Kano’s growth rooted in Audu Bako’s foresight — NAN MD
By Muhammad Nur Tijani
The Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali M. Ali, has described the late Military Governor of Kano State, CP Audu Bako, as a visionary leader whose foresight laid the foundation for the state’s emergence as a leading commercial and agricultural hub in West Africa.
Ali said this on Monday at the public presentation of a book authored by CP Manya Dogo in honour of the late Bako.
He said Kano had been a commercial centre since the days of the Trans-Saharan trade, but it was under Bako’s nine-year leadership that the state witnessed unprecedented modernisation, structural development and agricultural transformation.
According to him, Bako reinvented Kano by consistently developing its human and natural resources, noting that even though the state is inland, it historically maintained trade links stretching as far as the Middle East.
Ali said that Bako’s administration established the foundation for Kano’s agricultural strength through major projects such as the construction of earth dams, particularly the Tiga Dam, which remains the most significant legacy of his tenure.
He said a clear example of Bako’s foresight was the introduction of all-year irrigation farming in Kura Local Government Area, a decision that was initially resisted but has today positioned the area as the leading rice-producing community in the old Kano State.
“Bako understood the strength and capacity of his people and took full advantage of the abundant resources around him.
“Bako was a selfless, humble and consultative leader who surrounded himself with competent individuals
“They included Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Commissioner for Commerce; Alhaji Lawan Dambazau, Commissioner for Agriculture; the late Malam Aminu Kano; and Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, who later served as Commissioner for Information,” he explained.
Ali stressed the need for contemporary leaders to emulate Bako’s principles of humility, consultation, vision and selflessness, saying many leaders today are self-serving, parochial and surrounded by “yes-men” who derail development.
“No leader can achieve success without a strong team.
“Audu Bako built a cabinet of dedicated, committed and community-recognised individuals, and that made his administration outstanding,” he said.
The NAN boss urged current leaders to study Bako’s leadership qualities and apply them in governance, adding that even prophets consulted, and modern leaders should not assume they know everything.
He commended CP Manya Dogo for documenting Bako’s life, saying the book would serve as an important reference for leadership development in Nigeria.
Also speaking, Gov. Abba Yusuf stressed the need to document history, saying that Audu Bako’s contributions must be properly recorded for future reference.
Represented by the Commissioner for Commerce, Alhaji Shehu Sagagi, Yusuf added that he was glad to see someone with such great focus documenting the legacy of the late governor.
“He died in 1975, yet he remains a reference point to this day, which shows he was a good man,” Yusuf said.
According to him, Bako’s projects had stood the test of time, and even now, the state is still implementing some of his policies and programmes.
“Many achievements recorded during his time were later expanded by subsequent leaders,” he explained.
Earlier, Justice Fatima Imam, who spoke on behalf of the family, expressed appreciation to the organisers of the public presentation of the book, “Governor Audu Bako: Man of Wisdom and Foresight.”
Imam commended the author, retired CP Manya Dogo, for what she described as an extraordinary gesture to honour the memory of their father.
She said Dogo worked closely with the late governor with “uncommon loyalty and commitment beyond the ordinary call of duty,” adding that the family was touched by his desire to remind Nigerians of Bako’s enduring legacies.
According to her, Audu Bako’s passion for the common man guided his policies and helped lay the foundation for the development of the old Kano State.(NAN)
