Personally, I had reservations for his party prior to indications and calls that it might be fielding him for the presidency. In any case, my concern has always centered on him as someone who has chosen to distinguish himself as belonging to a different stock of politics and conscience.
Dr Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, executive governor of Gombe state, is a politician who has shown the entire country the enormous power of exceptions. His party, the PDP, might have a bad reputation in the past, and as a consequence, got swept away by the APC tsunami which time has now revealed to be a lot worse than PDP. However, the simple fact that the APC tsunami could not sweep through Gombe state is a testimony to Dankwambo’s unique leadership credentials.
Thanks to its amazing people. Facing facts and figures, Gombe state people stood for reason. The people stood for evidence and a track record of excellence and not some deodorized failing past. Gombe stood with and for reason. And they still fi rmly do. And for individuals like myself who were openly critical of the past administration, the consistency of the giant and excellent strides of the Dankwambo administration got us deeply sorry for holding the assumption that nothing of worth was left of the fizzling ruling party, the PDP.
In fact, I now somewhat highly regard them for retaining one of Nigeria’s fi nest. It now appears that the worst of the party were the ones who migrated to the APC and have now thoroughly corrupted it. Dankwambo, PhD, appears to have no match when it comes to quality, selfless and far-reaching leadership. He is a shining light. He is such that the corrupt and under performing past PDP and current APC should not have. Or perhaps, the adieux de politiques has kept him there as an instruction to politicians across Nigeria? The news that the gentleman governor is being strongly considered for the party’s presidential ticket shows that the PDP is not without hopes after all.
Track record of excellent performance is now being reckoned with. This is certainly worth celebrating. It is reassuring that, while the Buhari administration voted a paltry sum for the education sector, Dankwambo with the meager income accruing to his state is practically doing wonders. Place the federal government disposition side by side Dankwambo’s giant strides in education and you will soon realize that while one understands that education is key, the other esteems education quite lightly. I have been privileged to see some states’ progress in education, and among the data that I have interacted with is that of Gombe that clearly stands out. The data chronicles his achievements in the education sector in Gombe state. It indicates much hope to the country.
It is simply miraculous. Of course, you don’t trust Nigerian data wholesale. But through transparent and genuine sources, one can easily get the brass tacks and the nitty-gritties of what Dankwambo has done in transforming Gombe state to a model city which has endeared him to even people outside his state among which is famous religious cleric, Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka, and many other prominent Nigerians.
In fact, this is why I promptly packed my luggage when my professional friend, and a coursemate during our master class at the Mass Communication Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Dahiru Hassan Kera, who I always call the chief communication strategist, offered me a ticket to have a sightseeing in the Dankwambo’s Jewel in the Savanah. As a tourist, I knew better than to be carried away by what I call tourists’ infrastructure. Tourists’ infrastructure are what authorities plant by the road to trick visitors that everything is okay. Gombe is not so. Development is wide and evenly spread.
As seeing is believing, I can confidently testify that, under the present regime, Gombe is a model state in all ramifications. And Dankwambo sure deserves every accolade. Surely. I’m equally not surprised seeing the brand manager and image maker, Dahiru Kera, always making a case and reference to Dankwambo when it comes to issue of qualitative leadership. In Gombe, public infrastructure is in the open as they are in the inside, schools are well stocked with ultramodern instructional facilities, road networks are as available in the urban areas as they are in the rural.
Surely, Nigerians and, indeed, the PDP could not be wishing for a Dankwambo presidency because he has money or because he has some rich backers No, he has neither of these. His only capital is the great work he has done as a governor of one of the most battered states in the north of Nigeria with meager. Another alluring and bankable capital in the person of Dr. Dankwambo is his cosmopolitan nature which he has brought into leadership; prudent management of resources and above all, his huge and intimidating qualification and his undented working experience.
It is instructive to emphasize that throughout his sojourn in many lucrative workplaces, Dankwambo has never been found wanting in the handling of resources under his control. This is integrity; a rare feature among many politicians. Indeed, with these and many unearthed qualities of the Talban Gombe, should he clinch his party’s primary ticket, Nigeria would have leaped several steps forward and closer to our dreams. It would mean that nothing else matters to us than our collective prosperity.
As the clock is ticking and stroking fast towards the 2019 general elections, only people with sound education, detribalize stand, and administrative acumen should be given a chance to lead this country. We should not repeat the mistakes of the past that plunged the country into chaos and political killing fields. I hope his verifiable track records prevail. If it doesn’t, then we might just be signing up to another four years of excuses and gross incompetence as we are witnessing now. Tade, a Communication Strategist and Media Consultant, writes from Abuja
