Autobiography of Niima Batali

 
 

        
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Accronmys and abbreviations
Forward
Autobiography
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 My early Education
1.2 A childhood fantasy
1.3 New life at Kanya Babba
1.3 Babura my 2nd town
CHAPTER TWO
2.1 Life in Boarding school at TGSS Gwammaja 1977 – 1979
2.2 At GSS Danbatta 1979- 1982
2.3 Eyes in tears
CHAPTER THREE
3.1 Seeking for a job
CHAPTER FOUR
4.1 How I began my day in the Civil service
4.2 At GSS Danzabuwa 1982- 1984
4.3 Bichi Teacher's College 1984-1985
4.4 GSS Kwa 1985- 1987
4.5 Bichi Zonal Education Office 1987- 1988
4.6 My 2nd return to Danzabuwa Girls Sec. School 1988- 1990
4.7 A fateful day in the enemies’ hands
4.8 GSS Dawakin Tofa 1989-1990
CHAPTER FIVE
5.1 New appointment with Babura L.G. Council 1990
5.2 Navy training at Onne Port Harcourt 1998
5.3 My return from Port Harcourt
CHAPTER SIX
6.1 Playing the game of politics
6.2 One of my joyous days
CHAPTER SEVEN
7.1 Sule Tankarkar L.G. Council 2001-2005
7.2 Gumel L.G. Council 2005-2008
CHAPTER EIGHT
8.1 2006 National Population census at Enugu

CHAPTER NINE
9.1 Yankwashi L.G. Council 2009- 2012
9.2 The development of LEEDS document
9.3 Bitter, Foggy and Frosty day
9.4 Guri L.G. Council 2012-2013
9.5 Unusual and terrifying phone calls
9.6 Gwiwa L.G. Council 2013- 2014
9.7 My Second return to Gumel L.G. Council. 2014- 2015
9.8 Birniwa L.G Council 2015- 2016
9.9 My third return to Gumel L.G. Council 2016 -2021
CHAPTER TEN
10.1 Conclusion







ACRONMYS AND ABBREVIATIONS
Wo ojabe  =sets of the fulani clans
Mo yida huulego   =A  very confident person
Khalipha  =one who leads the caliphate
Hakimi = District head
Masjid = place of Muslims worships
Birji = A red stony sands use for road constructions
Kaftan    = A long sleeve worn by men
Mai tuta       =A Flag bearer
Hubbare      = A grave yard
MANGAWA  = Sets of the Kanuri tribe
BADAWA     := Sets of the Kanuri clan
NERC   =Nigeria engineering and road company
FIR   =Federal Internal Revenue
ODF  = Open defecations free
KERC =Kano educational resources centre
RUWASA  =Rural water and sanitation hygiene
WASH =Water and sanitation hygiene
EU       =European union
GSS    =Government secondary school
GGSS =Government Girl’s secondary school
NTA = Nigerian television authority
LGA =Local government area
DDAGS := Deputy director admin. and general services
DPO = Divisional police officer
ADAGS= Assistant director admin and general services
ADPM = Asst. director personnel management
LGSC= Local government services commission
CPO = Chief personnel officer
ADPRS = Asst. director planning research and statistics
DPRS= Director planning research and statistics
NEPAD
NEEDS Nigeria economic empowerment development strategy
SEEDS =States economic empowerment development strategy
LEEDS =Local economic empowerment development strategy
BUK = Bayero university Kano
KZR =Kazaure
HOD= Head of department

FORWARD
     I compiled this document I tagged ‘AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF NIIMA BATALI’ as my bio data with a view to safeguarding some important records of events from missing. The piece was gathered from data collected from elders of our time, what I witnessed from my childhood, school days and an experience in the civil service.  Keeping records like this to me is very vital, it helps in the storage of information, facts and events with which without it, its retrieval could be very difficult and time takings to our young ones who have interests in history making.
    Thanks goes to Allah (SWT) who endowed me with materials and techniques to keep pictorial events, dates and the old manuscripts back from handwritten text to the manual typewriter's era up to the present generation without getting them lost. Please, no permission is granted to extract, reproduce or use any part of it without my consent or else the permission of my family if I am no more.  I hope thefamily would ensure the safety and security of the document unless where it becomes necessary please.
    Alhamdulillah!
Muhammad Niima Batali




AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF NIIMA BATALI
     I was born on Tuesday 11th August, 1964 from the family of M. Usman at Batali village in Babura Local Government Area.  My father was a Fulani by tribe from the 'Wo ojabe' clan and a native of Janmutum, a settlement about 2 kms from Batali in Babura L.G. Jigawa state, Nigeria by the North.
     My father attended Janmutum Qur’anic School under the tutelage of his father Malam Isma’il son of Galadiman Daura Ishaq son of Isiyaku 'mo yida huulego', son of Aliyu, son of Abdullahi Jegge-dina. Malam Isyaku 'mo yida hulego' was traced in the history of Daura as one of the rulers of the fulani dynasty who ruled from 1806-1830, a grandchild of Abdullahi Jegge-dina who became a very famous fulani Islamic scholar with many followers hailed from Sokoto before the Jihad and formed a settlement called Bodali the present day Batali in Babura L.G.A. of Jigawa state. Abdullahi Jegge-dina moved forward to Daura and continued with giving moral knowledge. Abdullahi Jegge-dina gave birth to Aliyu who also beget Malam Isyaku whom I wanted to elaborate in his history more. Like his granfather M. Isyaku has became a great scholar with many disciples in Daura where he taught in different fields of Islamic jurisprudence like the Qur’anic sciences, fiqh and hadiths. One day a traveller from Sokoto met M. Isyaku at his madrasa and told him about the emergence of a learned fulani brother at Sokoto and narrated how the faithfuls are trooping and gathering in recognition of his teachings and his preparation for a Jihad. The story interested M. Isyaku but didn't show more concerned, the traveller again asked wither  M.Isyaku would pay a homage to Sheikh Usman bin fodio at Sokoto, M. Isyaku did not assented at the time but later decided to visit the new emerged figure at Sokoto. He carried along with him books and escorts. Where he met the khalipha  and returned to Daura after he paid homage.
With the fulani jihad conquest of Daura, Usman bin fodio gave a flag to M. Isyaku and he continued with  Islamic teaching activities and at the same time carried the administrative functions of the emirate. Finally with his demise in 1830 his son Galadiman Daura Ishaq who’s supposed to inherit the throne fled as a result of power tussles northward caused by the colonial masters in their effort to re-in state power to the Hausa ruling class. Galadiman Daura Ishaq moved to Yardaji a settlement close to Daura town and later moved to a far distance in search of pasture for his cows and an arable land for farming to Kwagga near present Kuzunzumi market with his disciples, after a short period he again proceeded east ward and the then Emir of Kano Ibrahim Dabo from the Fulani sullubawa (1819-1846) was informed about their arrival and sent his cavalrymen to meet the Daura prince and approved to host him by creating 12 huts to him in Kwagga where the people surrounding the area named the place Damfamin Ishaq, it is now exists as Damfa a village  very near to Garun gudinya town in the present Babura L.G.A.  M. Ishaq migrated to his ancestral settlements where his grandfather Abdullahi Jegge-Dina ever lived the place was named after his body's colour, and now called Janmutum Fulani. M. Ishaq gave birth to two males child Adam who gave birth to our mother Sa’adatu and Ismail who gave birth to Malam Usman our father. His lineages could be traced at Kurneje, Karkarku, Yardaje, Bidawa and Zangon Daura outside Daura town, while some could be found in Dala Kano near the hill (the Alfandas family), Unguwa uku (M.Musa Adamu family) some at Babura (M.Nasiru’s, M. Ma’aruf’s , my family and Abba’s families) They can be found at Janmutum, and in Batali too. Now let me take the reader to M. Usman history our father.
It was a good achievement to my father Malam Usman son of Isma'il son of M.Ishaq who learned and crammed the whole 114 chapters of the Qur’an at the age of twelve (12).
     Malam Usman, was taken to a known scholar Malam na Maiganji at Maiganji town  in Dambtatta Local Government Area to further his Qur’an and other Islamic knowledges.  He was gifted with a retentive memory that blossomed him like a flowering plant during his days .  He preached and converted many to the religion of peace (Islam) like the work of his fore fathers. .
     Interestingly, he was tested certificated and offered a chance by the emir of Kano to propagate Islamic injunctions as taught by the prophet of hikmah Muhammad (SAW) in every glorious month of Ramadan each year at Babura, for the benefits of the entire muslims ummah as recommended and forwarded by the Dokaji Suleiman the then 'Hakimi' of Babura who was also amongst his scholars.
     In 1935, Malam Usman was appointed to help the then Village head of Batali Magaji Musa in keeping records of taxes collected, where he served as a scribe.  It spelt out his qualities as a literate by the time where the learned were so scarce.    On 7th March, 1940, the then Village head of Batali died, and was succeeded by his scribe Malam Usman Son of Isma’il son of Ishaq as a new Village head.  The appointment was recommended by the District head and was approved and turbaned by the emir of Kano, late Abdullahi Bayero.



