By Ibrahim A Jombali
One of the beauties of democracy is that it gives people the freedom of expression and the right to freely challenge, scrutinize, assess, and judge the performance of leaders. With these rights handed to people by democracy, leaders at different levels are either encouraged, challenged, or even propelled to do better. Through this process, good governance is encouraged. Although endorsements are often discounted as political courtesies, there are occasions when commendation rises above the routine and acquires greater significance because it comes from individuals whose careers have been defined by public service, institutional leadership and national engagement. Such testimonials deserve attention, not because they are infallible, but because they are often rooted in direct observation and genuine assessment rather than partisan enthusiasm.
The recent remarks by the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Hajiya Salamatu Hussaini, a distinguished Nigerian, former minister and member of the Federal Executive Council on the performance of Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, belong in the category of how public opinion and honest assessment of leadership add strength to good governance. category.
Her assessment followed an official visit to Kebbi State for the commissioning of the Commission’s office, where she had the opportunity to observe, first-hand, the changing face of a state that, until recently, occupied only a modest space in conversations about transformative leadership and good governance. What she encountered was enough to convince her that Kebbi is quietly but steadily redefining its developmental trajectory, a beautiful departure from the past story of underinvestment and stagnation.
That verdict by an outstanding patriot and renowned leader is significant.
For years, public discourse around governance in Nigeria has revolved around promises made and promises broken. Citizens have become understandably skeptical of grand declarations unsupported by tangible evidence of practical results. It is therefore refreshing when development speaks for itself—through roads that improve mobility, public buildings that restore confidence in institutions, and schools that receive renewed investment, agricultural policies that touch the lives of ordinary farmers and a deliberate, intentional and concerted efforts to protect the lives and property of citizens.
This is the direction in which Governor Nasir Idris is steering Kebbi State and taking it far away from its past destination of little development.
Perhaps the most symbolic expression of this transformation is the ultra-modern Kebbi State Secretariat, described by Hajiya Salamatu as a world-class facility capable of making every Kebbi indigene proud, the complex is more than an impressive structure. It represents a government investing in the dignity and efficiency of public service. Public infrastructure should not merely exist; it should inspire confidence in the government itself. In that respect, the new secretariat sends a powerful message about the administration’s ambitions.
The improvements across Birnin Kebbi equally reinforce that narrative. Better roads, cleaner surroundings, and an increasingly organised urban environment may appear ordinary in isolation, but collectively, they reflect careful planning and deliberate leadership. Development is rarely the product of isolated projects. It is the cumulative outcome of consistent policy choices sustained over time. The state capital that was nothing better than a glorified local government headquarters is now the pride of the people of Kebbi State.
Equally noteworthy was the NHRC Chairperson’s observation regarding the conduct of government officials during the two-day engagement. Although Governor Idris was unavoidably absent, senior members of his administration ensured that every aspect of the programme proceeded seamlessly. Effective governance is ultimately measured not only by the visibility of a leader but by the strength of the institutions he builds. Administrations that function efficiently even in the temporary absence of their chief executive demonstrate organizational maturity rather than dependence on personality.
Beyond physical infrastructure lies an even greater investment—human capital.
No society has achieved sustainable prosperity without placing education at the centre of its development strategy. Governor Idris appears to appreciate this reality. His administration has sustained educational partnerships, expanded teachers’ development initiatives, and continued programmes capable of improving learning outcomes across the state.
The collaboration involving the Salamatu Hussaini Foundation, the TY Danjuma Foundation and the Kebbi State Government, which has delivered teacher training programmes and established teachers’ training centres in Bunza and Argungu, illustrates what becomes possible when government embraces strategic partnerships instead of attempting to shoulder every responsibility alone.
It is equally instructive that Hajiya Salamatu challenged the administration to intensify efforts towards reducing the number of out-of-school children, particularly girls. Good governance should welcome such constructive recommendations. Indeed, administrations that demonstrate capacity inevitably invite higher expectations because citizens recognize their ability to accomplish even more.
