By;
Abdul-Rahman Baban Saibo
In a society where
politics is flawed and leadership is rotted to a point of decay, the only path
left for the people to follow to attain liberty is to give mandate to men whose
visions has always been to liberate their people through educational and
industrial monuments.
Introduction
(a politician, a philanthropist and a career leader);
In brief, let me make
out an originality of the man known to have served his country and people with
honor, altruism and transparency. Dr. Ibrahim Yakubu Lame, a former minister of
Police Affairs under the Yar’adua administration in 2008 was born in Bauchi
state on 10th February 1953, he obtained a B.Sc in Political
Sciences from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, and he later proceeded to earning
a Ph.D in Higher Education Administration from the University of Ohio, America.
In 1987, he was appointed Commissioner for Education in Bauchi state. In 1992
he was the senator representing Bauchi south in the national assembly. In 1999
he was appointed by President Olusegun Obasanjo the senior special assistant on
Narcotics and Financial Crimes.
Dr. Lame’s political
processions did not stop at the struggle to make a better Nigeria through
earning and attaining political appointments in the political arena, he
furthered the edifice of his people and state in investing businesses and his
school in the state. The Fariah business enterprise is solely known to function
in the state. The one of the best schools in Bauchi state (the best in my
opinion) Fariah Comprehensive nursery, primary and secondary schools (which I
also attended) and the Fariah natural water and beverages together with Fariah
hotels and suites are altogether investments known to be productive amongst
others by Dr. Lame in Bauchi state.
The wikipedia suggested
that the man “was seen as a possible PDP candidate for governor of Bauchi
state”, in the 2003 elections but I must outline that the man’s potentials to
being gubernatorial material have been there since his enrollment in the
Nigerian politics.
An
honorable politician;
Dr. Ibrahim Yakubu Lame
rose to be known of his political triumphs as charismatic, principled and stern
in motives and decisions. After the passing away of President Umaru Musa
Yar’adua the then minister was offered by the successor of the demised leader
to take control of his campaign coordination in the forthcoming general
elections, but as they say “men of honor and integrity die before they fall,”
he declared (2days after the offer as minister for police affairs) his
membership as a member of the ACN party.
On 11th May
2013 four independent parties (ANPP, ACN, APGA and CPC) came to merge to form
the All Progressive Congress APC which in the 2015 election is anticipated to
take over Nigeria. The most prominent opposition politician who manned up to
mobilize these formidable parties which constitutes men of duly recognized
political integrity and achievements, as the only solution to rescuing the
country from running into total collapse, General Muhammadu Buhari in his
speech welcomed and recognized the Dr. Yakubu Lame fourthly after Chief Bisi
Akande, Chief Audu Ogbeh, and Musa Gwadabe. My belief is that General Muhammadu
Buhari made mention of these men in their order of sacrifices and efforts to
ensuring the formation of the party and to bringing an end to the endless
breakage impounded by the ruling party on the nation.
In an interview on 24th
July 2014, Dr. Yakubu Lame told a media correspondent that his interest of
gubernatorial contest will primarily focus on the “issue of governance” he told
the interviewer “our institutions of governance must be made functional, and
once they are functional we can address other issues.” He later went to outline
other areas as to which his administration will focus on if God wills he
emerges as Governor of Bauchi state, these areas are Education, Economy,
Security and Health, all of which any Bauchi indigene may attest to the fact
that the very incumbent Government is doing a maximum of nothing in procuring
the dilapidation of these menaces.
In 2011, the senatorial
contest of the former minister to again represent the Bauchi southerners in the
national assembly was maneuvered by Governor Isa Yuguda by postponing the
senatorial elections of the state which favored the candidature of the man
anointed by the Governor (Sen. Adamu Gumba) in order to maintain the southern
political status of the state to be in support of the PDP. To the utter
surprise of the common man, the former minister took the outcome of the
election in good faith and decided to go for a stronger party (APC merger)
rather than press charges in courts (ran by the PDP themselves) on the
illegalities done during his contest.
A
deserved candidate;
In the 80s the former
minister was known to be the Registrar of the Bauchi state college of
education, and later he escalated to being the rector of the state polytechnic.
A little while after Dr. Lame was made the commissioner for information where
he achieved the project Bauchi state television (BATV). During the Mishelia
regime in Bauchi state Dr. Lame was again a commissioner for youth and sports
in the state, there the man again brought about the existence of the
Multipurpose building which till date functions imminently in serving the
government and the state during gatherings, conferences or summits.
In the aura of the 2015
general election, we can all see that the Nigerian political dimension has
taken a delicate turn whereon the APC is presumed to awake a success whilst the
ruling party appears a failure as its illegalities, impunities and unfairness
continues to dilate in the numerous pictures of the vigorous politicking taking
place in the country. The APC on the other hand, whose motive is believed to elect
its leaders base on competence and credibility took a dashing approach to
building a party of absolute counter for what the PDP is.
Dr. Yakubu Lame told
scan news in an interview in June this year, in his normal rational idealistic
nationalist character that “basically, APC will consider competence and ability
to deliver… in 2015.” The APC gubernatorial candidate from Bauchi further
clarified to his interviewer that the party has no interest in any such
religious or ethno-tribal politics, where he explained that “we believe even if
we decided to do zoning, we will still take the best from the regions, be it
north, east west or south.” The former minister for police affairs, whose
belief also lies in advocating the creation of state police in Nigeria, is in
insistence that the police currently constituted are grossly inadequate for the
country. I’d say that is absolute national experience if not expertise talking.
Conclusion
(why Lame for Bauchi state?);
The famous Arabian
political philosopher Ibn Khaldun gave us an excellent definition of politics
which best adopts the ideologies and the motives of leaders like Dr. Ibrahim
Yakubu Lame. Ibn Khaldun believed that “politics is concerned with ethical and
philosophical requirements, for the purpose of directing the masses toward a
behavior that will result in the preservation and permanence of the human
species.” I for one do agree with this comprehension.
“Former minister of
police Affairs, Dr. Ibrahim Yakubu Lame, who is a gubernatorial aspirant under
the All Progressive Congress (APC) party in Bauchi state, has charged the state
government to explain the “rising debt profile”.”- Daily trust newspaper, 9th
September 2014. Dr. Lame whom is alleged of having a consensual agreement with
the incumbent governor of the state about letting him go scot-free if the
incumbent governor eases his struggle and ensures his emergence to being his
successor in office. I would believe that those people spreading these baseless
and unreasonable rumors have no idea as to who Dr. Lame is.
To further pressurize
the incumbent government, Dr. Lame told the paper that “the states debt profile
of N28 billion is worrisome.” My question too would be to what end did the
government of Bauchi state served its people with such an amount? Dr. Lame’s charge
toward this embezzlement by the state further asks and seeks the explanation as
to why the state is again collecting an additional N15 billion bond.
The people of Bauchi
state should quickly ask themselves the questions deserved to be asked by all
patriotic citizens of the state, “who really is a leader and why does he/she
deserve?” Dr. Ibrahim Yakubu Lame took a stand to charge the incumbent of its impunities;
my personal opinion goes as why aren’t any of the counterparts of this formidable
politician making any efforts in questioning the illegalities and corruptions
of the incumbent?
“With leadership come
not just power and authority to do and to undo, but also responsibility and
accountability to do and to undo rightly, well and justly.”- Former president
Olusegun Obasanjo. I see a man in the struggle to accomplish not just excellence
for his people, but also to sooth this honorable description and
responsibilities of leadership.
.
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