Late Abdullahi Bayero the emir of Kano. 1926-1953


If the reader followed with keen interests he will realized that Malam Usman was supported by Allah (SWT), who elevated his status in the society he lived and made him famous and an achiever.
     In 1968, he made a complaint to the native authority to come to the aid of his people to build a school in Batali, he stressed that pupils in his domain have to




travel to a long distance of over 20kms to Garun gudinya in pursuance of education every blessed working days from Batali. In 1970 a temporary mud classroom was constructed at 'dandali' in the midst of the town with M. Ado Garko as its first headmaster.  Through the headmaster’s and the V/Head’s dedications led to the enrollments of more pupils and building of a school at the western outskirts of the town with additional teachers from various parts of the country.  Amongst few were Mr. Steven, M. Ma’aruf Usman. Umar Kurugu (Karaye), Magaji Ibrahim Babura, and M. Hayyo Goronmaje.
  In a similar development, the village head solicited for an additional water source and a dispensary because people have to take their patients to HUI a town in Katsina state, before they can afford to see a medical practitioner who will listen to their health issues.
     A Friday 'masjid' where 5 daily prayers were observed was built under his initiative and supervision in 1980 and was made the chief imam who led the congregation to the period of his demise in 1981.

Alhaji Usman Isma’il the village head of Batali 1940- 1981
Before his death, he was opportune to take one of his sons M. Nasir Usman to Babura elementary primary school, under the care of Alkali Ali Sorondinki the family of Walin Kano.  With the transfer of the judge (Alkali)Ali from Babura to Kano, Muhammad Nasir was taken along and enrolled in Shahuci Primary school in Kano municipal. He was one the best students of Kaduna auxiliary staff college where he was trained as a medical staff.  M. Nasir was a brother to the writer who showed love, caring, and affection to me during his life time. After his Kaduna training M. Nasir was posted to Goronmaje in Dambatta LGA as a Dispenser in charge of the community dispensary.  He was married to Zainab Abu and started a family life in 1970.  He carried me along to his 1st working station at Goronmaje and enrolled me in primary one.  He was the writer of a book ‘Kunne ya girmi kaka’.  He served the government in various capacities, where he retired from the public service in 1996.  He was turbaned as a village head of Gangarar Hanware a town extracted from Batali by the emir of Ringim Alh Sayyadi Mahmoud on
   5/7/2001.

Muhammad Nasir Usman 2001-2019
He reigns for eight (8) years and died on 2/3/2019. He was succeeded by his eldest son Muhammad Sani Nasir (Labaran) in 2019 see how the sprit of leadership is back tracking the family. You go to Batali, Malamawa and Haladawa in Kanya District councils they are all heirs of the Malam Isyakun's Daura.
MY EARLY EDUCATION
    In 1970 when I was 7 years old, I was enrolled in Goronmaje primary school.  One of our teachers M. Abdul Hamid Saleh commended my performance for picking the 1st position in the class and appointed me a class monitor.
A CHILDHOOD’S FANTASY
     I cannot forget to narrate a childish scenario that took place in 1972, when I was 9 years old; my brother was blessed with numerous species of live stocks and domestic birds penned at the back yard of his compound, under the care of one energetic and simple man called Maidaniya.  There were so many goats, sheep, hens, ducks, horses and donkeys.
     A drama taken place when my brother was away from home.  How I wish a coverage was made on video camera a situation where I entered the animal’s fence and picked up a horse’s bridle, saddle and mounted them on a donkey.  I by passed Maidaniya through another gate without noticing my exit, I rode to my brother’s sugarcane farm.  On reaching the farm after finishing enjoying a stick of sugar cane while returning to the donkey, I realized that the donkey’s hooves have stuck in the dark mud, the donkey can no longer move.  I made all efforts to pull it out but due to my age there was no force to do that.  My God! I was helpless.  I left the donkey heading to home on foot crying.  A short distance away I met a farmer working at the neighbouring farm that stopped me and enquired what’s the crying all about? I suddenly pointed to where the donkey stood and he immediately led us to it. Could you imagine that when we reached the place , the man saw a donkey in a horse attire  and then looked down on me very little in red ‘dara cap’ fear caught him and forgot what has brought him to do instead, he ran shelter skelter thinking that I am a devil, he left me and the donkey there helplessly.
    It was late evening, the sun was changing its colour while birds have started taking their nests and some night creatures started echoing their noises all over, I was chaught by a fear. I was in dilemma thinking for a way out, and what even to tell my brother when I meet him home. I left the donkey and went back to home to narrate the story to Maidaniya, without hesitation he hurriedly rushed to the farm and brought the donkey back home. He teased and laughed at me for the childish arena and never uttered a word or told the matter to my brother.  He was gentle and kind to me that day.


LIFE AT KANYA BABBA (1973-1975)
     With the transfer of my brother from Goranmaje to Kanya- babba as a medical practitioner, who carried his family along with him to where ever he was posted. That was a step forward to explore new places and new people. We call that time a radio era, the days when people gather to listen to a radio in front of our home in the evening for their pleasure, the days of Alh.mamman shata, Dan anace, Dan kwairo, Danmaraya and many traditional songs makers whose songs were recorded and played on cassettes recorders. There were only few houses that provide such recreation activities in the town by then, such houses were that of  Alhaji Halliru, Malam kosi, Ciroman Kanya and the house of the village head they were the few prominent houses by then. Kanya babba has a big market operating on Tuesdays, and blessed with a road that stopped in the town from Kwanar dumawa made up of ‘birji’ that made it easy to drivers to operate their commercial activities in terms of transportation long before its tarred. I was enrolled in Kanya babba primary school under the headmastership of Malam Kosi in the year 1973.  Our class master was Mal. Lawan Halliru and amongst my class mates  the few I could remember were Rabo Wada, Nura Halliru, Sani Musa (Gulle), Ibrahim Hashim Kanya, Ibrahim Maina, Hassana Bungum Maryam Halliru and many more. I was circumcised at Kanya and halted the attendance of the school for five weeks, but that did not hamper my performance of picking the 1st position in the class.  Alhamdu lillah, I collected many prizes for winning debates and quizzes that was why in 1975 when the Military governor of Kano state Colonel Sani Bello paid an unexpected visit to the school I was among the selected pupils to say a word of welcome to the august visitor. He shook his hand with me and encouraged me to keep it up.
    A road construction company named NERC made Kanya Babba their yards site where they sleep and keep their automobiles engines, they made the place lively fully connected with electricity most of them were white expatriates engineers given a contract to construct a road from Kwanar Dumawa to Dashi a Nigerian boarder with Niger Republic in 1975.  It was my first experience to see such people of different colour.
BABURA MY SECOND TOWN
      The first quarter of the year 1975 my brother was transferred from Kanya Babba to Babura as a senior medical officer in the area in charge of the only one medical outfit in the town he parked with his family amongst his wives then were Zainab his first wife a kind and simple and Rabi’atu a caring lady, very industrious who attended Danzomo women skill acquisition centre and acquired weaving and designs skills.  At home she engaged us in making some drawings on garments for her to weave bed sheets on commercial basis to stop us from mingling with bad boys in the streets.
In those years you can count only but few government buildings apart from the dispensary and the dispenser’s house where we lived we have only the district head office, ‘Yangadi police barrack, prison, Gidan Gwamna present Gidan ganye, Gidan malamai and the central Primary school.  Prominent people of the time were M. Mustapha Musa, Alh. Habu Dan Jigawa, Alh. Ya’u Danzabuwa, Alh. Uba Arab, Alh. Musa Alher, M. Nuhu Headmaster, Alh. Yusuf Dan Bature, Bashari Adashe, Alh. Musa Wagadugu, Alh. Zubairu Isa, Alh. Audu Kano, Alhaji Inuwa na bakin titi. There was a gangar gadi a drum sounded by one man called Luru (a whistle blower) who beat the drum and blow the whistle by 12; 00 midnight showing that all people movements are restricted and security night watch was in place. Anyone caught roaming about after that time will be dealt and must bear the consequences.  
    In the same year, I was enrolled in Babura central Primary school under the Headmastership of M. Sabi’u Mustapha later Alh. Audu Hayyo.