Another striking feature of Governor Idris’ leadership is his openness to ideas that extend beyond immediate political gains. His readiness to support the proposed professional training institute for accountants and stockbrokers under the auspices of the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) reflects an understanding that modern economies are built as much on skilled human resources as on physical infrastructure. If realized, such an institution could become an important catalyst for professional development across Northern Nigeria.
Agriculture, the traditional backbone of Kebbi’s economy, remains central to the administration’s agenda. Continued support for farmers through the provision of agricultural inputs and other interventions demonstrates a recognition that food security and economic prosperity are inseparable. In today’s Nigeria, where rising food prices continue to challenge households, every investment that strengthens agricultural productivity carries national relevance.
What increasingly distinguishes Governor Nasir Idris is not flamboyance but consistency. His administration projects the image of a government more interested in steady progress than political spectacle. While others compete for headlines, Kebbi appears content with allowing results to shape public perception.
Therein lies the true value of Hajiya Salamatu Hussaini’s endorsement.
Coming from a former Minister of the Federal Republic, former Commissioner of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), accomplished legal practitioner and serving Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, her commendation carries a credibility that transcends routine political applause. It is the testimony of a public servant who has witnessed governance at multiple levels and recognised evidence of purposeful leadership where she found it.
To suggest that Kebbi has reached its destination would be premature. Development is a continuous enterprise, not a completed project. The demands of healthcare, industrialization, youth employment, and expanded educational access remain pressing. But every meaningful journey begins with measurable progress, and by many independent accounts, Kebbi is moving in the right direction.
The state is gradually becoming a study in what can happen when governance is anchored on execution rather than rhetoric, partnership rather than isolation, and continuity rather than disruption.
For Governor Nasir Idris, the greatest achievement may well be that the conversation about Kebbi is changing. Increasingly, it is no longer about what the state lacks but about what it is becoming. And in contemporary Nigerian governance, that is no small accomplishment.
Another striking feature of Governor Idris’ leadership is his openness to ideas that extend beyond immediate political gains. His readiness to support the proposed professional training institute for accountants and stockbrokers under the auspices of the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) reflects an understanding that modern economies are built as much on skilled human resources as on physical infrastructure. If realized, such an institution could become an important catalyst for professional development across Northern Nigeria.
Agriculture, the traditional backbone of Kebbi’s economy, remains central to the administration’s agenda. Continued support for farmers through the provision of agricultural inputs and other interventions demonstrates a recognition that food security and economic prosperity are inseparable. In today’s Nigeria, where rising food prices continue to challenge households, every investment that strengthens agricultural productivity carries national relevance.
What increasingly distinguishes Governor Nasir Idris is not flamboyance but consistency. His administration projects the image of a government more interested in steady progress than political spectacle. While others compete for headlines, Kebbi appears content with allowing results to shape public perception.
Therein lies the true value of Hajiya Salamatu Hussaini’s endorsement.
Coming from a former Minister of the Federal Republic, former Commissioner of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), accomplished legal practitioner and serving Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, her commendation carries a credibility that transcends routine political applause. It is the testimony of a public servant who has witnessed governance at multiple levels and recognised evidence of purposeful leadership where she found it.
To suggest that Kebbi has reached its destination would be premature. Development is a continuous enterprise, not a completed project. The demands of healthcare, industrialisation, youth employment, and expanded educational access remain pressing. But every meaningful journey begins with measurable progress, and by many independent accounts, Kebbi is moving in the right direction.
The state is gradually becoming a study in what can happen when governance is anchored on execution rather than rhetoric, partnership rather than isolation, and continuity rather than disruption.
For Governor Nasir Idris, the greatest achievement may well be that the conversation about Kebbi is changing. Increasingly, it is no longer about what the state lacks but about what it is becoming.
In contemporary Nigerian governance, that is no small accomplishment. Kebbi is making progress, but Governor Idris is both anxious and desperate to make it bigger, better, and greater. His mind is set on doing more to touch lives, replace old stories with new ones, and raise the bar for good governance, growth, and development.
Ibrahim Abubakar Jombali is the Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment and Orientation.
