The former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar is among the candidates contesting for the seat of governor of Bauchi state come 2023 general elections.
The retired Air Marshall joined the governorship race under the All Progressives Congress (APC) having won the primary election with 370 votes.
Read also: Hungry N’East And Zulum’s Ambitious Lake Chad Project
The former air force boss is competing with the incumbent governor of the state, Senator Bala Muhammad who is contesting for his second term under the banner of the major opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Senator Halliru Dauda Jika of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).
One might have wondered why the retired air marshal took the bull by the horn to challenge the incumbent governor of the state knowing fully the power of incumbency factor.
However, Air Marshal Abubakar (rtd) has recently clear the air on why he is contesting for the office of governor of Bauchi state. In an exclusive interview, Abubakar stated his plans for the people of Bauchi state if elected into office during the 2023 general elections.
Air Marshal Abubakar (rtd) had promised that if elected governor of Bauchi state in the next election season, he will accord priority to following sectors; education, health, women and youth empowerment and agriculture among others.
On education Abubakar said: “Education will be one of my top priorities. A society will never survive or develop without sound education. Once you allow illiteracy to flourish in a society, the people of that society will never progress.
“So, education is one of the things I will prioritize if elected into office. Remember, even in the Qur’an, the first verse that revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), was an order from Allah directing the Prophet to read. And that signifies the importance of knowledge to human life.
“So, if you as a leader deny your subjects, access to sound education I think that could be the highest level of wickedness a leader can do to his subjects. Whatever position one attains in life; it is education that takes him there, then why will you as leader deny your subjects access to sound education?,” he stated.
The former air force boss also promised to improve on women education by bringing up programs that will improve women education in the state, noting that although women constituted large portion of votes during every election in this country, but they are not benefitting much from the dividends of democracy.
Read also: The man Abdullahi Karaye: First speaker of Kano House of Assembly
“I will also give priority to women education. Because if you educate woman, you educate the entire society but if you educate man, you only educate him not a society as in the case of woman. My administration will ensure that women in Bauchi state have acquired sound education that is related to heath because as mothers, they are first care givers in the society.
Next to education, air marshal Abubakar (rtd) said was health sub-sector, as according to him a society also needs to have healthy people and clean environment to prosper.
“For a society to develop, the people of the society must be educated and must have sound healthcare service delivery in place. So, after education, health sector will also be given needed attention. Under this sub-sector, my administration will come up with programs that will take care of the health of aged women, children and less privileged in Bauchi state. These categories of people need special attention from government, but at present, we do not have concrete plan on ground that is taking care of the health needs of these people in Bauchi.”
“Statistics have shown that 1,549 women are dying out of every 100,000 births given in Bauchi state. This is a great loss not only to their immediate families but to Bauchi state in general because if the women are still alive, I am sure they will make positive impact on the lives of members of their respective families and the state as whole” he argued.
Another important area which the retired air marshal promised to accord priority is collaboration among the concerned stakeholders to move the state forward.
According to Abubakar good governance is not the responsibility of the people in the corridor of power alone, rather, a collective responsibility for all and sundry.
“For me, all hands must be on deck so move the state forward. Either at the local government level or state level, we need everybody to work together and develop Bauchi state. So, my plan is to bring everybody on board to improve the well-being of our people.
“The business class, academicians, elites, politicians, civil servants and even Achaba riders have a role or two to play in moving the state forward.
“I want see a new Bauchi state where each and every member of the society is enjoying. I want ensure that every child in the state not only goes to school but acquire sound education. I want see every able man in the state become self-reliant. I want ensure that Buachi every natural resources the state is endowed is adequately utilized for better results.
“I will also sponsor qualified Bauchi youth to study every aspect of petroleum resources so that after their studies they will come back to the state and man our petroleum resources for a benefit of all and sundry. All these can be done if there is political will and patriotism.”
Read also: Tinubu, Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso Battle For Buhari’s Seat
“I would also want to see a New Bauchi state where farmers at all levels are being encouraged to boost their productivity. My administration will ensure provision of adequate farm implements and extension workers in order to improve agricultural activities in the state.”
On women and youth empowerment, Abubakar promised that if elected governor of Bauchi state, he will introduce series of empowerment programs with a view reducing redundancy among women and youth in the state.