Babura Central Primary School 1976
  Those Standing from the right to left on the photo were; Lawan dan Sokoto, Muhammad Furullu, Dan Asabe Buro choco, Kamilu Suleman, Magaji Efe, Babangida Yaro,Salisu Miko Hoji, Abubakar Bodo, Idi Buro, Abdulrahman Dauda ADB,Abdu Shitu and Abdullahi Sani. Then those at the middle from right to left were; Salisu Idi hoto, Babangida Danbaba, Almu Kabiru, Usaina Dogara. Idrith Aloma, Rashida Afafe, Bello Ahmed ,Zuwaira Tukur, Muhammad Niima (the writer) Abdu Dan Maula, Muhammad Dan mai Gwanjo and Hamisu Zakari.  Also those at Sitting from right to left were; Fatsima Bako, Umma Musa Alher, Abdu Danbaba, Sani Usman tanasko, Kursiya Hamza, Mutari Sani, Baraka Lawan, and Ubale Sule. Those at the front line holding the class board were; Ado S. Fawa naro,Sani Musa Alher, and Rabi’u Inuwa, The teachers in the photo were; M. Sule Alamaza,Muhammad Dankurciya, M. Sabiu Mustapha, M. Habibu and M. Sharu our Arabic teacher.
In 1977 we have written and passed common entrance examinations to secondary schools education. On 27 August 1977 we attended a selection interview at Danbatta GSS after some months the results was out and I was given a joint Instruction to undergo a 5 years studies at Transit Govt. Secondary school Gwammaja.
NEW LIFE IN BOARDING SCHOOL (1977- 1979)
    I started a new life in another environment at Gwammaja in the Kano metropolitan, leaving my guardian, parents at home to live with new faces became a very strange thing to me. We are the first set of the school established in 1977.  It’s called Transit Government secondary school Gwammaja near Kukar Idau market.  Our Principal was Mr.R Purdy a Canadian his vice was Malam Ishaq Umar and Garba Muhammad the senior master who have instilled discipline and morality to us to their best of ability. They urged the students to be law abiding and obey the school rules and regulations and enjoined the students to make good use of the facilities available at the school.  Actually We were privileged to enjoy the good and free education by the government, At that time feeding, was free, uniforms such as kaftans for going to masjid, house bests, games wear, blankets, brown for labour works, mosquito’s nets, key soaps, omo detergents etc  were all provided freely to make the students confronts their studies successfully.

Mr.R.Purdy (Principa)l, Ishaq Umar (Vice Principal) and Garba Mohammed Sen.Master at the centre
     I joined class 1A1; thanks and appreciations goes to the good leaders of the time who provided  good welfare and conducive atmosphere of learning to its citizens.  They paid pocket money on a weekly basis an allowance that allows the students to buy what they wanted on the outing days, while on closing days journey money were paid to transport students back to their parents. The payments were made based on towns distance.  In the year 1979, the Ministry of education released a circular requesting the principal to arrange a list of students according to their Local Government of origin and ensure that each student was transferred to a secondary school very near to their towns and villages.  As results of that, my name appeared at Danbatta Secondary School.  Among the school mates we’ve interacted at Gwammaja were Kawunle Sekure of ‘yanleman Dakaiyawa, Ahmed Mai Malam Madori, Ibrahim Musa Minjibir, Hassan Sani, Muhammad Jaji, IG. Maryam, Ado inuwa Yakasai Auwalu Musa Durumin Iya, Ismail Ibrahim Na'iya and Sabo Muhammad B/ Kudu the vice chancellor of Babura Federal University of technology and many more.
AT GSS DAMBATTA (1979-1977)
     The Principal I met was Malam Ahmad Tijjani Abdullahi the students gave him a name ‘dabari’, I handed my transfer letter to him where he directed the clerical officer to open a file, and an admission number reading 1268 was given to me.  It is an old institution with a population of hundreds of students from various places.  What was new to me was that the senior students maltreat the junior ones like dogs. Beating, flogging, frog jumping, crawling were the order of the day they do it unchecked mercilessly but with all that we have endured it throughout the training period. Amongst our teachers I could recall were the Philippines, Canadians, Indians and many more to mention but few were Mr longevit (English), Miss Castilo (Mathematics), Miss Susan (Biology) Fedrico M.Hippol (Tech.Drawing) Effidon Asekoma etc.

Babura students union at Gss Danbatta
EYES IN TEARS (I) ‘THE DEMISE OF MY FATHER’
     In August 1981, Alhaji Usman Ismail left Batali town to attend a naming fatiha of his grandchild child Auwal, one of the blessed child of Malam Nasir my senior brother. Well-wishers and relatives gathered on that day to joined Malam Nasir in celebrating the birthday. On that day Alhaji expressed his willingness to pay a condolence visits to the emirs of Daura and Kazaure over the deaths of their closed relatives. A family team was formed and the journey started. Those on board were Alhaji Usman, Malam Sani (His brother), Malam Habu caska, Galadima marawwa, Musa Usman concord, Ahmad Sani, and Malam Aliyu Muhammad. And amongst His sons, were Malam Nasiru, Maaruf and Niima (the writer). The bus delivered us to Daura palace at Unguwar Fada Babba.

