The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, on Saturday, expressed optimism that her husband, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (retd.), would be voted the governor of Bauchi State next year.
The minister made the bold declaration while serenading Abubakar at an event held for Bauchi indigenes and friends of the former air force officer in Abuja.
Midway through her welcome speech, an excited Farouq had described Abubakar as the best brother, husband and governor anybody could ever pray to have.
“Sadique is the best brother, father and husband. I have no doubt that he will be the next and best governor of Bauchi State Insha Allah,” she stated.
Farouq, the youngest minister in the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), was the national treasurer of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change before the amalgamation of parties that metamorphosed into the All Progressives Congress.
The development is coming barely three months after a socio-political group in Bauchi under the aegis of Coalition of APC Groups, accused her of inducing delegates to vote for Abubakar ahead of the APC governorship primary in the state.
The leader of the coalition, Yusuf Ajiya, made the allegation in a statement issued in Bauchi on May 23.
Ajiya alleged that rather than concentrate on registering names of the right beneficiaries, who had been targeted to benefit from the survival funds, Farouq took details of party members who were due to participate in the primary as beneficiaries of the funds.
The minister, however, dismissed the allegation as a mischievous attempt to disparage her and put her office in bad light.
The retired air vice marshal was equally in the news recently when a civil society organisation, the Accountability and Democratic Project, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to disqualify him from the race for the Bauchi State governorship for allegedly withholding information.
The call, which was made in a letter addressed to the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmud Yakubu, and dated August 15, 2022 alleged that the APC governorship candidate submitted incomplete information to the commission in violation of the Electoral Act, 2022.
But Abubakar dismissed the allegation at the event, saying he was not bothered and would not be distracted in his desire to add value to the lives of his people.
He said, “As you know, 2022 is a year of intense political activities, our credentials have already made huge impacts on some politicians, leading them to embark on desperate moves to counter whatever we are set to achieve in the interest of our people.
“We are not bothered because we remain focused. Our intentions are noble and we will not be distracted in our desires to add values to our society.”
He appreciated his wife, friends and former bosses who trooped out for the occasion.
This is even as he swore to reopen schools and return the 1.4 million out-of-school children in Bauchi State.
He said, “We must collectively work to reopen the gates of schools to students who have been denied the opportunity to attend one. In Bauchi State alone, we have 1.4 million out-of-school children.
“Similarly, we have 1,549 women who die for every 100,000 births in Bauchi. These statistics are very frightening. But I will continue to put in my best for my people and the state after spending over 42 years of service in the air force.
“It is a call I cannot refuse in light of the present state of affairs in the state, in particular, and the country in general.
“My family and I are deeply touched by the interest you have shown in my modest achievements as Chief of Air Staff of the Nigerian Air Force and also as an Ambassador to the Republic of Chad.”
