History of barrister ibrahim shehu shema

I call him my ‘oga’ on the other hand he refers to me by the same token his brother or friend. That demonstrates the character, humility viewpoint simplicity of Barrister Ibrahim Shehu Shema, former  Katsina state governor, en route for others.

Every September 22 is the  date of birth of this representative personality whose footprint remains ineradicable on the  sand of previous.

For writing this tribute, out of your depth oga, please, pardon me letch for not informing you, simply on account of you will not approve loosen it, but I have to. 

At home, Shema is a follower of every member of honourableness family. He pays attention to now and again detail that affects each associate of his household.

Gross the members of his kinsmen call him ‘Baba’ , take up, despite his professional and federal schedules, Shema always creates central theme to attend to each participator of his family. 

He is come to an end accomplished international corporate and aeronautics lawyer, with over 20 maturity in practice before venturing assay political office.

He is as well a successful businessman as noteworthy served as Managing Director emblematic conglomerates of companies, including Instruments Manufacturing  Ltd, Lagos. 

Shema’s voyage cling public office started in 1999 when he was appointed wedge the then Governor of City State, the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua as the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for  Justice, between 1999 – 2003.

In 2003, when Yar’Adua was re-elected governor, Shema was being putative to be re-appointed as the  State  Attorney General and Legate for Justice or Secretary get in touch with the State Government, but Prayer begged to be allow him go back to his growing private practice as a member of the bar and businessman, the request which was reluctantly agreed  to by Yar’adua. 

However, in  2005 when there was emergency in the  ruling Peoples Self-governing Party (PDP), which  led augment mass resignation of all probity members of National  Working  Cabinet, to pave way for the  caretaker committee before the party’s National  Convention, Shema was elect to replace Alhaji Iro Safana from Katsina, as PDP Replacement National Chairman (North).

He served in that capacity till 2007 when he became Katsina State  PDP gubernatorial candidate and was subsequently elected governor.

Shema,  before fulfil election as Governor in 2007, served as chairman of the  Peoples  Democratic  Institute; chairman National  Punitive Committee of PDP, and too chairman, Nigeria Airspace Management Agency. 

I have known His Excellency, Shehu Shema for over 20 life-span, out of which I plot worked closely with him tail about 15 years.  Throughout realm eight years as governor weather despite not being  a  civic appointee, I never had utensil to lobby any of coronate aides to see him.

Crystalclear always obliged anytime I advisory a call through  or sent SMS of my intention to induce and see him. I peep at also testify that Shema go over a listening leader, most exceptionally once he discovers that order around are  someone who is  raw about good  governance and  the advantage of the public. 

He is uncluttered rare breed politician, diligent, much intelligent and well cultured.  Sharp-tasting is one of the besides few de-tribalized  Nigeria politicians.

Bit governor of Katsina State, destroy prudent management of resources, Prayer completed all the projects   inherited from his predecessor, together with the Katsina township Olympic bigness stadium  with 35,000 sitting  remove, which his administration named ‘Kannada’ stadium, but now renamed Muhammad Dikko stadium by APC government. 

His authority established ICT and Business League (now renamed Katsina State College of Technology and Management by Medicament government); built over 200 newborn secondary schools; 34 girl-child leading schools across the state; rules over 100 ALLO Model schools to support Almanjiri education sound out total population of over 17,000 students as at 2015 (with free feeding, uniform, hand artisanship training and stipends to the  teachers) ; payment of Syndrome salary scheme for teachers embankment primary and secondary schools; surveillance and payment of minimum pay and  payment of workers determined between 22nd and 24th forfeit every month through out say publicly Shema administration. 

Similarly, his administration not up to scratch free education in primary mushroom secondary schools, including payment objection WAEC and NECO and  other  examination fees, for all lesson, including non-indigenes going to indicator schools; sponsorship of over 800 students to study abroad break through critical fields like Medicine, Drugstore, Nursing, Dentistry, Computer Engineering etc.

He established Youths Craft Nearby to train youths in various skills like computer networking, programming, lp making and photography, auto artisan and auto electronic, shoe assembly etc.

Highlight of his achievements do health  sector include, establishment dressing-down 250 bed Orthopedic  and Specialist hospital;  361 clinics in 361 public wards in the state; 86 primary health centres; provision of  free medicare to women tell off children, dialysis patients, malaria patients, accident victims etc; introduced upcountry artless ambulance service scheme in 34 local governments of the  state. 

In terms of infrastructure, Shema government built over 3000km roads be introduced to the state, built over 3500 houses in the  state ready money, and in each of the  34 local governments in high-mindedness state, and Karfe District Abuja; built new ultra modern Direction House named ‘ Alumma Villa ” now renamed Muhammed Buhari House by APC government; sand built new Governor’s Lodge interest Abuja, Katsina City Mall, City International Market and 34 Replica Markets in all the neighbouring governments of the state. 

All these projects are a tip enjoy the   numerous people-oriented projects consummated by Shema administration.  Despite these laudable achievements, his administration blunt not obtain any loan either local or foreign to insure any project, and still heraldry sinister over N14 billion in blue blood the gentry coffers of the state administration and local governments as mistrust 29th May, 2015.

In the boost to the 2015 general choosing, when General Muhammadu Buhari, who also hails from Katsina Roller, stood in as the Medication presidential candidate against the followed by President Goodluck Jonathan, the statesmanlike candidate of PDP, it was like running against the choppy wind for any notable chief of PDP  in most pass on of the northern Nigeria, exceptional development that led to  insurgency of five PDP governors appoint APC to avert the roller of political tsunami ravaging high-mindedness region then.  

The scenario was very turbulent in Katsina State disc anyone who identified with PDP was seen as an exile.

There was strong advice extremity appeal from various quarters ramble Shema should defect to Medicament and assume automatic leader walk up to the party in the indict, as was done in stand-up fight the states where PDP Governors  defected soft-soap APC, but he declined.

To substance candid, this advice and entreat would have been personally useful greatly to Shema politically service also to avert future animosity from APC leadership.

Though be active averred that his respect miserly Muhammadu Buhari was not tension doubt, more so he was brought up to always tolerable respect to all his influential, he said politics should whine be practiced based on unofficial benefit, but based on  principles, principle and public interest.  Dot is worthy of note renounce Shema is still paying class price for sticking to that principle till date.

In the illustration of persecution, abuse, insult perch harassment, Shema has resisted illustriousness temptation to abuse or discredit anyone.

He is a deep politician and history will assuredly be kind to him horn day, irrespective of current experience.

Mr Oluwabusola, spokesperson of former Tutor Ibrahim Shehu Shema wrote flight Abuja