- By Ahmed Buba Jimeta
The Saturday 15th April 2023 victory by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri at the Adamawa state supplementary gubernatorial election was expected by many people, but still, many Adamawa PDP and state stakeholders worked tirelessly to make sure it was a smooth victory for Governor Fintiri. Congratulations to the Governor, it was a victory well-deserved.
The time for his continued good work has commenced. This time around, Governor Fintiri’s work should be free of unnecessary controversies perpetuated by some people inside the government, people that didn’t and still don’t share the governor’s vision of ‘seeing tomorrow from today’ via respect for people and understanding every situation based on its ‘rights’ and ‘expectations’.
Secretaries to the State Governments (SSGs) are the powerhouse, gatekeepers, and link between the government and the public, furthermore, an SSG that has gone through the mills of administrative skills serves as the face of the Governor and his government. SSGs, apart from their administrative works, often play a vital political role in building more relationships for the governor via good rapport, government patronage, and simplicity. Unlucky for Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, his SSG, Mallam Bashir Ahmed has many deficiencies in most of the aforementioned areas, in fact, when it comes to building relationships for the government and good rapport with ordinary people and state stakeholders, Bashir is just zero in that areas. Apart from poor relationships with people, hand-hardness, and sadist behaviors including a poor understanding of Adamawa politics, Bashir is also accused of mal-administration and corruption. Bashir’s poor performance may not be unconnected to the removal of many boards and parastatals from his office to that of the chief of staff office by Governor Fintiri
SSGs are known for their excellent work both politically and administratively. For example, Chief Manassah John when he was SSG to Governor Boni Haruna and Governor Murtala Nyako, he didn’t only perform excellently without any rancor but delivered his LGA, ward, and polling unit during the election and selling of government programs and policies. Hon. Kobis Ari Thimnu is a good politician, administrator, and a mobilizer of people, his reign as SSG to Governor Murtala Nyako was superb, he was Nyako’s face and link at his domain and beyond, he delivered his LGA, Ward, and polling unit during elections. Furthermore, when Late Ibrahim Bapetel served as SSG to Governor Boni Haruna, the Jimeta-Yola-Fufore axis saw him as their mouth, link, and face in the government, he didn’t only enjoy the support of all critical stakeholders, the axis followed him wherever he heads to, knowing fully, he respects the communities leaders and he is a builder people.
All the aforementioned SSGs performed wonderfully well, their governors didn’t have any issues with their constituencies when it comes to election, mobilization, and support, but what went wrong with Bashir Ahmed? He lost his ‘claimed’ LGA, Ward, and polling unit during the March 18, 2023 governorship election, including being in disagreement and fighting with almost everybody in Jimeta.
Two things are among the major factors that led to Fintiri’s second term election to be declared inconclusive- first, some state house of assembly members are unpopular and second, Bashir’s fight with all Jimeta critical stakeholders led to PDP poor performance in Yola-North, Yola-North votes alone is enough to give Governor Fintiri maximum victory. Bashir himself, was reported to have said- the performance in Jimeta was a shame. He forgot that he was the factor responsible.
Governor Fintiri has given Bashir Ahmed more resources, free-Hand, and support than any governor in Adamawa state has given to his SSG. For example, all the PDP Yola-North executives were brought by Bashir, he facilitated the emergence of Ibrahim Bappa (Uba) as chairman of Yola-North, the same as the current chairman of the local government. Though, Bashir and Uba don’t talk to each other now, due to Bashir’s poor human relations, and it was alleged that the cause of their disagreement was- Bashir brought one of his girlfriends to mismanage the council’s 10 million monthly subventions, which the former refused to be part of.
Bashir is also chairing Adamawa State Covid-19 Containment Committee, while in some states, the committees are being chaired by the deputy governors, Governor Fintiri has given so much to Bashir, but Bashir has failed in his expected political role. Bashir is just there with near-zero political value not only in his ‘claimed Jimeta but throughout the state.
Furthermore, some people have accused Bashir of mismanagement of resources through kickbacks on consultancy fees for the government contract and the covid-19 funds, even including the Ambulances donated by the BUA group and the Hilux Trucks donated to the government by the Federal Government, which were alleged to be missing. Some people have even threatened to release a dossier on Bashir to the EFCC for proper investigation. Though, it is still allegations.
From day one, Bashir was alleged to be involved massive in anti-party, he had on so many occasions shown his disdain for Atiku Abubakar’s Presidency, he worked against Hamidu Lekki, the PDP state House of Assembly member of Yola-North, Speaker Iya Abbas, Bashir secretly supported Tinubu and the SDP state house of assembly candidate, who also eventually lost to the APC.
As Governor Fintiri faces the task ahead in his second term and the legal challenge by Binani, Governor Fintiri should rebuild his government relationship with the pole people of Jimeta, Yola and Fofure, which was mainly destroyed by Bashir poor human-relations and sadistic attitudes.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has a bright political future ahead for him in Adamawa and beyond, so he basically doesn’t need a demobilizer like Bashir Ahmed, people who don’t see their tomorrow from their today.
Governor Fintiri in his second term should have a brand new SSG, while Bashir should retire to his original state because he is not from Jimeta or Adamawa state.
Ahmed Buba Jimeta writes from Nasarawo ward, Jimeta, Yola-North
