By Musa Azare
According to open-source information, His Excellency Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, the Governor of Bauchi State from 2015 to 2019, is planning a comeback in 2027. Reports suggest this move has the full backing of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate. Many newspapers claim that Professor Pate – having controversially withdrawn from the previous race – is now scheming to install the former governor to ensure a seamless handover of the state to himself in 2031.
It is worth noting that Barrister M.A. Abubakar remains the only governor in Bauchi State since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 who failed to secure a second term. The reasons for this are clear: chronic underperformance and a distinctive lack of administrative skill.
As the All Progressives Congress (APC) prepares for its gubernatorial primaries in Bauchi State, various aspirants are showcasing their programmes and visions for the people. However, before we discuss what Barrister Abubakar has in store for the state, he must first answer for his past record.
Notably, Barrister Abubakar is the only governor who initiated several road projects and promised their completion within a specific timeframe, yet left office without completing a single one.
In light of this, may I remind His Excellency Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of the following unfinished projects:
1. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE ITAS-ATAFOWA-MAGARYA ROAD
This project was awarded to MESSRS KANNOU PROJECT NIGERIA LIMITED on October 7, 2016, with an initial contract sum of One Billion, Four Hundred and Forty-Five Million, One Thousand, Two Hundred and Fourteen Naira, Ninety Kobo (N1,445,001,214.90).
The original completion deadline was December 2017. When it became clear that this date was unattainable, the contract was extended by six months. During this period, the project underwent two significant cost variations: First, the sum was reviewed upward to N2,979,340,218.25. Subsequently, it was increased again to Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Sixty-One Million, Six Hundred and Thirteen Thousand, Two Hundred and Forty-Five Naira, Seventeen Kobo (N3,861,613,245.17).
Of this final amount, N553,978,770.64, representing 14.3% of the total was paid to the contractor. However, by the time Barrister M.A. Abubakar left office, the project’s physical completion rate stood at a mere 5%, valued at ONLY N267,411,690.50.
This indicates a staggering overpayment of Five Hundred and Thirty-Seven Million, One Hundred and Seventeen Thousand, Three Hundred and Eighty-Five Naira, Eighty-Six Kobo (N537,117,385.86) – funds that have yet to be recovered for the Bauchi State coffers.
What happened to that overpayment? Who benefited from it? And why did the M.A. Abubakar administration abandon this project?
2. AZARE–ISAWA–GIADE–KURBA–BASIRKA ROAD, PHASE II
This critical project was awarded to BWALCO NIGERIA LIMITED in January 2018, with an initial contract sum of Two Billion, Three Hundred and Eighteen Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand, Five Hundred and Eighty-Eight Naira, Ninety Kobo (N2,318,775,588.90).
The project was scheduled for completion by June 2019. Out of the total contract sum, N704,719,713.10 was paid to the contractor. However, by the time the former governor left office, the completion rate was a mere 15%, with the actual work valued at only N305,612,469.47. This indicates an overpayment of Three Hundred and Ninety-Nine Million, One Hundred and Five Thousand, Two Hundred and Forty-Five Naira, Sixty-Three Kobo (N399,105,245.63) – funds which have yet to be recovered for the Bauchi State treasury.
What happened to that overpayment? Who benefitted from it? And why did the M.A. Abubakar administration abandon this project?
3. CONSTRUCTION OF THE HANAFARI–JURARA–GARIN BABAN–SABON KAFI–DOGON JEJI ROAD
This project was awarded to AZCO ENGINEERING LIMITED on October 10, 2016, at a cost of Eight Hundred and Fifty-Six Million, Four Hundred and Forty-One Thousand, Four Hundred and Seventy-Two Naira, Forty-Two Kobo (N856,441,472.42). Remarkably, the project cost was later reviewed upward by nearly 100%, reaching One Billion, Six Hundred and Eighty-Eight Million, One Hundred and Forty Thousand, Seven Hundred and Seventeen Naira, Two Kobo (N1,688,140,717.02).
The deadline for completion was October 2018. Yet, by the time the people of Bauchi State voted Barrister M.A. Abubakar out in 2019, the project had reached only an 18.2% completion rate. While N553,978,770.64 had been paid to the contractor, the value of work actually completed at that time was just N307,347,525.17. This leaves an overpayment of Two Hundred and Forty-Six Million, Six Hundred and Thirty-One Thousand, Two Hundred and Forty-Five Naira, Forty-Seven Kobo (N246,631,245.47), which remains unrecovered.
What happened to that overpayment? Who benefitted from it? Why did the administration of M.A. Abubakar abandon the project?
4. REHABILITATION OF THE UDUBO–GAMAWA ROAD
This project was awarded to MESSRS C.G.C NIGERIA LIMITED on October 10, 2016, for the sum of Three Billion, One Hundred and Sixty-Two Million, Four Hundred and Ten Thousand, Five Hundred and Eleven Naira, Thirty-Three Kobo (N3,162,410,511.33).
This project was particularly close to my heart – so much so that I became its self-appointed supervisor at the time. It had a stipulated completion date of October 10, 2018. However, by the time Barrister Abubakar left office following a massive electoral revolt in 2019, a completion rate of ONLY 30% had been achieved.
Despite this limited progress, One Billion, Seven Hundred and Fourteen Million, Fifty-Five Thousand, Four Hundred and Eighty Naira, Forty-Five Kobo (N1,714,055,480.45) had already been paid to the contractor. As of that date, the actual value of work completed was only Eight Hundred and Seventy-Six Million, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Three Thousand, One Hundred and Seventy-Seven Naira, Sixty-Five Kobo (N876,883,177.65). This leaves a questionable overpayment of Eight Hundred and Thirty-Seven Million, One Hundred and Seventy-Four Thousand, Three Hundred and Two Naira, Eight-Eight Kobo (N837,174,302.80).
What happened to that overpayment? Who benefitted from it? And why did the M.A. Abubakar administration abandon this project?
Given that we are in a democracy, I wonder how international friends of the “good doctor” would feel if they heard that he is trying to impose his will on 7 million people of Bauchi State, using a person whose track record is total failure!
To be continued…