 In the absence of the emir we have paid a condolence to one of his close ties Alhaji Gali Daura. My father and his entire entourage were accompanied to a palace known to be an ancestral home where his grand-grandfather M. Isyaku mai tuta 'mo yida huulego' as we've mentioned who ruled Daura lived long years ago at Unguwar Fada Babba in Daura. After visiting the old Isyaku's palace we proceeded to Kusugu well where we fetched from it and performed ablution for ASR prayer with the water. He gave those in his company the history of the well. After all, we went to Kazaure and paid a condolence message to the emir over the death of his mother accompanied by Alhaji Andu Kazaure a brother to the emir.
On our way back to home, before we reached Sandamu junction the rear tyre busted with a terrible sound and the bus summersaulted several times and Alhaji lost his life in the accident and others injured including the writer who was thrown over a ‘Kargo’ tree and later taken down by the passersby.
    We were taken to Daura general hospital were the corpse of the deceased and the remaining patients were transferred to Babura general hospital. Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun the death of this famous man came at a sudden and a shock to the people of Babura who have shown sorrows and arranged a convoy to escort it to its final abode at 'Janmutum hubbare' a village under Batali town where his body rests.  He left two wives Saadatu and Hauwau with fifteen (15) children, among them were Habiba, Salamatu, Ahmad, Abdulqadir, Delulu, Nasir, Maaruf, Abdulaziz, Bashari, Niima (the writer), Aliyu, Aisha, Hauwau, Nafisa and Adamu. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace in Jannatul Firdaus. Amen!
SEEKING FOR A JOB
     On 20th of October, 1982 my friend Jikare invited me to join him in pursuance of job seeking; he showed me a copy of a circular No MOE/APP/T.I/V.II/175 and KSC/543/28 which expressed the need for indigenes to fill the clerical booth. We headed to KERC Business department in Kano and met Mr. Adebola the Head of the department. He asked for what we applied, we replied that we have applied for clerical officer’s cadre. The Head of the department then fixed a date and requested us to check back on 27th October 1982.
     On 27th October of the same year, Mr. Adebola sent us to nine months clerical Asst. training. After the stipulated time we have successfully completed the training  and obtained our certificates. We have been deployed to the ministry of education Kano state 'Gidan murtala' where we collected appointments and postings letters to various secondary schools in the state. I found myself posted to Danzabuwa Secondary School under Bichi LGA .
HOW I BEGAN MY DAY IN THE CIVIL SERVICE AT GSS DANZABUWA (NOVEMBER 1982 TO 1984)
     I presented my posting letter to Alh. Garba Halliru the zonal education officer Bichi/ Dawakin Tofa zone, where he directed the clerk’s office through the intercom, Yusuf Saye who was asked to type a letter of an assumption of duty to me. After I received the letter I set forward in continuation of the journey to GSS Danzabuwa where I was posted to, an accommodation was allocated to me by Malam Hamisu Aminu, the principal of the school where I parked with my bride Zainab Abu, I carried along with me late Khadija Muhammad Nasir as a daughter .
     On 8th march 1982 which is my first day at work, I went to the administrative block and found the principal, Mr. Uku Ezene an Urhobo man, and Malam Magaji Ado Bichi, as the only teaching staff of the school, therefore due to the shortages of teaching staff, the principal directed me to join the wagon to teach Agricultural Science and Social studies. As an Agricultural Science teacher, I have played an important role in the school by encouraging and guiding the students to make a flower beds and then planted the flower seedlings and showed them how to take care of the plants by watering them regularly. In few months’ time the compound was changed and looked very attractive. The zonal officer once visited the school and found the blossoms flowers decorating the compound all over.He asked who made the place so beautiful like this? some students answered it was our Agric Science teacher. This made august visitor to look for me and encouraged me for the contribution I have made to the school. In conjunction to that, on a parent and teachers celebration day (PTA) I was honoured with a gift of appreciation letter and a percel by Mariya Sunusi Dantata a mother to Alh. Aliyu Dangote a renowned Kano business tycoon.

Mariya Sunusi Dantata presenting an appreciating letter to me
     In 1984, I was transferred from GSS Danzabuwa to Bichi teachers college during the principal ship of Dahiru Abdulqadir the third principal of the school.
BICHI TEACHERS COLLAGE (1984 TO 1987)
     I met Malam Baffa Aminu as the principal of Bichi Teachers Collage, He was a man of good character, and showed an examplenary leadership not to his students only but to his staff generally. The school was an old institution with different categories of staff which comprised expatriates teachers from India, Philippines, Canada Cameroon and our native teachers. The principal allocated an accommodation which we shared with Pius Ambe a Cameroonian. I interacted with the staff and the students peacefully and discharged my official duties successfully.
GIRLS SECONDARY SCHOOL KWA (SEPTEMBER 1985 TO MARCH 1987)
     On 29th September, Malam Garba Adam Bichi a store keeper at the zonal education office escorted me to report to GSS Kwa, I handed the posting letter to Iyagana Mukhtar (Halima)| a Bade woman from Yobe State who was the principal of the school. She welcomed me and provided for me an accommodation at the staff quarters where we squated with My wife and Hamisu Nasiru in his10th. The principal was a good woman who understands and countdown no mistakes. I was given an area of duties which included preparation of payment vouchers, carrying information within and outside the school to different organs and parastatal of government and companies as the school ambassador.  In order to discharge my duties efficiently, the principal directed me to use the school bus whenever the needs arise.

At Girl’s Senior Secondaery School, Kwa

     I was designated as acting patron of Hausa cultural society  where I taught the students the Hausa cultures, I once accompanied some students to  Arts and crafts exhibitions at Gidan dan hausa in Kano.



GGSS Kwa Hausa cultural society students at stage
     On 4th October,1986 the principal of the school requested me to deliver the Muslim Students society members to NTA Kano for maulud Nabiyi debate, our students met with their counterpart from Gss Wudil, our students won the debate and obtained the prizes. After the debate, the students were taken round to various theatres in the station; very excited satellites, cameras, and new casters men in the studio were shown to them.  We interacted with Rabi’u Hudu, Suleiman Muhammad, Muhammad Umar, Grace Ojoma, Baffa Adamu Gaya, Ibrahim Garba Gwarzo to mention but a few.
BICHI ZONAL OFFICE (NOV. 1987- MARCH 1988)
    On 4th November, 1987, there was a general transfer of finance officers.  I was assigned to the zonal education directorate at Bichi from GGSS Kwa.  The job wasn’t all that different from the ones I had carried out before, the slight change was the load of the work increased being it was a centre of all the schools under the zone.  M. Abdu Dutse was the Zonal director while M. Kabir Hassan Yakasai was the staff officer. Later Alh. Ibrahim Ringim the director and Yusuf Muhammad Gumel his dupty took charge.
MY SECOND RETURN TO DANZABUWA GGSS (MARCH 1988- DEC, 1990)
    Surprisingly enough, a decision by the Zonal office for the decentralization of Kabagiwa, Dumbulum, Shuwaki, Kunchi, Tsanyawa secondary schools into one ambit with a centre at Danzabuwa as a centre of preparations of payment vouchers took shape.  I was reposted for the second time to Danzabuwa after it was converted to a boarding Girl’s secondary school by the Ministry of education Kano state.  M. Garba Na huce Gwaram and M. Abdulhamid yusuf signed the posting letter on 24th March 1988.  My duties included prepartions of payment vouchers, cashing of salaries cheques, payment of salaries and making returns of revenues collected from the heads and subheads of exams and school fees in respect of the six secondary schools in the zone. I could remember one M.Abubakar maiwada Tsanyawa who was the principal of Kabagiwa.

