In this article I will be discussing about His Excellency Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Gaidam, the Governorof Yobe State in the pursuit of Excellencefor Yobe State, about a man who has shown Yobeans, what is worth doing is worth doing well. On the surface it would look partisan, yet within the context it is not, I am discussing it within the confines of the political landscape of Yobe State and specifically the emergence of Ibrahim Gaidam as the Governor of Yobe State, what I did not know is that there could ever come a time when I should chronicle the implications of his heroic pursuit of excellence deriving from a singularly patriotic spirit that wants to transform Yobe State for good.Thisarticle could therefore be said to celebrate someone who surmounted seemingly intractable problems orchestrated as socio-cultural affiliation to bring about a New Era in Yobe State.

Upon assumption of office in 2009 Governor Ibrahim Gaidam was challenged with major setbacks, key among which was how to disengage Yobeans from a scandalous tendency for free Government money and consequently avoid a relapse towhat was known as the good old days, when there seemed to be no accountability. If you have ever wondered why Yobe State especially the Capital City Damaturu was not developed, impoverished, unproductive pathologically backward and lacking in imagination and creativity, this was one factor. The fact was that those who found themselves in the commanding heights of leadership and particularlyin Yobe State put everybody on the pay role and automatically transformed themselves to demi–gods. This policy of carrot and stick became the medium to muzzle the masses to an eventual imbecilic followership of no small dimension. But Ibrahim Gaidam wasted no time in recognizing the malaise as oppressive, obstructive to civilization, development and demeaning.Clearheaded in itsmind about how to pilot Yobe State to its orbit of the New Era, the Gaidam Administration wasted no time in fashioning out solution to this problem and up until now with an unrelenting decisiveness.

Another major challenge encountered by the Bra-Bra Administration (as he is fondly called) is the issue of insecurity, pre-disposed by the Boko-Haram Insurgency. The Governor fully aware that the fundamental objective of governance is the optimum provision of security and welfare, he made funds readily available to finance security operation in the state.

At this point, I may need to remindus that this piece is not an enumeration of the projects executed by His Excellency Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, else I could go on and on to name them but to direct our focus on the crucial steps Ibrahim Gaidam is taking to open up Yobe State to the outside world, and free it from the shackles of conservatism and backwardness. This is necessary because every leader sent by God has a specific mission. In Ibrahim Gaidam we saw that he was not an everyday politician so to speak and confirmed that there is a unique energy that exists in obscurity. His impact would have been lost to the winds, but for providence which turned the table against the greats to set him up for this job, whereunto he is called to do.

Never in my slightest imagination would I have given it to him to excel thus far and, that would be because I did not get to be intimate with him, but his steps since becoming a Governor appear to be calibrated to the last decimal point. He never ventured to new projects not until he had completed all the relevant projects started by his predecessors. It was this singular act of statesmanship that drew my attention to think that he might be truly called by God to Serve.In my Sixty Five years of existence I never saw or heard of a Governor who jettisoned his vaulting ambition at the first instance to do another man’s projects, no, not in Nigeria whereI live.

In furtherance of this agenda, anyone who was familiar with the unsightliness and disorderliness that defined Damaturu and its environs before now will agree with me that Damaturu is now a pleasant place to live and work. It would also seem that Ibrahim Gaidam prognosticated the future before coming in to office. By this I mean to say that he mapped out an orderly manner in which he could develop the state, bearing in mind that Damaturu as the state capital is the first port of destination by any investors. To this end he spared no effort in seeking to upgrade Damaturu to acceptable standards. But just when it happened against all cynicism and doubt, we forgot that human and vehicular movements were before now laborious on the back of motor bikes and, hurtful under the scorching sun on dusty untarred roads, in this Capital City, Damaturu.

Today over 75% of the city roads have been asphalted with drainages and street lights to secure the city. The city transportation system is about the best that can obtain in the present circumstance as Taxi service comes handy when the Keke drivers shut down for security reasons at 6pm.

