The Emir of Bauchi Alhaji Rilwanu Suleimanu Adam has conferred the traditional title of Jigon Bauchi on former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
The monarch gave the title to Jonathan on Tuesday when the former president paid him a courtesy call in his palace.
Jonathan was in Bauchi on a one-day working visit to commission a road project executed by Governor Bala Mohammed and named after him.
The emir, who spoke on behalf of the Bauchi State Traditional Council, commended the former president for making Bauchi his home saying, “This is the fourth time you are visiting this palace officially, we in Bauchi State are proud of you.”
He also commended Jonathan for giving Sen Bala Mohammed the opportunity to serve as the FCT Minister even when he knew little or nothing about him saying that it has gone to demonstrate that he (Jonathan) is a detribalised Nigerian.
The emir commended the cordial relationship between the traditional rulers and the state government and hailed the governor for executing laudable projects across the state within his two years in office.
Former President Jonathan told the emir that Nigeria is where it is today because of leadership of family and friends, acquaintances rather than ability and capability to deliver.
Jonathan said that the tradition in Nigeria is that before one can be appointed to an office or given a responsibility, he must know someone at the top a development, he said, has taken the country backwards.
Jonathan, who was reacting to the introductory comments made by Bauchi State Governor, said: “Yes, I did not know him when I met him and made him the FCT Minister. In Nigeria, we have this tradition where some people feel that some ministries are big and juicy and must be given to a special person or that you have to know someone before you give him a responsibility role or put him somewhere. It is not like that with me, it is not my way of doing things.
“Today is a happy day for me because since I left office, this is the first time I am coming to Bauchi. First, let me use this rare opportunity that I am before the Emir of Bauchi to thank the people of Bauchi for supporting my dear son, you have done very well to support him. It would have been difficult for him to win the election without your support.”
He stressed that, “Bala Mohammed is a good younger brother, he is a good son, even when he was the FCT Minister, he worked with commitment and I gave him a free hand to run the affairs of the FCT. I’ve come to visit him and to commission a project and a road that was even named after me.”
Speaking to the Emir, he said: “I want you to join my family and friends to thank your own son and your subject for immortalising, by naming that road after me. When a road or infrastructure is named after you, it is something you cannot but value because even if you die, people will get to know that there was such a person.”
He added that: “Within this period that he has been governor, I have been asking questions and I learnt that he has done quite a number of projects that people wonder where the money comes from. Before coming, I tried to get a list of some of the key projects he has done and when I looked through, I was marvelled because these days that the economic environment is not that friendly, it’s not easy for a governor to raise money to do such infrastructural projects.
“I have to thank Bala Mohammed, the Governor of the state, the Deputy Governor and his cabinet and others who are working day and night to keep the flag of the state flying, and the citizens of this state for cooperating and working with them. No matter how a governor is committed, if the citizens create a hostile environment for you, you cannot succeed because whatever you are doing, is for the people not for yourself. So if the people you want to do these things for are hostile and not receptive, you cannot go anywhere.
“The information before me is that the citizens, traditional institutions are working with Bala Mohammed as the governor of the state. He is a nice and calm person, someone who has acquired a reasonable experience and somebody we’re looking up to as the official leader of this country,” he concluded.
Earlier, while introducing the former president to the Emir of Bauchi, Governor Bala Mohammed said: “Your Highness, I am the happiest man today standing here, today history is being made. Somebody who is instrumental in my coming to the limelight in Nigeria is here with you.
“He came from Yenagoa in Bayelsa State, somebody I don’t have anything in common with other than the stake of nationalism and Nigerianess. He made me the Minister of the FCT without knowing me or belonging to the same political party, he has really impacted so much, he gave me responsibility and by so doing he has proven that he is a detribalised Nigerian.”
“The way and manner he left government and created impression globally in terms of democracy made me proud that I have a father and a mentor who is the face of democracy in Africa. Today, he is coming to our house, this house that we all respect in Bauchi and in the whole country. This is the house of the Are Ona Kakanfo of the North.
