‘We want to make Bogoro LGA our dream home’

Chairman Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Hon. Iliya Habila, a seasoned journalist before joining politics was a Senior Special Assistant, (SA) Media and Publicity to the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara between 2015 and 2019. After serving as Chairman Caretaker of Bogoro Local Government Area, Hon. Habila contested and won elections to serve as the Executive Chairman of the council on the 18th October 2020. In this interview with our News Editor, BULUS GAMBO, he speaks on his achievements, foresight and prospects. Excerpts:- 

YOU have been the Chairman of Bogoro Local Government Area after you won your elections for some time now, how has it been in trying to address some  issues affecting the area?.

It has been a unique experience after elections. But like all other tiers of government and other sectors, the effects of global financial crisis, effects of Covid-19 on the economy and finances of the whole sectors of the economy have been the challenge of governance in the whole world, and as local councils, these effects bite harder, more so that internal revenue generation has been dwindling day by day due to these global challenges. But with the required political will and prudent management of whatever is available, we have restored hope and confidence of the people on government and governance. Believe me, at the local government level, what is needed is empathy, honesty, accessibility and dedication to duty. It is not about building sky scrapers but the basic needs of the society, using prudently what is available.

During your election campaign, you promised if elected to focus on programmes which have direct bearing on the lives of your people, how far so far?

Through conscious efforts, we have made efforts in the area of the  provision of water supply, empowerment of women and youths, assistance to the needy, healthcare delivery, provision of agricultural inputs, etc. Our efforts in water, sanitation and hygiene earned us Open Defecation Free, (ODF) award by the UNICEF at a first attempt. The effect of this is that in the last three months or so, while 19 of the 20 local governments of the state were hit by an outbreak of Cholera, killing scores of lives, Bogoro was and still remains the only local government without Cholera.

One area where we felt we should also pay attention to was the physically challenged. In collaboration with Beautiful Gates Foundation for the Physically Challenged Jos, we have provided 100 wheel chairs to our brothers and sisters. You could read from the faces of this neglected sector, the attendant joy and sense of belonging.We have assisted communities, churches and mosques in their projects and activities.

One of the major areas stakeholders are always agitating for is in our quest to empowering our youth and women, how are you considering some of these issues in the collective interest of the citizens of the area?

Last year, we assisted over 200 women and youths with funds to embark on small scale businesses, we sponsored students to register for SSCE and JAMB, we have sustained our efforts in assisting students with funds and materials to enhance learning and knowledge acquisition. We have concluded plans to embark on provision of skills to women and youths across the 13 wards of the Local Government to empower those who cannot further their education. When by God’s grace we will roll in the project, we will take many women and youths off the streets and provide them with some skills for their livelihood.

Nigeria is today facing security challenges in all parts of the country, what is the situation in Bogoro and what have you been doing to ensure sustainable peace and  harmonious coexistence in the area?

While no society can be completely free of security issues, there has been relative peace and security in Bogoro. This feat has been due to providence and the conscious engagements and efforts to ensure peace and security. We have on constant basis, tackled indicators of breach of peace and security with dispatch and dispassionately. We treat all diverse sectors, whether religious, tribal, political or otherwise with the fairness and justice a society needs, hence each person feels, he or she has a stake in ensuring peace. We have assured and practically shown the security agencies that we do not condone acts capable of breaching peace and security and they have read both our body language and actions that we desire peace, security, justice and equity for all people, so they have also keyed into it. We are, however, not oblivious of the fact that as border local government area, we must ensure vigilance 24 hours.

What have you done in the area of health and education?

In the health sector, we have ensured that we provide the needed support to implement all health programmes, ranging from immunization programmes, training of personnel, intervening in rehabilitation of health facilities, provision of cold chain facilities, among others. While in education, besides capacity building for teachers and management of primary education and upper basic section.

What is your dream for the progress of the area?

