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JUNE 18, 2007 VOL. 21, NO. 10

A New Dawn

**Bukar Ibrahim, former governor of Yobe State**

As the new governor of Yobe State, Senator Mamman Ali, outlines the new policy direction of his administration, fears are rife that the opposition may stall his intended progress
By Sani Mohammed, Maiduguri
So much like a slogan; "Bukar Bukarambe”, or like a solidarity song intended to energise a group for the attainment of a common goal. Of course, the word “Bukar Bukarambe” seemingly represents a symbol of unity and continuity with which the former Governor, Alhaji (Dr.) Bukar Abba Ibrahim allayed fears and anxiety that may greet his exit.
“All those who think that Bukar is gone are mistaken, because as this Bukar leaves, another Bukar is coming, this is what I mean by the reign of Bukar Bukarambe. I want to assure you that, all those projects that are yet to be completed or those promises that are yet to be fulfilled, would be fulfilled by my younger-brother.” These were the assuring words of Governor Ibrahim at the commissioning ceremony of the Ultra-modern palace of the Emir of Potiskum a few days before the May 29 handover.
But a few days after he had mounted the state’s highest seat of power, it was clear that the concept of Bukar Bukarmabe is a myth after all. And like one of the governor’s aides noted, “no two persons are the same”. So to sum up the approach of the former Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts and the new governor of the state, it won’t be wrong to suggest that it is indeed a radical departure for the old order.
Instructively, the old order in Yobe, had a recipe of conflicting analogies: to some, the old regime had made tremendous contributions in many sectors such as education, health, agriculture, water resources, road networks and so on.
But to some others, they hold contrary views, arguing that the eight or ten years of “Bukar’s reign only helped in the All Nigeria People’s Party ANPP enriching the kingmakers in the party. They maintain that, almost 60 percent of what accrued to the state in the last eight years, have gone into private pockets.
Incidentally, the man who supposedly represents the symbol of "Bukar Bukarambe” belongs to the later group. At his campaign rally, the day he opted out of the concensus arrangement, Senator Mamman Ali had berated a regime he said had not been fair to the electorate, noting that his intent was a complete change in the affairs of governance.
First, while it is being celebrated that the former governor had established memorable landmarks in the education sector, the new governor appears dissatisfied as in his maiden address to the people of the state, Ali said that it was not yet uhuru.
“The major reason for our educational backwardness is the inadequacy of requisite facilities that sustain learning. These inadequacies will be gradually redressed.” he said
On the water supply issue, the governor lamented that, majority of the people of Yobe have no access to clean water. The implication, he said, is seen in the high occurrence of water -related diseases. Following this concern, the new governor, while on the podium, gave the Ministry of Water Resources seven- a day ultimatum to come up with a comprehensive blue-print on how to curb the menace of acute shortage of water supply in the state.
Similarly, Ali directed all staffers of the State Ministry of Works to vacate their offices and head straight to Ngum-machin, a road which is begging for attention, adding that “no officer of the works ministry has any business staying in the office”.
Added to these was his desire to check what he may have suspected to be foul-play in the salary wage bills of the state. At his first meeting with the state’s Permanent Secretaries a few days later, Ali had wondered why the state’s wage bill equalled that of Borno when in terms of size, agencies, personnel and so on, Borno is far ahead of Yobe State.
Indeed, in the presence of the ex-Governor, the new governor had expressed disdain over the way and manner his predecessor over tolerated his subordinates whom the former believes have been milking the system to the detriment of the state’s development.
Observers have argued that there is need for urgent changes, especially in the conduct of public officers in the state. Apart from flouting executive orders, people insist that there are massive frauds which the ex-governor pretended not to aware of. Added to this, according to observers, was the free-ticket to affluence granted political touts and relations who benefited a lot and contributed nothing to the development of the state.
A chieftain of the ANPP in the state who chose anonymity, told The Source that all those who claim that there has not been any development in Yobe, are not being fair to Governor Ibrahim. He argued that these are critics who find it difficult to assess Yobe State's development using different barometers other than the one used for the already developed states like Borno, Kano and Lagos.
His words: “It is amazing how people assess the performance of Governor Bukar. They expect him to solve the multi-faceted problems of the state within a decade, even in the face of meagre revenue from the Federation Account.
“Look, Yobe State is not only rural in nature, the people are pre-dominantly poor, highly illiterate, conservative, superstitious and most of all alien to western mode of existence. To develop the area, you must carry the people along by first of all establishing a common ground by which both the government and the people can trade understanding."
In defining these packages, The Source's investigation reveal that the Ibrahim administration offered great assistance to individuals and groups who were emasculated by poverty.
For example, making special social welfare arrangements for destitutes who are given stipends periodically, assisting party supporters in terms of social needs, ill-health; funding of private investments through soft loans and patronising external agencies to contribute their quota to the development of the state.
In this rather generous disposition, some observers found the former governor to be too tolerant to a fault, a situation that may land the new helmsman into the black-books of Yobe political history
For eight years or so, Yobe State has been idealised and uncoun-sciously re-orientated to accept as normal, the principles of “Father Christmasism,” as a result of which change might not be inevitable, but not without some hiccups which must be properly prepared for and intelligently managed, says an ANPP stalwart.
Indeed, opinions appear varied with regards to the possible consequence of any change that may be introduced in the state, especially if it is a radical departure from the old order. In this context, two schools of thoughts have sprouted.
The first is of the opinion that any change that does not recognise and protect the interests of the party’s kingmakers may force a crack in the wall of the ANPP family, and in view of the scanty mandate with which the governor rode to power, he may turn out a lone-ranger in the battle to save the state.
One of the strong members of the ANPP in the state (names witheld) had told The Source that any change introduced in the political system of the state may be considered an anathema to Ibrahim's administrative perception, and must be handled softly and with all sense of humility, otherwise, he said, there might be problems.
The stalwart had argued that in terms of acceptability, Ali’s regime cannot be said to have achieved 100 per cent success, at least based on the circumstances that led to his ascension. Hear him: “There are so many reasons why Senator Mamman Ali must tread gently, at least at this material time.
“First, he should realise that it was not his popularity that brought him to power; moreso that he could not even win in his home council, Potiskum or Fika; he should remember that he is yet to have a firm grip to his success considering the allegations that are being cavassed against him by Senator Albishir and the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Maina Waari at the tribunal.
“It is important for the new governor to also know that the state’s legislative arm is dominated by Albishir’s loyalists and led by the Speaker, Alhaji Zakariya.
“More fundamental in this regard, is the people of Yobe State who have over the years been brought under the ANPP family through the principles of Father Christmas. No one is expecting the maintenance of the status quo, but the time is still somewhere at a distance when the new governor would make any changes he wishes; but first, he should legitimise his regime to its conclusive stage”.
However, some close allies of Governor Ali had stated that all those who share the aforementioned are those who are scared of loosing out in the event of any change. Alhaji Usman Yunusari, an ANPP stalwart in the state hinted that even the ex-governor himself is pleased with the approach of the new man.
Yunusari: “Bukar himself knows that a change is needed to move the state forward. He knew very well that he over-pampered his lieutenants and gave them unlimited freedom, the result of which his lofty expectations ran short of being fulfilled”.
Alhaji Alkali Jajere, another prominent Yobe indigene, also argued that if Ali is to adopt Bukar’s way without introducing any change or innovation, then there is no need for the change of government. He maintained that no two persons are the same and so, there must be changes in their approach to governance.