•Ex-Gov. Audu Bako remembered, honoured with book launch

From Desmond Mgboh, Kano

The story of modern Kano State will be incomplete without the pronounced mention of Police Commissioner Audu Bako, its first governor. He was appointed governor in 1967 by General Yakubu Gowon, then Head of State, by the provisions of Decree 13 of 1967.

Fifty years after, impacts of his administration continue to ring a bell, the landmarks he left behind remain unequalled by successive governors. All of these were reaffirmed by a gathering of Kano/Jigawa elite at a book launch in his honour, titled “Governor Audu Bako: A Man of Wisdom and Foresight.”

The 153-page book was written by his orderly, Mariya Dogo, who rose to become Police Commissioner before he retired. Foreword to the socio-historical book was written by General Yakubu Gowon.

Gowon, had nothing but fine words for Bako: “As Head of State, I received several favourable comments and reports about Audu Bako’s impressive developmental performance in Kano State. My many official visits to the state, particularly the one of 1974, confirmed the reports, as my wife and I were engaged in the commissioning of many completed health and water projects and the Tiga Dam we commissioned on that occasion.

“Governor Audu Bako had made and left an indelible mark in the sands of Kano’s history. Most of the developmental strides seen in Kano to date have Audu Bako’s imprints on them.

“The people of Kano State should be and are proud of the legacies he left behind. On account of his hard work, commitment, achievement and, above all, integrity, the late Audu Bako deserves to be acknowledged and remembered.”

Tributes were also offered by all the former civilian governors, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Ibrahim Shekarau and Abdullahi Ganduje, and incumbent Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State. None spared in their commendations of his leadership style and skills.

Notable dignities who attended the occasion included elder statesman, Tanko Yakasai. He served as a commissioner under Bako. The late Aminu Dantata, also a commissioner in that cabinet, was represented by his children. The Governor of Jigawa State was represented by his deputy, Aminu Usman.

Yakasai described Bako as a patriot, a selfless individual who was committed to the development of the old Kano State (now Kano and Jigawa states). He insisted that his foundation made old Kano State what it is today.

He listed some of his landmark projects as 22 dams, which included Tiga and Baguada dams, noting that these dams across different parts of the state were responsible for lifting agricultural development in the state, in addition to the supportive contributions to power and water supply.

The author, 80-year-old Dogo, said: “I will advise those who are interested in becoming leaders to buy the book and read it because they have a lot to learn from it.”

Governor Yusuf, represented by his Chief of Staff, Shehu Sagagi, reaffirmed what Yakasai had said about Bako. He added that Kano State would forever remember the administration. He said the government would work out measures to ensure that all the libraries in schools in the state have copies of the book. Jigawa State Government also took the same path of facilitating the availability of the book in libraries across the state for the benefit of future generations.

Reviewing the book, Bashir Al-Bishak of Nasarawa State University accounted for how the book showed Bako as a “man of principles with a single-minded approach to life and office.”

“As an individual, he was very hardworking and self-dependent by taking personal bank loans to acquire landed property or machinery to invest in his business a hardcore farmer.

“Audu Bako founded a trade fair complex at Bagauda, one of the 22 dams in Tiga. He ran the first government-run transport company in the state and dedicated 2,500 acres of pasture for high-yield cattle grazing.

“Audu Bako established feed mills, modern abattoir, dairy farms and sales outlets for market and livestock. He started the first tree-planting campaign, in addition to initiating the first local government reforms in Nigeria way back in 1968.

“Bako also founded the Falgore Game Reserve, the first in the country, and established the first pilgrims’ camp of Hajj. He established the first state aircraft company, among other initiatives, for the old Kano State.”

The chief launcher, Auwalu Abdullahi Rano, said there was no way they could forget the former governor, bearing in mind that the dams he constructed in their area benefitted their people and the surrounding communities. He noted that the Police Commissioner created agricultural wealth for hundreds of families and, therefore, purchased 25 copies for N25 million.