A FATEFULL DAY IN THE ENEMIES HANDS
     On 29th September 1988, a bank cheque of ten thousand naira was signed and stamped by my principal Malam Sulaiman Yunusa which was handed to me for cashing of  September 1988 salary from the Union bank Kano branch, accompanied by the school driver Malam Kabiru Muhammad Danbatta. We reached the bank in the early hours and found that the bank was crowded because customers were making their sallah withdrawals; a lady cashier over the counter made a strange action on me, according to the bank regulations, every customer withdrawing more than nine thousand naira must be filmed. The camera rays will not exceed some seconds for the snap shot, but that day, that lady left the rays on me for more than 5 minutes. This is the action that I recalled when four men in a Peugeot over took our bus and stopped us at a sharp corner very closed to Tattarawa a village along Bichi road at gun point.  After our driver stopped, two of the occupants of the other car came out, and one of them pointed a gun and asked me to give him the money, I handed the envelope containing the money with the payment voucher inside, and they quickly ran back to their car and drove away leaving us chanting the word of Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun.
     The whole situation changed to us not even knowing what to do next, finally we reported the incident to the zonal director Malam Ibrahim Ringim. The zonal director, I and the school driver proceeded to Bichi police station for the situation report, we were questioned by the police on how the thing occurred where the case happened after tsking the details the case file was transferred to Dawakin tofa police division the area where the robbery occurred for the 'FIR'. We have given the first information report at Dawaki division. At that time there were no mobile phones, so the zonal director went back to Bichi to inform the principal of the affected school, while we were left under the police custody. A report was written informing the commissioner of education Alhaji Aminu Galadima Bichi where the ministry reported the same to the commissioner of police. Investigations continued and we were interrogated. Allah in His mercies, on the same night of that day the police on their search patrols found a man laying by the road side and found he was a sales man of Vaseline company robbed and lsid to ground along the same route that we were attacked, they have stopped and found him unconscious beaten by the unscrupulous elements, they have snatched five thousand cash and carted away with company's van and some remaining Vaseline products. The man was brought to the cell where we were. While the police patrol was intensified, in the morning they found the emptied company’s van near 'Miltara' and they towed it to the police head quarter at Bompai in Kano.
     The principal sympathized with the situation that had befallen us and told the police about our good characters at work. The following day, he persuaded for our bail, the bail was given on conditions that we shall be reporting to the police every week and that we shall attend an identification parade when the culprits were found while investigations continued.
     In the second week of the incident, a woman harlot reported to the DPO Dawakin tofa and ssid there were gangsters with weapons spending extravagantly; and take Indian hemp by wrapping it with a twenty naira the highest currency denomination note at the time. The woman was in their gang before and later abandoned her, they got a teenager that jealousy made her to report them to the police. On receiving the report the DPO reported to the commissioner of police and requested for reinforcement, the culprits were caught at Kyawa village. On investigation, the robbers confessed that, they are the ones who have operated a long Katsina road and robbed a school bus and a company van. This findings and confessions by the men of the underworld heloed in making  us free from suspicion at last.
GSS DAWAKIN TOFA (1989 TO DECEMBER 1990)
     In 1989, I was transferred to D/Tofa Secondary School where I worked for one year under the principal ship of Alhaji Sabo Baba Ringim and M. Tijjani Sayyadi as his vice principal.  I can recall Hussaini Alhassan and a Mathematics teacher M. Mansur Bala Bello a popularly known journalist with voice Germany (Hausa Service).  I lived in Kashirmo qrts a km drive north ward from Dawakin Tofa town behind the Science secondary school.

NEW APPOINTMENT WITH BABURA L.G. COUNCIL
     In December, 1990 I took up a new appointment with Babura Local Government Council as a Clerical Officer that led to my voluntary resignation with the ministry of education. In January 1990 I left Dawakin tofa to Babura with my family. In 1992, I attended a civil service examination at school of management studies Kano and passed the examination, this resulted to my advancement to GL.05 and assigned to the secret registry of the local government. In 1993, again I sat for a civil service exams and passed, and I was advanced to GL 06. A new office was opened bringing the DPM and the ADPM together with a personnel assistant in-between their offices. Abdulqadir Ahmad was the DPM and Habu Isyaku was the ADPM while I was the personnel assistant helping in clerical duties, receiving visitors, and handling of the office machines such as the photocopiers, typewriters and rolling machines.
     In 1995, I was promoted to GL 07 and assigned to the office of the local government chairman and the secretary as their personnel assistant. In 1997, I was promoted to GL 08 assigned to head the security unit of the local government i.e special services unit.
NAVY TRAINING AT ONNE POTHARCOURT
In January 1998, my name appeared in one of the national dailies the new Nigerian newspaper no 10,439 of Saturday 24th  1998 which displayed the lists of successful candidates into the 7th batch of the Nigerian navy, we have written a practical test and physical training at Rukuba barrack Jos. We were requested to report to NNS Akaso Onne naval college potharcourt on 10th February 1998. Out of 97 candidates, only 11 have scaled through from Jigawa state and thanks to Allah I happened to be one of the successful ones. Before my departure I applied for permission and approval from the local government service commission Dutse to attend the training. An approval was given No. LGSC/S/89/V1/86 of 10th February 1998.
On 10th February 1998 I reported to Port Harcourt and started receiving military training, I was in the writers category E1 Anansa division, I stayed with different trainees both males and females. Among them were Usman Abdullahi Gumel, Sulaiman Shehu Shagari and Usman Shehu Shagari two sons of the former civilian president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and many more of different tribes, cultures and religion. The training was interested as it enhanced physical strength of the body.

I scaled through all the obstacles during the training but reaching five months in the camp, I decided to withdraw based on the following reasons;
The appointment was on rating system i.e the trainees are to be rated as SSCE leavers after the completion of the training, while many of us were graduates, diplomats and NCE holders, we were told that our certificate would not be converged.
Compared to my remunerations that was GL 08 that I left behind and that my income will fall down at the end of the training and cannot tolerate the expensive living in the southern part compared to the northern part of Nigeria
Having children over 7 by then and the fear of changing in their morality, discipline and culture made me to change my mind.
 Thinking of my elderly mother considering the nature of the military service of not having much time and freedom to interact with others freely especially the navy.
An advice given to me by a six batch visiting friend in person of Sani Shehu who convinced me to quit because he is on the way to leave due to the reasons mentioned above too.
      I met my division officer, where we've discussed the issue and I told him about my need to withdraw, he asked why? I narrated to him the reasons as I stated above. He told me the procedures to follow before I am allowed to go officially, I have suffered going from one office to the other, I met captains, commandants and officers before I was allowed to fall out.
     On 10th July 1998, I and another fellow Nura Barau from Kano state were allowed to pick out our luggages for the exit. I would never forget some of my colleagues especially Mato Garba Kura from Kano state, and Moses Gotau from Kaduna State, they were very cordial and cooperative.
We came out from the naval collage at about 12pm and joined a bus to a garage where we boarded a luxurious bus to Jos, we spent a night travelling and reached Jos the following morning. At Jos terminus on our way to Bauchi garage three pocket pickers persuaded us, one at the front blocking our way and the remaining two from behind started searching our jeans trouser's rear pockets trying to steal from us, with the military training and a night without sleep, we have rolled them down to their knees and dealt with them accordingly and handed them to the police and continued our journey
MY RETURN FROM PORTHACOURT
     On my return back home, my mother, brother, children and other relatives were over whelmed with joys and happiness for my safe return. I informed my mother and my brother that I came back in order to secure my Local Govt. appointment back because the training approval given by the LGSC was subject to a one year period where after it's completion a year the appointment may seize terminate and the salary would be stopped. For this reasons, I told them that I would no longer go back to the navy camp. My mother welcomed the decision and thanks Allah for accepting her prayer of seeing me back.
     On 17th July 1998, I reported back to the local government where I wrote a letter notifying the authority over my return, the letter was endorsed to the state government signed by the local government secretary Malam Sabo Muhammad Jarumi Hadejia. My schedules of duties were returned back with additional functions and responsibilities;
Head of special services responsible for compiling and sending monthly security situations of the local government to the state special services directorate, issues like the influx of aliens especially the herders who causes havoc every year between the farmers and the pastoralists.
Secretary Peace and security committee of the L.G.A

Mr. Onu (DPO Babura Division) and his men in uniform, VIO, Abubakar DSS and NURTW Chairman and me shortly after a security Committee’s meeting.
Secretary to the committee of payment of student’s local government allowances, the work of the committee is to scrutinize the list of students currently studying and their schools, and to remove those who have completed the training but still collecting the money. To remove workers who are receiving salary and at the same time collecting the students’ allowance that was meant a relief to the unemployed.
Secretary handing over and transition committee from the outgoing government to the elected administration;
10th may 1999, an election that brought Alhaji Sani Haruna under the banner ship of PDP in to office. The sole administrator has formed a committee to make a necessary arrangement for the handing over. The members were, Alh Muhammad Nuhu Kazaure (chairman) ,Alh Ibrahim Ismat, Alh Salisu Lawan, Alh Yazid Kazaure and I serve as the secretary. We have compiled the report and submitted it to the sole administrator vide a letter No. BBLG/SEC/53/VIII/351 of 10/5/1999 signed by Alhaji Muhammad Wakili DSII.

