When Governor Shema Stunned Obasanjo

Ibrahim Shuaibu writes on the excitement that greeted former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent visit to Katsina State to see the development level in the state
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent visit to Katsina State seemed interesting to people of the state who were proud to see him with their Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, a man believed to have provided purposeful leadership since 2007 when he assumed office.
Obasanjo was also believed to have been inspired by the prevailing peace and security in the state. This much, Obasanjo noted in his comments and commended Shema for upholding his primary responsibility which is the security of lives and property as well as the development of the state.
Leadership is undoubtedly service to humanity, but the administration of Shema is generally said to have raised the bar in Katsina and has subsequently been rated high in terms of the provision of infrastructure and social amenities to people in the state.
This, many believed has resulted in the socio-economic well-being of the citizenry.
Hence, while speaking, Obasanjo noted that Shema did not disappoint him when the talk about governance is placed on the table. The former president who inspected some of Shema’s projects in the state capital gave the governor thumbs up.
He spoke during this year’s annual Comptroller-General of Customs Conference.
Incidentally, Obasanjo’s coming to town had provided the state government an opportunity to showcase its scorecard by taking Obasanjo round some of the projects so far executed by the Shema administration.
Shema personally took Obasanjo round some of the project sites which included the New Government House still under construction at Modoji, GRA; the ring road project with three lanes carriage way; Orthopaedic Hospital with capacity of 250 beds space, nearing completion and which is expected to serve as referral hospital in terms of providing orthopaedic and other specialist medicare to the Katsina people and other parts of the country.
Other project sites visited by the former president were the ultra-modern olympic-size stadium which is also nearing completion; Barhin Housing Estate and one of the many newly-built physical structures at Umaru Musa Yar’adua University- the main auditorium of the institution- the edifice which hosted the annual Customs Conference as well as many storey-building primary schools.
Having gone round the projects, Obasanjo seemed overwhelmed and ran short of words in expression of his commendation for the Shema administration.
“I am highly impressed with the performance of Governor Shema,” he said as he described the projects, especially the orthopaedic hospital and other healthcare services provided by the administration, as among the needed impetus for human life.
On the structures provided at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University, Obasanjo described them as wise investment that could further hasten the development of the education sector.
Obasanjo was also happy to note that all the projects inspected alongside others were tied to public resources and without loans, stating that it was a clear demonstration of a sincere and honest administration.