“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others” _ Jack Welch.
On December 30, 2018, I wrote a piece on the choice of Umar Usman Kadafur as the running mate to Professor Babagana Umar Zulum under the platform of APC, the choice that was wholeheartedly applauded by all and sundry.
I was glad when His Excellency called me the next day in early hours of morning extending his gratitude, his voice was euphonious and reassuring and the atmosphere around me could be abruptly described as serene.
Born to a humble family in Biu, Borno State. Dr. Kadafur had an early education at Mbulamel Primary School, Biu. He thereafter proceeded to Government Science Secondary School Monguno to obtain his Secondary school leaving certificate. Much later, Dr. Kadafur furthered his studies at the University of Maiduguri, where he studied Public Administration. He bagged a honourary doctorate degree of philosophy (honor causal) award in community and social development from Iheris University Togo in 2023.
On April 26, 2021, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum wrote to the Borno State house of assembly requesting approval to appoint Kadafur as acting governor from 29th April through 19th May, 2021. The members of the state assembly accepted this request making him the first deputy to be legislatively given the constitutional powers to act as a Governor.
He is irrefutably a game changer, a hardworking and loyal gentleman ,full of versatile knowledge, ideas and experience both in private and public sectors. In the last four years of their stewardship, he played a great role as no. 2 citizen in Professor Babagana Umar Zulum’s administration to transform Borno state’s economy, reform public service, bring improvement into the infrastructural activities , thereby meeting Zulum’s expectation in human capital development and efficient transborder security architecture with neighboring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroun from 2019 to date.
Dr. Kadafur’s contributions to the prosperity of the All Progressive Congress (APC) party that were attained partly through his wider acceptability, leadership skills with a perfect magical touch, humanitarian services through charity foundation both in education and health sectors led to the significant growth of the party’s fellowship in Southern Borno.
Deputizing in Nigeria’s political atmosphere is clearly not a task for a faint-hearted person. Like his Boss, a determined achiever and visionary, Dr. Kadafur hit the ground running. As a Public Administrator, he understood well the working of government system, for which he certainly gave his best.
Kadafur is a man who has over the years maintained a cordial and loyal relationship with his boss and has extended the same with his people in Borno. He is a philanthropist. As the saying goes, to be human is to feel the pains of other humans. His continuous non-seasonal work of philanthropy has placed him above his peers, signifying his ability to help his people and the willingness to do it on a larger platform.
We have seen him pay school fees for indigent students, awarding scholarship under his foundation, foot the medical bills of indigent patients, build homes for the homeless and aged people, set up people in business and empower widows.
Highly detribalized and free-spirited, he has no boundaries with anyone regardless of their tribe, religion, creed or political affiliation. Convincingly he is’ one of the most popular, youthful and charismatic deputy governors with great appeal to the public in Nigeria.
As Bornolites, in the progression of Professor Zulum administration, with Dr. Kadafur at the helm of deputizing, we foresee a state of hope where dreams and impossibilities are made possible. A committed, experienced and intellectual deputy who will actualize his Principal’s visionary determinations in accelerating Borno State’s economic activities, providing employment opportunities, youth empowerment, a stable and prosperous society, provide adequate security for the people and all inclusive government of the people, by the people, for the people, where credibility, accountability and transparency shall be its watchwords.
Salman Garba Jidda, a Medical Radiographer/ Radiotherapy Specialist, writes from Lagos.