Alh. Ahmad Muhammad D/zomo(outgoing sole administrator), Sunusi Muhammad Gumel (Secretary), Alh. Sani Haru(incoming chairman)while those standing was me and the chairman of the committee Alh. Muhammad Nuhu Kazaure.
Secretary committee for the payment of imams, village heads and ward heads.
After the appointment of Alhaji Ahmad Danzomo as the sole administrator of Babura local government by the military administrator, A.Z Maimalari he chooses to runs his administration on committee basis. He created a committee for the payment of imams, village heads, and ward heads and I was the secretary.
Secretary committee on verification of outstanding liabilities.
On 18th October 1998, vide an official document No.BBLG/BCC/77/VII/2 and a triumph newspaper publication No. 4,433 of 8/10/1998 of Tuesday indicated the appointment of a seven man members committee to verify 15.7 million debts inherited by the local government from the past regime and I was made the secretary of the committee.


Secretary revenue mobilization committee.
The sole administrator inaugurated the committee in order to boast the revenue derive of the local government. I was the secretary vide an appointment letter No. BBLG/BCC/74/VII/55 of 2nd November 1998, signed by Malam Muktar Mustapha CPO.

PLAYING THE GAME OF POLITICS
     With advent of the new regime, many of those who were jealous with the role I played in the past sole administrator’s regime, they have plotted to black mail my personality to the level of instigating the incoming chairman, he was told that I fought them during their electioneering campeign.  My name appeared part of those to be dismissed from the service.  All that was targeted to get me out of the system to clear their way to the new administration. I was called by the incumbent chairman Alh Sani Haruna and told not to worry, he will never regards their quest as something worthy that would give a room to others to hurt me throughout his tenure, that is why I gave him the respect he deserved.


ONE OF MY JOYOUS DAYS
    After my return from Port Harcourt, there was a day when we were sitting with my mother, she said before I can see from a far distance but now I can only see when the objects are nearer.  She said her left sided eye was not normal as it was because when she closes the right one she couldn’t see any more with the left one. I shared her feelings with pity; it happened that when I was listening to a radio programme.  I heard an announcement that the national eye centre in Kaduna is going to conduct a cataract surgery to those with vision problems on a specified date.  I rushed to my lovely mother and told her about the information, that if she so will and interested I will pay for the journey and the medications. She rejoiced and welcomed the suggestion.  Some days later we left to the national eye centre Kaduna. After many tests had been conducted it was I identified that she has a cataract from then arrangements were completed for the surgery and it was successful.  The doctor said the right sided eye too has the same problem but it’s not matured enough for the surgery.  She was happy for that and the praising words and prayer uttered to me made me happier too.with the restoration of her vision to normalcy. Alhamdulillah!

My mother in a hospital bed and me stands close to her.
     Six months later. I heard over the radio again that another operation of cataract surgery is going to commence at the Murtala general hospital, Kano, I related the same to my mother who decried going for the next surgery, over the financial involvement spent in the first operation process.  I managed to convinced her that everything is in the hands of God and He will suffice us to achieve what we have intended.  In His mercies we went for the 2nd cataract surgery and it was successful too and she regained her both eyes vision.  Thanks goes to Allah (SWT) for the achievement that came in my life time to make my mummy happy before her death.  I jotted these notes with a view to encouraging our offspring to take care of their parents whenever they are in need.  Whatsoever you do to them you can’t compensate them over what they’ve done to you when they carried you along for 9 months in their wombs up to your childish days to the time you become a full grown man or woman.
      One day the former sole administrator invited me to Danzomo for his daughter’s wedding, it was that day I related the matter to him and told him that I wanted to leave Babura on transfer to any local government in the state. He wrote a note on his complimentary card and asked me to take it to the then Secretary Local government service commission Malam Nura Usaini Kazaure, after some months I was transferred to Sule tankarkar local government.
SULE TANKARKAR LOCAL GOVERNMENT FEBRUARY,2001-MARCH,2005
     With the general posting of staff, I was promoted to GL 10 and found my name posted to Sule tankarkar as a Principal Personnel Assistant. Moreover, the state Special services directorate in appreciation of my performance, the permanent secretary of the directorate Malam Abdulhamid Ali sent a letter Number J/SSD/E/288/51 of 23/10/2001 to the chairman Sule tankarkar to open a special services unit at the local government and allow me to head the unit.
I continued as the secretary of the security committee of the local government under Mujitafa the council chairman, to the time when Ali Ado came into power as the chairman of the Suletankarkar local government.
Secretary committee on the assessment properties loses, as a result of the crises between the police and the people of Sule tankarkar, properties worth thousands of naira were destroyed, the local government appointed a committee to assess the damages which I was the secretary.
Local government ambassador /solicitor to courts.
The local government enters in to dispute with one Hardo Kote, who trespassed a grazing reserve and said it was a land he inherited from his father. I was assigned to be the local government representative in all the courts hearings from sharia court Hadejia up to sharia court of appeal Dutse. Hardo kote was defeated after the court ruled out that the land belongs to Sule tankarkar L.G. as certified vide a court order No. SCA/IV/JG/15/95.
I also served as a secretary Joint staff management committee in Suletankarkar local government council.



GUMEL LOCAL GOVERNMENT (MARCH 2005 TO APRIL 2008)
     Alh Habu Isyaku the ADPM who we served together in the same department at Babura, was made the secretary Local government service commission, recalled my performance during our stay in the past; appointed me as the Staff officer Gumel local government council. I played a role as an administrator and helped the staff of the council towards processing their promotions, trainings and ensured that their welfare were properly ushered, I coordinated between the Local government and the Local government service commission on staff matters. I met Alh Sani Isyaku as the council chairman and Alh Ali Badala as his secretary.

2006 NATIONAL POPULATION CENSUS AT ENUGU:
During the Obasanjo’s led civilian administration in 2006 a national population census was conducted nationwide.  I found my name deployed as a supervisor to Enugu in the eastern part of the country.
From the right Bello Muhammad Comrade, Nura Muhammad Grki and me taking a breakfast at Enugu
After some days at the Enugu NPC headquarters, I was moved to Awgu L.G to head the teams of Igbo’s enumerators.  We have canvassed house to house and met the households.  Their settlements were scattered in swampy and hilly areas, the task was a very tedious one.  I met the people in Ihe, Owelli, Obinabo north, we went to Obinabo south to collect our allowances, it’s on the top hill we drove on a bus, to our imagination looking down you can’t believe it, because you can take the height of 4 electric poles conjoined together to measure the depth, but people drove over these hills to the town on hill top and they live there. We were set in the classes waiting for the payment to commence while a report received that armed robbers have planned an operation in the town, we were told to leave the town.  Immediately our colleagues jumped back to the bus and the bus started moving leaving me on the ground.  I persuaded the bus from the rear when a friend inside noticed my effort to join the bus helped to use his hands and lifted me up into the bus through the window with difficulty, thank god I was not left behind.  The payment centre was changed to another location called 'games village' a former settlements of the colonial masters.
     I conducted my national assignment successfully and the government gave us all the necessary logistics, security and welfare during the exercise.
 