By his initiative to make the state viable, he also incorporated other major cities for re-positioning to host investors, thus developing them simultaneously with Damaturu to enlarge the scope for vibrant economic activities. Ibrahim Gaidam has not shown any reluctance whatsoever to improve the health facilities in these major cities, and Damaturu where the Specialist Hospital has been upgraded to world standard. The environmental situation is at its best and these cities cannot be said to be unclean by any standard.The hospitality industry in Damaturu especially is growing in leaps and bounds and now offer visitors the best bargain for their money. Educational infrastructure in Yobe State can take scholars and students from anywhere in the world, all in preparation for the state to compete favourably among equals.

Whereas it has been the norm in Nigeria to owe contractors for completed Government project, the cheery news about Ibrahim Gaidam which you may think is too good to be true is that he does not owe contractors. This is in spite of the unprecedented massive construction works, including Network of Roads, Housing Estates, Rehabilitation and concrete infrastructural projects going on in the state.To allay our fears that this may not be true, here are the locations of some highways constructed by this administration which cost billions of naira: Nguru-Machina Road, Maidawa-Gadaka road, Karage- Dawayo-Nguru road, Gashua-Yusufari road, Geidam-Bukarti road, Bularafa-Teteba-Gulani road, Potiskum-Danchuwa road, Kanamma-Kafiya road, Bayamari-Yunusari road to name just a few. Thousands of kilometer stretch of road were also rehabilitated including bridges and culverts to connect communities.

It is important to note the calculated and the orderly development of all the critical infrastructure that could make Yobe State a post war destination for investors. Yobe state had virtually no road network at all, making access to district very impossible, cumbersome and very dangerous through the sand dunes and forests. Investment opportunities in those area are abundant but were restricted to a point of extinction due to accessibility problems and marauders who way-lay those who tried to get there through unconventional routes. Today all that have changed and safety and travel time brought to acceptable standard through the relentless effort of the incumbent administration.

From my perspective, I cannot but conclude that so far, His Excellency Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam as at today displayed a consistent heroic pursuit of excellence for Yobe State, considering the impactful projects executed and durability due to good quality. The township road have been built along with drainage systems and secured with solar lamps all of which will endure the test of time by every standard.The high ways were also awarded to competent contractors to ensure the sustenance of best practices.

The super structures built by the administration speak volume about excellence as the watch word of His Excellency Alh. Ibrahim Gaidam. The Yobe State Specialist Hospital was a mere Dispensary before now, the same was the entire public health infrastructure. The Yobe State University was a glorified Secondary School until this administration transformed the institution to be one of the best in the sub-region. This is also the story about the entire School infrastructure which now records massive school enrolment.

For all you may say about Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam he has got a style all his own, he chose talented Yobeans as his lieutenants which is why he appears relaxed, confident and free flowing, yet firing from all cylinders with a momentum never seen before in all the critical sectors of Yobe State economy. The ministry of works and transport headed by Hon. Lawan Shettima, an indefatigable personality displays a keen understanding of all what the Governor wants to be done by his actions on the ground. Hon Mohammed Lamin, the Hon Commissioner of Education a down to earth man with exceptional knack for thoroughness goes the extra mile to make the realization of excellence in the educational sector a reality.

The Health Sector another critical aspect of this discourse headed by Dr. Mohammed Bello Kawuwa transformed from mortuaries to Hospitals where the sick and the ailing now get succor by his brilliance. The most critical is the ministry of Finance Headed by an impeccable character with the rare combination of nature’s gifts of fearlessness and humility by name Hon. Muhammad Ismaila Nguru;Alhaji Nguru ensures the prudent management of her lean resources.

In summary, it is not an exaggeration to say that Alh. Dr Ibrahim Geidam has re-invented Yobe State for modernity. He has the empirical evidence to show for the exploration and harvestmen of investment opportunity throughout the length and breadth of Yobe State, for the good and the glory of its people. He is therefore the architect of modern Yobe State.

CHUKS OKEKE
Wrote from Damaturu-Yobe State
E-mail- theochutek@yahoo.com
08032648679