private of­fices. He is a meticulous person articulate and great vision, and a goal getter with exceptional organizational and manage­rial ability of human resources.

Thomas Mann once declared that ‘“ in our time the destiny of man presents its meaning in political terms”. That is to say, in our contemporary experience, it is dif­ficult to make clear separations or distinc­tions between the politics of life and the life of politics. It is pertinent to state with­out mincing words that the Saidu/Sagir team is not coming to mount the saddle of leadership of the state as green horns in human and other resources management.

‘Mallam’, as he is fondly called by his admirers, played great role in the cur­rent administration of Gov. Aminu Wa­ziri Tambuwal as he served as the engine room for general facilitation of govern­ment operations that produced optimum results. His office then, was the secretariat for State Executive Council matters and custodian of all decisions taken at the regular weekly meetings which he coor­dinated. His span in the office witnessed transparency, openness and accountability in the conduct of businesses and activities of the government.

Mal. Sa’idu Umar was born on 23rd January 1966 in Sokoto town, Sokoto State, Nigeria. He graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria with a Bachelor of Agriculture and late holds an MBA from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria. He started banking career in the year 1997 with First Bank of Nigeria Limited before moving to Standard Trust Bank, Plc (STB). He was with the United Bank for Africa as a result of its merger with STB Plc. He then moved to Sky Bank Plc as Business Development Manager, lastly to Ecobank Nigeria Limited where he rose to the rank of Deputy General Manager and Region­al Head, Northwest Region of the Bank; with the responsibility of coordinating the Bank’s business in the States of Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and Jigawa, Nigeria.

Although he had most of his career in banking, Mal. Saidu Umar started his working career as Assistant Lecturer with College of Agriculture Zuru from 1990 – 1991. He worked with Sokoto Investment Company Limited where he rose to the position of Senior Manager.

Mal. Saidu Umar was in October 2015 appointed as Commissioner for Finance Sokoto State, Nigeria. This is similar to Chancellor of Exchequer at the Sub-Na­tional Level. And In 2019 he was appoint­ed the Secretary to Sokoto State Govern­ment.

As an erudite scholar, astute adminis­trator, banker and politician who worked in the private sector and now serving So­koto State and beyond in various capaci­ties, Mal. Saidu Umar is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of National Accoun­tants of Nigeria (FCNA), an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and a Fel­low, Chartered Institute of Economics of Nigeria (FCEN) and a Fellow of the Char­tered Institute of Public Accountants of Nigeria (FCPA), Senior Executive Fellow Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He holds the traditional and religious title of “MALLAM UBANDO­MAN SOKOTO” an important traditional and religious title in the Sultanate Council of Sokoto, Nigeria.

Today, PDP is on its way to retaining power and forming the next government in Sokoto State come 2023, because all the requisite signs are there with the undying Sokoto TAMBUWAL FACTOR still rent­ing the air. The bottom line is, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has not betrayed his people, so the people are solidly behind him, and he understands that democracy is by carrying everybody along. So his choice and that of party faithfuls of Malam Saidu Umar as the flag bearer of the PDP in So­koto is a sign that the state will witnessed an upright leadership that is willing to har­ness the energies of the population to lead purposive, productive, contented and spiri­tually fulfilling lives, while maintaining the state‘s track record of accommodating people of different ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds.

To Sakkwatawa, voting Saidu Umar/Sagir Bafarawa joint ticket is an obliga­tion to consolidate on the success of Tam­buwal administration and governed by a leadership that is accountable to the God and committed to rapid socio-economic transformations through peoples-oriented policies and programmes tailored towards sustainable integrated development.

Ahmad writes from Wurno Road So­koto and can be reached at 08025005383.