YANKWASHI LOCAL GOVERNMENT (MAY 2009 TO DECEMBER 2012)
     On May 2009, the Local government service commission released a transfer and posting of staff, where I found my name moved to Yankwashi Local government as an assistant director planning research and statistics (ADPRS) a new department created in the state local government service. I met Nasiru Sulaiman Babura the DPRS who was once my teacher at primary two. I felt at home and happily enjoyed my stay with him. The then council chairman was Alh Musa Abdullahi who has a marriage ties with our family. He supported me a lot in discharging my duties, moreover, the Director Admin. And general services Malam Ja’ afaru Musa Kazaure was my school mate at Dambatta secondary school, so the set up was so favourable to me.
     With the establishment of a new department, there were no daunting tasks to play in the office, which made the chairman to nominate me to head a new unit called WASH, a program that started in the Local government by RUWASA in collaboration with E.U and other donor agencies. The program was launched to educate the people in the area, to prepare themselves in understanding the importance of water sanitation and hygiene. The aim was also to help the masses with a safe drinking water and to mobilize the communities on the dangers of open defecations, which was the old habit of the people in the area, they were triggered to stop and change to ODF for their wellbeing. We have visited all the corners of the local government and campaigned to the public to imbibe the habit of personal hygiene.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEEDS DOCUMENT
     Through this project we have developed and written a document on Local Economic Empowerments’ Development Strategy (LEEDS). I was given the courage and determination to write the document with the council committed to the programme the project was a success.  We partnered with the FG, state Governments and the international development agencies with a view to achieve the sets objectives and targets of the programme as to meet the millennium development goals (MDGS). The priorities of YKS LEEDS are in tune with SEEDS, NEEDS, 7 points agenda, and NEPAD which are all directed towards sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction. The programme captured Agric, Education, infrastructure and basic health.
YKS LEEDS was indeed an integrated development planning framework, that addresses key social, economic, environmental and political issues building the capacity of the people to enable them be proactive and contribute to the development of the local government (see a copy of the front page and the acknowledgement below);


     I was the secretary LEEDS and one who drafted, compiled and written the document under the supervision of Dr. Ummu Ahmad Jalo Jalingo a senior lecturer with the BUK. The document was well presented, published by the Jigawa State printing press copies were distributed to the ministry for local government, the state library and the 27 local governments in the state.

BITTER, FOGGY AND FROSTY DAY
(THE DEATH OF MY MOTHER)
                                                      16TH JULY 2010



     My mother Sa’adatu Adam was born at Janmutum village in 1938.  Her father M. Adam was a son of Malam Isma'il too and grand child of M. Isyaku mai tuta 'mo yida huulego' he was an Islamic scholar and a very pious man, who instilled discipline to his children.  This qualified Sa’adatu one of his daughters to become a good character girl during her tender age, as narrated by her nephew M. Aliyu. She was married to her close relative Alhaji Usman who picked her from Janmutum to Batali town for their marriage life up to the time of his death in 1981. With his demise it made her difficult to stay at Batali where she vacated to her eldest son at Babura, where she died on 16th ., 2010 after a stroke attack.  During her life’s time she was generous, kind and simple not only to her children but to those she interacted with.  She died at the age of 72 leaving behind three sons and a daughter; amongst them were; Muhammad Nasir, Muhammad Niima (the writer), Adamu (Abba) and A’isha (Innene)
GURI LOCAL GOVERNMENT (DECEMBER 2012 TO JULY 2013)
    I was opportune to be appointed as a clerk of the house to Guri legislative council by the LGSC. The executive governor Jigawa State Dr. Sule Lamido separated the power in the local government between the legislature and the executive councils. The legislative council was headed by the leader of the house; under him were the elected councilors from each ward and some supporting staff serving as the secretariat. There was a clerk of the house under him there were the head of legislative unit, head of publication and library and an accountant. I met Alhaji Idi Maidara a Bade man as the leader of the house under him were Abba M. Bulama councilor Adiyani ward, Musa Ibrahim councilor Margadu ward, Abdullahi Yusif councilor Musari ward, Kallamu A. Kurufcha councilor Matara ward, Ibrahim K. Said councilor Lafiya ward, yarima G.Sale councilor Dawa ward, Kaga A. Gambo councilor Gargabal ward and Muhammad Abubakar Guri councilor Guri ward. The relationships between the legislative and the executive councils was very cordial, the executive councils was chaired under Alh Abdullahi Haruna Bulama  Zugo and his supervisory councilors. The legislative makes bye laws and the executive deal with the administration aspects and execution of projects in the local government. I lived harmoniously with the people of Guri who were the Mangawas and the Badawas and I am from the Fulani clan while we work we played and jokes together. I performed my duties effectively; and I enjoyed driving through Kachala (hoppergrasses) around Marma a riverine town through Hadejia to Babura.
UN USUAL AND TERRIFYING PHONE CALL
     On Tuesday 28/02/2013 at about 09:07 a.m. I had a call from an unknown person who asked for my whereabout.  I asked who the caller was because I don’t have the name on my contact lists. He refused to make his identity known but insisted to disclose where I was.  For my safety and security I failed to give out my location.  The man furiously told me I either tell him or not, they are very close to where I am and they are seing me.  By that time I was driving shortly after Hadejia before the Guri junction.  This statement surprised me much and I was about to loose a breath.  The call was unexpected and the man was serious in action and the situation was hurting, terrorizing tones meant to make ill on me.  On Wednesday 29/02/2013, the same number rang many times I then picked up the call.  The man enquired, I you aware of the new Islamic Sect called 'Boko Haram', I partially answered yes, He said we know you are amongst the staff in the L.G. that are against the activities of the sect as we heard you contributing in the peace and security committee of the L.G. on how we shall be disengaged in the area.  I declined, became disturbed and helpless. After some days the same person called I have no alternative than to pick the phone in fear not frustrate them for denying their calls.  
     He warned me that they are still on my hunt and I am their next target, very soon they will catch us in a trap.  catch like a hen I asked? he said are you doubting I said yes, he switched off his phone. I suspected one Borno who we lived and dine together at night in the quarters may have a hands in teasing me because the tonation was specifically Kanuri. But as we have never played jokes of Fulani/Kanuri clans with him before,it made me rest assured that it was'nt him.  
    One day on my way to weekends somewhere around Marma town in the evening two people stopped me with their car park roadside, I couldn’t stop but have persuaded me, in Allah’s mercies I accelerated with speed and have the adventure to escape their trick.  After some minutes there was that unusual terrifying call.  I picked the phone and the same man voiced and enquired what type of a man are you? I have no word to utter while he said we have a failed prey as you escaped today.  From that time I realized that the matter was a serious one, I wrote a letter to the DPO Guri but couldn’t release it because at the time even the police were at war with the deadly sect and don't want to directly engage them.  I concentrated in prayer for protections against all evils and adopted some strategies of by passing their thinking, one of it I stopped using my car up to the time I was transferred to Gwiwa local government.
GWIWA LOCAL GOVERNMENT (JULY 2013 TO SEPTEMBER 2014)
     In July 2013, the LGSC Jigawa state released a transfer and posting of staff where I found my name transferred from Guri to Gwiwa local government as a clerk of the house. I reported to duty and met Alhaji Abdullahi Idris Daurawa who was the executive local government chairman and Mati Usaini Furji as the leader of the legislative council, Alh. Isa M. Saleh Bultusu ward Deputy Leader, Alh. Musa Sambo Yola, Yola ward Majority leader, Alh. Sani Adamu Korayel Chief whip, Alh. Ali Abdu Dakawa Guntai Ward, Alh. Haruna D. Abdullahi Zauma, Alh. Abdu M. Ya’u Shafe ward, Alh. Yakubu Muhammad Darina ward, Alh. Dayyabu Garba Rorau ward, Alh. Hussaini Shu’aibu Dabi ward and Hajiya Amina Ahmadu Gwiwa ward were part of the council's members. Though my duties are more of the legislature, the chairman was very cordial and cooperative to me. The role I played was the arrangements and invitations for the legislative council's meetings, preparations of votes and proceedings, and taking the council’s minutes of meetings. While at Gwiwa, I indulged myself into the dry season farming at one of their Fadama Farm lands called Bosuwa a one KM drive from the town. I grow hot pepper, tomatoes, onions and pepper, there was a bumper harvest in the year, and I injected a lot of funds but the output and the market was favourable to me.  
2ND RETURN TO GUMEL LOCAL GOVERNMENT (SEPTEMBER 2014 TO JULY 2015)
    By virtue of this posting, I lost my position as a clerk of the house. A policy brought by the government of Dr. Sule Lamido to sanitize the local government service as they called it , This policy gave some administrators in the local government service commission a room to favour their relatives and friends in the system. The system was made in good faith initially but at the end lasted in favouritism. A guide line was designated but not properly followed and implemented, favoritism and nepotism occupied the process. Those with no god fathers were dethroned from their functions. I was a victim of the circumstance which I lodged a complaint but my voice was not heard instead I was re-posted to Gumel local government as an Assistant director admin. and general services the post that I served years back. I was demoted without genuine reason, that led me to write a petition that was not listened (see the copy of the petition below).



