Yobe: Two Questions with Former Deputy Governor Aliyu Bagare

By: Yahaya Wakili

Alhaji Aliyu Saleh Bagare Turakin Tikau Emirate Council in Yobe State Former Deputy Governor during the Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim regime. Aliyu Saleh Bagare spoke to NEWSng on the credibility of appointing Senator Ibrahim Geidam as the Minister of Police Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

NEWSng: How will you describe the appointment of Senator Ibrahim Geidam as a minister of police affairs by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCON?

Bagare: This is a very welcome development because Ibrahim Geidam has been one of the outstanding governors in Nigeria who really performed, and during his tenure, subjects in Yobe State really enjoyed his tenure. People enjoyed his promotion of salary payment, gratitude payment, pension and salary payment throughout his tenure. There are no arrears on pensions; when you are due for retirement, parting with your salary means you are getting your pension.

So he really showed the people that he was a vebtrant civil servant to the core; he programmed his program such that his subject never suffered; adequate supply of fertilizer to the farmers; adequate supply of farm implements; I think he is an every-round governor; he performed in all aspects of development. You go to the hospital side, and you must credit this gentleman because he performed wonderfully there. He built an outstanding teaching hospital, and today the teaching hospital in Yobe is modernized and moderly equipped, even that of the teaching hospital in Maiduguri that has been around for many years. Senator Ibrahim Geidam deserved to be a minister in all capacities because if performance is rewarded, Ibrahim Geidam deserves every reward from the federal government.

Right from day one, when I contacted him, among the presidential aspirants who we follow, he told me that Baba Turaki today our merger survived because of Tinubu and that he really performed more than 80% of the merger requirement; he provided the money; he provided the state logistics. So he did everything possible to see that in 2015 Buhari emerged, and that is why Buhari emerged as president. Therefore, we have no person to push for the presidential seat apart from Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and you know we had a common tenure with Tinubu as governors, so I know his performance, his ability, and he is a wonderful person. That is why if you have good intentions, God will be with you.

Senator Ibrahim Geidam becoming a minister does not surprise me, as I am told, because I know he is active, because I know he can deliver, and because he has performed in Yobe, so I am sure the police will witness and witness developments that they have never witnessed in their lives, because I know he is the one who, when he promised, never broke his promise. That is one thing you will reward Geidam for everything; he is always standing by his words; he never changes; he will not tell you to do this and go and do that; that is never in his character. I have the privilege to work with him as my permanent secretary. He never betrays me; he is the type of person who calls them Ba Kona. So everything he will tell you is the truth, and such people are very nice to work with.

NEWSng: Finally, do you have something to add to what I asked you before?

Bagare: What I expect Mr. President to do is give Senator Ibrahim Geidam a chance to work. I know he will work differently; he will reorganize the police, and I am sure he will take them to greater heights. Therefore, let him have a chance to work; I know he will work.

Yobe: Two Questions with Former Deputy Governor Aliyu Bagare