Vice President, Kashim Shettima, GCON at 58: A Birthday Wish and A Call for Attention.

I wish to join the millions of people of Nigeria, Borno State and especially those from Borno South in wishing His Excellency a happy birthday. We pray to Allah SWT to grant him a long, long life in good health and wisdom in the service of the motherland and humanity. This birthday, coming after the first anniversary of the current Administration, is significant in more ways than one. First, the take-off challenges associated with a new Administration, would have been reasonably addressed. Second, the government vision should have been gotten clearer. We wish you and the President, C in C, well.
The onerous task of leading a huge and diverse nation like Nigeria, cannot be taken for granted. But for sure, you and your principal, Mr. President C-in-C is more than capable. History, experience, and the prayers of patriots are with you. May you keep doing His will, especially when it comes to justice and fair play for all Nigerians.
This humble birthday wishes, Your Excellency, is also intended to draw your attention to the challenges of infrastructure deficits in your backyard; the Southern flank of Borno State. A state you superintended its affairs for 8 years in executive capacity and much more as a member of the State's Executive Council (Exco). As the number two man in nation, you are in a good state to enhance your home base and also leave an enduring legacy behind if you could pay attention to the physical and social infrastructure decay across Southern Borno. A region whose electoral value cannot be taken for granted. Most astute politicians take pride in flaunting their complete electoral safety on the "home front." Southern Borno had been veritable part of the Borno political experience. Whether as a "one party" state since the GNPP era in the 80s through to the current APC or as a victim of the decade and a half Boko Haram insurgency.
However, Your Excellency, while Southern Borno has shared the pains of the State, the opportunities that accrue to the polity has been less reflective of this fact. The Gwoza IDPs in Cameroon are still there. The majority of the Chibok girls are yet to come home and the issue seemingly getting relegated. Biu town believed to be the defector political center of Southern Borno has its roads and water infrastructure in complete state of ruins. Your Excellency may be in a position to attest to this fact since information has it that you had a stint in one of the post primary institutions at Biu in the 80s. And might even be conversant with the popular “gauta da yaji" (spiced garden egg) delicacy, or take a few steps of what looks like the Ethiopian eskista-themed Waksha-Waksha dance!
The Biu Dam conceived about 40 years ago is yet to deliver a drop of water to Biu Town and environs. The vision of irrigation in the circumstance doesn't arise as the domestic needs could not be met as a matter of priority. If the Dam had come on line twenty years ago, it would have been ripe for desilting/dredging. In fact, President Obasanjo as far back as 9th, July, 2000. communicated the willingness of his government to partner with the Borno State Government to complete the Biu Dam, but to no avail. The state government has not been able to prioritize it with all seriousness.

There have been symbolic concerns in the recent past, Your Excellency, but be rest assured that it could only go as far. The supply system which is one of the critical aspects of potable water delivery, hasn't been articulated. Your government shouldn't allow the Biu Dam to become another white elephant project in the North East. So much hope and resources shall be at stake, needlessly. As regards roads linking Biu, the town has literally and metaphorically been at a serious crossroads. Litera, ly Biu town sits on the intersection of two major highways. One, from North to South and the other East to West. The North-South highway links Damaturu the Yobe State capital via Biu to Gombi in Adamawa state over a distance of about 225 kms. Those old enough could vividly recall with nostalgia, the project signboards at Biu and Damaturu, reading: "Damaturu-Biu-Little Gombi" as the project and the FGN, its client. The defunct "Stirling Astaldi Nig. Ltd" as the contractor. The East-West connects Maiduguri via Damboa and Biu to Gombe town in Gombe state. It covers a distance of 202 kms. Biu is 117 kms to Gombe. A feeder road also branches of the Damaturu-Biu highway to Gunda, a border town near the Southern tip of Yobe state and some parts of Gombe state.
Your Excellency, these networks of roads were constructed about half a century ago. Precisely, in the twilight of the 60s and early 70s. Eras that could be less demanding than now after the population and human-to-human interaction had doubled. Unfortunately, and regardless of the positive role infrastructure plays in regional and national development, successive governments left the network to go into a total state of dilapidation. The one-hour journey from Damaturu to Biu now takes more than three. The extension to Garkida-Gombi, the same thing. The Gombe to Biu, too, which should be two hours now takes more than three. The road from Biu to Maiduguri has been closed since 2016. Attempt to open it in 2018, couldn't endure because of Boko Haram challenges and government's half-hearted attempt to keep it accessible. A situation that emboldened the insurgents operating in the ungoverned space.

The national government's vision that informed the Biu network of highways was to facilitate economic activities especially agriculture and livestock, plus general commerce. The South-North highway was meant to evacuate livestock and farm produce from the Mambila-Adamawa enclave to the Railway Station at Buni-Yadi and from there to the Southern parts of the Country.
There was also a cotton Ginnery in Biu, which, together with the ones in Gombe, fed the textiles in Kaduna and Kano. The link between Biu in Maiduguri was meant to shorten the travel time for local commuters and Eastern Nigeria-bound (through Jos) haulage of goods, especially from the Lake Chad zone. Your Excellency, all these, have but gone. The people of Biu and most of the communities along the corridors of the now dilapidated highways have since become economically challenged over time. Widespread poverty has taken over. And the little so produced by necessity are traded with next door neighbors at ridiculous terms. The Biu area and parts of Southern Borno have been the natural food basket of Borno and other neighbouring states given its rich soil and abundant rainfall. The dearth of the physical infrastructure like roads have, however, denied the state the full benefit of the same. Especially in revenue and food self-sufficiency.

In Gunda, Your Excellency, people are forced to trade with enclaves like Ashaka and Ngalda in Gombe and Yobe states, respectively. Tons of maize and beans are taken to these markets before finding their way to Dawanau Market in Kano. Farmers in the South West part of Biu like Kwaya Kusar, Ɓayo etc depend on Gombe while those in the North East (Gwoza, Uba) go to Mubi and other markets in Adamawa.
Your Excellency, in view of this ugly socioeconomic development and also the need to relief the terrible hardships of the communities in Biu alongside with those along the affected highway corridors, you may wish to;
• Get the Biu Dam completed
• Reconstruct, (not patch) the Damaturu-Biu-Garkida highway
• Do all it takes to open and keep open the Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu road
• Construct the Biu/Miringa-Garubula-Gunda-Tattaba link road
• Put more effort in bringing back the remaining Chibok girls and
• Evacuate the willing Gwoza and other IDPs from neighbouring Cameroon and Chad to their ancestral homes. These are few among the numerous excruciating pains of the people.
Mr. Vice President, Sir, without doubt, you are in a good stead to address the humble challenges aforementioned and more. The capacity and support system are there to leverage. Your Excellency, you have a very capable and hardworking governor at the home front. Borno State hosts the headquarters of the North East Development Commission (NEDC). You also have the NSA from the brotherly neighbouring Adamawa state
The Borno State team, comprising the VP, the Governor, Senate Chief Whip, the Senate Appropriations Chair, and other loyal legislators in the federal and state assembly, could not be more formidable. The team is also too privileged to fail. All that is needed is the political will and the compassion to do the right thing. A legacy mark is required.
Your Excellency, please, accept my assurances of highest regard.
A. G. Abubakar.
agbarewa@gmail.com

Happy birthday to the vice president.

Wishing him many more fruitful years ahead

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