Anas Gajiram: Let’s Talk About Senator Abubakar Kyari (Part 1)

Anas Gajiram: Let’s Talk About Senator Abubakar Kyari (Part 1)

By: James Bwala

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Abubakar Kyari is one the respected representative of the people not because he chaired a committee that is housing the Presidency but because he has demonstrated an unequal approach to matters of his assignment and the image of the people he is representing at the red chamber. He is not a noise maker when it comes to his many achievements both as a Committee Chairman as well as representing the people of northern Borno in the Senate. However, his achievements are numerous that one can only say of it in the difference of rhythm between the ‘Yoruba’s’ small talking drum and the ‘Kanuris’ Big ‘Ganga kura’ of the kingly steps in a dancing arena.

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I first met Senator Abubakar Kyari when I was walking as a Journalist with ’Conscience International Magazine’ established by the controversial ex-police officer, Chief Abiola Ogundokun. I was asked to interview his father, the late General Abba Kyari, who was then holding an important role in the First Bank. He was telling me about his son, when Habu Kyari walked in. Long after that, I worked closely with him when he was appointed by the Sheriff administration in Borno as Commissioner for Water Resources and subsequently as MD Ruwasa.

Senator Abubakar Kyari remained a consistent, focused and deliberately excellent performer. He was the man behind the success story of water crises in Borno state. It was during his time as Commissioner for Water Resources and MD Ruwasa that Super Drilling Rigs were purchased to ensure Borno has water for the consumption of over five (5) million people. As MD Ruwasa he ensured Boreholes are being drilled across the fifteen wards of Maiduguri Metropolitan giving the people a sigh of relief from perennial water scarcity. It was at that time that I wrote an opinion titled: “Water, Water Everywhere” in the New Nigerian Newspaper drawing from the joy of the people.

As Chairman for the construction of the Maiduguri 1,000 housing estate and also Chairing the distribution of the 500 housing estate, Senator Abubakar Kyari has demonstrated fairness by making the process an open ballot. This process makes way for low income civil servants and poor citizens to own a house of their own. He has brought more people closer to the government and remained accessible as Chief of Staff to Governor Kashim Shettima.

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He came into the Senate at the time Borno state and particularly northern Borno his constituency was under siege by the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram. On several occasions the Senator escaped ambush and on countless times fell in-between crossfire for the love of his people and for ensuring his constituency got the best of representation. Senator Abubakar Kyari is not a kind of politician who comes to Maiduguri and gathers the Press to share twenty thousand (N20, 000:00) to a few electorates for it to be magnified in the media. He was not the type that came to Maiduguri only when there were occasions and then flew back to Abuja. But his style has been a quiet revolution.

Since arriving at the Senate as representative of the people of Northern Borno, the Senator has moved a ground shaking motions and supported several others for the benefit of the people of northern Borno hitherto faced with the challenges of survival as a result of continuing attack and relocation of the people from one destination to another in research of peace.

I read a post recently by one Anas Gajiram expressing bitterness over his lack of opportunity to be among those celebrating Senator Abubakar Kyari today. In his piece, he appeared to be someone closer to another – a representative from northern Borno. Initially I do not want to comment but living such an ignorant person unattended is my profession to enlighten the people. I believe that substance makes good judgement when it comes to promoting individuals or criticizing people.

In the writers except, he described the distinguished Senator as the worst representation since the latin word “Senatus – meaning ‘Senator’ as we referred to today. He was right to have agreed that Senator Abubakar Kyari is representing the poorest part of the world. By that I believe he also knows that the whole budget of the senate cannot solve the issues and needs of the people of Northern Borno not to talk of the emolument and constituency allowance of one senator representing ten (10) local government councils.  The mathematics is a clear indication that northern Borno is not a matter of one man, and since he is also closer to a representative, there is need for him to advise accordingly so that a balance is struck in his analysis.

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I do not want to talk about Senator Abubakar Kyari’s Ramadan, Sallah, Covid-19, youth’s empowerment and other supports, which were silently achieved. Blaming Senator Abubakar Kyari for the long stay of Some IDPs in camps is like blaming President Muhammadu Buhari for every headache any Nigerian is experiencing. Again, I pointed to him to ask the member representative closer to him, if he had done anything about the continuing stay of these IDPs since he was also elected to represent them in the green Chamber.

While he accused the Senator for being close to the former governor of Borno state and Senator representing Borno Central at the National Assembly, I would like to remind Gajiram that Senator Abubakar Kyari was Shettima’s Chief of Staff and loyalty is key to achieving success. And Perhaps I should ask whether he can tell us where the loyalty of his representative lies in the political structure of Borno. Unless he wants to tell people that, the person he is clamouring for was never loyal as the case he is presenting.

I am deliberately holding on and not mentioning names because I take this part as an introduction. But I will soon in my subsequent writing define where the loyalty of Anas Gajiram pays master lies. He (Anas Gajiram) made some claims and told us that Senator Abubakar Kyari is like representing the Jamaare local government in Bauchi state, where his spouse is from. According to him, out of 10 job slots he gives 5 to Jamaare, 3 to Kaduna and 2 to his constituency in Borno. But again, I ask, if he has such a record perfectly at hand, he would do justice if we know those who got such an opportunity by name and their states of origin and the local government areas they came from. Again if he speaks of Senator Abubakar Kyari getting a Job slot, it goes to show that he is at least doing something.

I need not to make comment on Gajiram’s last paragraph because here again he failed in covering his path and pay master’s identity when he tries to misdirect his loose ends in the piece he wrote,,.And when Boko Haram Massacre hundreds in northern Borno there was Senator Abubakar Kyari’s footprint on the soil. Perhaps Anas Gajiram should begin to find where his representative was at that time. Let’s just talk about Senator Abubakar Kyari.

Anas Gajiram: Let’s Talk About Senator Abubakar Kyari (Part 1)