By Francis Sardauna
May 29th, 2015 can never be forgotten in the history of Katsina state, the memories left by this day will forever remain fresh and indelible in the minds of patriotic citizens of the state, including political gladiators irrespective of their political inclinations.
It is a memorable day because it was the day that the Architect of modern Katsina State, Barrister Ibrahim Shehu Shema, handed over the mantle of leadership to his successor, Aminu Bello Masari after eight years of stirring and unwavering developmental projects.
While the Nigerian political space is currently being dominated by invariably self-serving and office-seeking actors, here comes a man with unparalleled selflessness and inclination to developmental politics and people-oriented projects.
It is incontrovertible that no sector in Katsina state has been left undeveloped by Shema when he served the state between 2007 to 2015 because he initiated and completed numerous developmental projects without borrowing a single kobo during his administration.
He constructed the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University, Katsina State Institute of Technology and Management, Yusuf Bala Usman College of Legal Studies, 200 secondary schools, 34 Girls primary school and 100 Almajiri Model schools to support Almajiri system of education with a total population of over 17,000 students as at 2015.
During Shema’s tenure, primary schools structures were expanded to storey building with state-of-the-art learning facilities, while primary education was free and compulsory for all children in the state. Payment of WAEC, NECO and other examination fees for indigent and non-indegent students in public schools were a yearly routine during his tenure.
Over 800 students were sponsored by Shema’s government to study medicine, pharmacy, nursing, dentistry, physiotherapy, radiology, computer and marine engineering within and outside the country. He also reviewed salaries of lecturers in state-owned tertiary institutions and provided school buses to convey students to their various schools in the state.
Shema set a new record of achievements which remained indelible in the state’s health sector. He built and equipped 361 clinics in each of the 361 political wards of the state, 86 primary healthcare centres in strategic or catchment communities across the state.
The Sarkin Fulanin Katsina also stamped the feats with the construction of a 250-bed capacity Orthopaedic and Specialist hospital, and rehabilitation of all the state’s general hospitals and supplied them with state-of-the-art equipment for effective and efficient healthcare delivery.
He is the first Katsina governor to introduce an ambulance service scheme in the 34 local government areas of the state. It is noteworthy that the government of Shema provided free medical care to women, children, dialysis and malaria patients as well as accident victims worth billions of naira.
Training and retraining of state’s medical doctors and nurses within and outside the country on areas of specialisation was another ultimate priority for Shema’s administration throughout the lifespan of his government, because hundreds of such health workers had benefited from the gesture in the state.
The electoral promise of the former governor to revolutionise and sustain agricultural activities in the state was equally fulfilled. He provided fertiliser at the cost of less than N1,800 throughout the eight years of his administration. He procured and distributed 340 Messi Ferguson tractors at discounted price to farmers in the state.
He established Katsina Songhai agricultural project in three senatorial districts of the state, resuscitated irrigation farming schemes at Jibia, Sabke, Mairuwa, Ajiwa and provided irrigation pumps, improved seedlings with insecticides and extension services to farmers, especially those in hard-to-reach communities.
In the area of water supply, Shema drilled over 3,000 boreholes across the state, purchased borehole-drilling equipment and trained the state engineers in Germany during his tenure as the governor of Katsina state.
As a political footsoldier of later President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who had the plight of the masses in mind, Shema did not neglect rural dwellers in his scheme of affairs. He constructed over 100 semi urban water schemes and rehabilitated Dams for the general improvement of water supply in the state.
To boost economic activities, the ex-governor constructed over 3,000 kilometres of roads with solar-powered lighting in major streets, especially in Katsina, the state capital. He dualised the township roads of Malumfashi, Kankia, Mani, Dutsinma, Daura, Funtua/ Sokoto road bypass.
Shema built a dualised ring road around the state capital and numerous other road projects within the Katsina metropolitan area. He procured road-making equipment and electrified many towns and villages across the state.
This architect of development also constructed several markets in the state in his quest to encourage and boost commercial activities. He built Dubai International market, Katsina City Mall and Model markets in all the 34 local government areas of the state.
Building and upgrading of houses in the state was another area of major concern to Shema’s administration because he built over 3,500 houses in Katsina metropolis, and in each of the 34 local governments of the state, and Karfe district in Abuja.
Similarly, the lawyer and astute politician built a new ultra-modern Government House (Gen. Muhammadu Buhari House), Governor’s lodge in Abuja, 3,5000-seater Muhammadu Dikko stadium which is adjudged to be the best in the country.
Shema also built two houses for Emir of Katsina and Daura at Barhim Housing Estate. He procured 100 vehicles for the Katsina State Transport Authority, environmental sanitation vehicles and many water tankers and fire fighting equipment for the 34 local government areas of the state.
Youth empowerment and poverty alleviation have been of importance to the ex-governor. He established Katsina Youths Craft Village which has trained thousands of youths in computer networking, programming, repair, filmmaking and photography, auto mechanic and electronic, generator repair and maintenance, paint and chalk making, shoe making, among others.
Shema’s vast knowledge played considerably in steering the affairs of the state through hard times, he defied all odds despite receiving one of the lowest allocation from the federal government to build infrastructures never comparable to any state with the same size or monetary allocation during his administration.
The source of these funds still remains a mystery which can only be unravelled by time. But this, analysts said, can never be far from Shema’s economically-literate policies, programmes and vast experience in monetary management and accountability in governance.
Reasons abound why he should fail during his tenure, but failure is not an option for Barrister Shema. He understands the weight of the mandate handed over to him by the good people of Katsina State, hence his fathomless commitment to the rapid development of the state.
In recognition of his exceptional and indelible achievements, the management of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University recently honoured the former governor for his untiring efforts in developing the educational sector in the state.
The ceremonial award presentation and lectures on Mr. Shema’s revolving role in educational development in Katsina, was organised by the state-owned institution’s Faculty of Law.
The monumental occasion, which was held at the University’s 1,500-seater auditorium built and equipped by Shema, brought in educationalists, top government functionaries, traditional and religious leaders from within and outside the state.
While receiving the award, the former member of the National Political Reform Conference in 2005, advocated for a sustainable educational drive that will resuscitate the sector for growth and development to thrive in the state.
The former national deputy chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the state must continue to work harder to sustain its status of being the Nigerian epicentre of both Western and Eastern education it has always had since pre-colonial era
The erstwhile Katsina state’s Attorney-general and commissioner for justices (1999-2003), said he drew inspiration from late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who laid a solid foundation for the state-owned university during his tenure as the governor of the state.
The rare breed and a silent achiever had within a space of one week, bagged another Honorary Doctorate Degree of Law (Honoris Causa) from Federal University Dutsin-Ma, an institution he single-handedly brought in the state.
He also received an award of excellence in recognition of his passion for education from the Association of Katsina State Foreign Trained Health Workers (AKSFTHW) who are now heads of departments and health workers in various hospitals in the state.
Shema did not only remain a household name and role model for leaders of Katsina state on accountability and transparency, but on his politics without bitterness. He proves to be playing healthy politics, and this can be seen from his projects that he left no sentiment irrespective of political differences.
He is a rare gem that every society needs in terms of his political and leadership style, which is evidenced in his developmental strides while he was the Governor of Katsina State. Shema has been adjudged to be the best northern governor in all facets of human endeavours.
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