3 months to go: Why Gaidam’s legacy will be exceptional

It is almost a tradition in Nigeria, that the outgoing governments hardly perform during their last tenure in office, either accumulating wealth for themselves to aspire for other political offices or establish businesses of their interest.

In Yobe state, governor Ibrahim Gaidam who emerged the one citizen of
the state after the death of Governor Mamman Ali, has served two terms
in office and his story is different from other politicians across the country.

At his three months to go, the governor had approved billions of naira to executive capital projects that will touch lives of individuals ranging from road constructions and drainages, street lights, agriculture, health, education among others.  He once told journalists, that his successor will not inherit any uncompleted project.

Within two months ago, the governor had approved over 20 new roads
construction, township roads, provision and installation of over 500 units of double armed solar street lights in the state at the cost of over N9billion.

The Ministry of works and housing had also recently in a press briefings said that, the Gaidam administration had constructed 1,272 kilometer roads across the state and linked 20 communities to national grid having inherited only 150 kilometer roads from former Borno.

Presently roads dualization from Damaturu the state capital to the Cargo airport, Damaturu to new round about along Potiskum road and street lights to the State University are ongoing apart from the
township roads.

“Kachalla Mustapha who spoke to Blueprint at Nayi Nawa ward, said we
thought at the end of his tenure we will not see any new project, having done much in the past, but today we are privileged to get tarred road in front of our house” he said.

The health, is one of the sectors he extremely performed very well having achieved 91% coverage with the help of partners abroad, says Health Commissioner, Dr. Muhammad Bello Kawuwa.  The hospitals across the state can compete with many others in the country in terms of everything.

A class Teacher in Ngelzarma Musa Maina, said I respect this man ‘Gaidam’, the day I stepped into the Yobe State Teaching Hospital.  If anyone abuses him in the health sector, God will not forgive that person.  Why because my son underwent surgery there and I know what I saw,” he said.

Gaidam had received many awards in the health sector which include
Nigerian Medical Association NMA, Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics
of Nigeria (SOGON) among others.

 As result of the kidney challenge in the northern part of the state, he approved free dialysis for kidney patients who are indigenes of the state, while measures are being taken to know the root cause of the disease.

The cases of kidney failure have been very serious in Gashua and Nguru
axis, a situation that must have prompted the governor to give the directives.

Governor Gaidam who is vying for Yobe east senatorial seat pulled 2,272 votes unopposed at the recent All Progressives Congress APC primary elections held in Damaturu.

Other legacy project of Ibrahim Gaidam is the Cargo Airport which is
nearing completion and will no doubt strengthen the economy of the
state when come to use.

Recently, the government said, it had paid the sum of N940million to
11,000 students studying within Nigeria and N540million for 120
students studying abroad totaling 11,120 students inorder to improve
the standard of education in the state apart from establishments and
reconstructions and rehabilitations of schools burnt-down by the
insurgents.

Yobe citizens will have every reason to celebrate Ibrahim Gaidam having touched the lives of many in and outside the state.

Buba writes from Damaturu.

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