My dream for Bogoro is to bring all persons together to collectively participate in the development of the area. We have introduced innovations that ensure holistic development of the area as all sectors are being attended to no matter the level of our intervention. The fundamental advantage we are leveraging on is the conscious efforts in carrying every group along in the administration of the local government and the decision to give everybody his due, regardless of your background.

What are some of the challenges you are presently facing?

The challenges of a rural local government are common nationwide: those of limited resources, underdevelopment and dearth of trained manpower to implement government programmes and policies. In Bogoro, the situation is compounded by  low revenue due to low businesses in the area. But we are determined to change the narratives right from ensuring that our population, which is a factor in revenue allocation is rightly captured, establishment of cattle market and enhancing revenue in existing markets among others to soar our revenue profile.

Any appeal to both the state and Federal Government to come to the assistance of your administration and your people?

We want to thank the state Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, Kauran Bauchi for the construction of two roads in Bogoro: the Mallar-Lusa-Bogoro and Boi-Tapshin roads which have opened up those communities, provision of water projects, rehabilitation of Bogoro township road, massive construction and rehabilitation of classrooms and health facilities. These efforts have earned the confidence of the people on government, unlike in the recent past where the area was completely neglected. There is just and equitable distribution of resources and positions, that is why in Bogoro, we will always appreciate the present administration for carrying us along in the scheme of things. As for federal presence, we appeal to the Federal Government to complete the ongoing projects in the area and embark on new ones.

Any appeal to the people of Bogoro?

To the peace-loving and hard-working people of Bogoro, I appeal to them to sustain the tempo of peace, loyalty to constituted authorities and ensure that they contribute to the development of the area, state and country at large.It is to our credit that our sons and daughters are excelling in national development, hence we have to reciprocate by supporting them and the government. Our cherished values of love, peace, hardwork, honesty must be sustained.

Your final words?

Well, I thank God for the opportunity to preside over a people with good heart, a hard working community and assure them that with the required resources, we will continue to deliver on our mandate of steering the ship for development so that we justify the confidence reposed on us.

Sir can I know a little about you?

My name is Hon. Iliya Habila (JP). I was born in Lafiyan Sara village of Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State in 1967. I had my primary school education at the LEA Primary School, Lafiyan Sara thereafter St John Vianney’s Seminary (Minor), Barkin Ladi, Plateau State and was there up to form Three and left. I proceeded to Government Teachers College, Bogoro where I completed my Teachers Grade Certificate in 1987. From 1988 to 1989, I attended a one year Remedial Programme at the University of Maiduguri, after which I was admitted to study B.A. in Mass Communication, where I graduated in 1994 with Second Class (Upper Division).

After my compulsory NYSC programme in 1995 in Kebbi State, I had some months work experience at the Bauchi State Television, (BATV) up to November 1995. I was then employed at the Desmims Independent Television, (DITV) from 1995 to 1997. In February 1997, I started work with the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) as a reporter and steadily rose to become a Correspondent, Senior Correspondent, Principal Correspondent, Senior Editor and Assistant Editor-In-Chief. While in NAN, I served in Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi and Gombe States respectively.

In 2015, I was appointed a Senior Special Assistant, (SSA), Media and Publicity to the former Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Yakubu Dogara from 2015 to 2019. I was thereafter appointed as the  Chairman Caretaker of Bogoro Local Government  Council from July 30,2019 to July 17,2020. I contested for Chairman of the same local government in the October 17,2020 Local Government Elections and won. I was sworn in as Executive Chairman, Bogoro Local Government Council on 18th October 2020 and have been serving in that capacity till date.

By the grace of God, I also served as Secretary, Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Adamawa Council from 1997 to 1999, Secretary General, NUJ Adamawa Council a Chairman Correspondents Chapel of NUJ Bauchi, from 2008-2011. I also held the position of Secretary Zaar Development Association, (ZDA) Adamawa, Chairman ZDA Taraba, among others. I am married to Victoria, with two daughters – Flora Chongtam Iliya and Annunciata Yaldam Iliya.