 I was frustrated that made me to lose interest in the service entirely, but has to return everything to Almighty Allah and accepted it as 'Qadr' in life.


BIRNIWA LOCAL GOVERNMENT (JULY 2015 TO SEPTEMBER 2016
After two years in frustrations at Gumel, in July 2014 Allah (SWT) accepted my prayer, though my former prestigious post as a clerk was not regained yet it was a step forward when I was posted to Birniwa local government as a deputy director admin and general services following a general postings and transfers by the LGSC. I met the Mangawas for the second time. I performed my duties efficiently with a courageous, energetic and dedicated director Alhaji Lawan Ibrahim Taura. I was the secretary peace and security committee and I took the minutes of the executive councils meetings. Despite the long distance from my home town to Birniwa local government, I did not supper any hard ship because the leaders were considerate in motivating and taking of proper staff welfares. Members of the council were Alh, Bundai Bura Chairman, Ya’u Yakubu Kanya Secretary, Hajiya Nociya, Gambo Suleiman Councillor, Shuaibu A, Abdullahi BK, HOD medical, Mohammed Abubakar Councillor, Suleman Muhammad Dangyatum Treasurer, Muktar Abubakr Kzr DPRS, Shehu Shehu KZR HOD Works, and Tijani Tafida HOD community.

DDAGS Birniwa L.G.A
3RD RETURN TO GUMEL LOCAL GOVERNMENT (SEPTEMBER 2016 TO FEBRUARY 2021)
Following another general postings and transfers of staff by the LGSC I found myself reposted to Gumel for the 3rd time. I raised an alarm to those who have power with a view to convincing the LGSC to know about my grievance that this was my third postings to a particular local government. I told them that I served in the first instance as a staff officer in 2005 then ADAGS in 2013 and now DDAGS my agitation was not heard, rather they asked me to be patient that they were aware about it, they did it as an act of sympathy to ease my long distance journey from  Babura to Birniwa. I don’t know whether they said it in a good faith or otherwise knowing to them fully by that time Gumel was one of the LG in Jigawa State that cannot even pay their monthly staff salary unless the state government help through the stabilization account, it was among the local governments that were receiving zero allocations by then, I admitted it as a will of God and continued with my normal duties. Due to the discipline and experience I had in the civil service, I became committed and dedicated to the job. This led to the executive to push the load of the work to my office. I was over worked with minimal care, the work stressed me and consequently affected my physical and emotional capabilities and strength, where I started developing back, waist and legs pain, with age it generated to lumber spondylitis (degeneration of the lumber vertebrae) with gradual body deformation. I met Sale Ahmad Zauma as the caretaker council chairman, later Aminu Sani Gumel took the mantle ship of the local government, members of his cabinets were Malam Yunusa Habu Duhuwa V/C, Muhammad Lawan Abdu Garki DPM, Muhammad Kaila Mezan DPRS, Yusuf Muhammad Birniwa treasurer, Musa Muhammad Gumel councilor Agric, Dahare Atuwa Councilor planning, Lawan Habu Match way councilor community, Jamilu Isah councilor WASH, Kabiru Musa councilor education, Abdulhadi Ahmad councilor works, Muhammadu Yakubu Maijama,a  LG secretary while I served as the council scribe, the secretary peace and security committee and secretary farmers/pastoralists conflict resolution committee.















Deputy Director Admin. & General Services Gumel L.G.A
After I served for five years in Gumel, I resolved to voluntary retire from the service on 31st February 2021.
WHAT I LEARNT FROM LIFE AFTER LEAVING THE PUBLIC SERVICE
Managing a new life style after spending years in the public service is another big challenge. The new pacet of life is like turning the other side of a coin to the other, especially to those who served perior to the 80's. The civil servants by then were chained within a circle of some ground civil service rules and regulations that hindered most from indulging in any act of business activities. The violations of such rules may lead to a dismissal from the service. This was coupled with not having time to indulge in any other activity, unlike the present day civil servants where there is a neglect of such terms and conditions of service, as a results of politics. In those days you don't have time to explore other values in the market trends to  learn in making a profit business outside the civil service circle. Staff who devoted themselves and concentrated fully in active public service are those who suffer at the end of the day without something worthy doing after the retirement. This has a negative impact on many lives of retirees after they leave service. By the time you started initiating a new task to make you exists,  age and lack of sound health barriers may not allow you to build a new sustainable career for you and the family. Only the few successful ones have that capabilities. Some governments doesn't placed concern over the well being of its senior citizens unlike in developed countries where the reverse is the case.  With my retirement I learnt a lot of lessons in life and wanted to open it up to those in the active service as an advice.


A picture of my 1st set of family members with my house background


     Those standing from the left were Muhammad Niima Batali (my self), Aminu Muhammad  (son), A’isha (my sister).  Those sitting from the left row were; Fatima (my senior daughter), Zainab (my sen. Wife) carrying Khadija (my daughter), Sailuba (my2nd wife) and Nafisa (my daughter).  




CONCLUSION
In sincerity, the realization that the local government service at the time was in shambles, the civil servants were no more considered partners in development, there was no motivational factors, no sense of belongings and there were many frustrations regarding the job. Some politicians and their collaborating officers, those opportune to be dealing with the fiscal aspects of the LGA no longer look in sympathy and affection down to their supporting staff as a team in progress. These factors all together were the verge that may kill the local government service, unless steps are taken, the service delivery in the LGAs won't be succeeded.
I would’nt close this autobiography without extending my special gratitude to Allah SWT for giving me opportunity to gather some importants data related to my life struggles, My special thankfulness goes to my deceased parents  and my brother Muhammad Nasir Usman Batali who’ve raised me from my childhood to a grown man.  My wives and children thank you for your understanding in managing the affairs of the family, I must also mention Muhammad Sani Nasir Batali Village head Gangara Hanware who added joy and happiness in my life for picked and helped my eldest son Aminu Muhammad Niima with something worth doing who’s also helping in managing the family affairs after my retirement.
My Special thanks to my best friends Shu’aibu Haruna (Jikare) and Mr. Idowu O. Akerele a Pilot in the USA aviation ministry who’ve seriously helped me in no small measure in this world.  Mr. Longevit my English teacher at GSS Danbatta who edited this work and converted it to PDF in 2025 from Cubec (Canada) I salute you.  May Allah reward all of them abundantly for their concern.

Other publications developed by me include:
1. Bureaucracy and Management efficiency in Jigawa state ministry for L.G., a case study of Babura L.G.A. a thesis written by me in pursuance of my Diploma in Local government administration_ 1996
2. A written a document on Local Economic Empowerments’ Development Strategy (LEEDS). In Yankwashi L.G.A., partnered with the FG, state Government and the international development agencies with a view to achieve the sets objectives and targets of sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction amongst the people._2023.
3. A message to the family a sister publication to my Autobiography,it was a private message meant only to the family_2025developed and written a document on Local Economic Empowerments’ Development Strategy (LEEDS). I was given the courage and determination to write the document with the council committed to the programme the project was a success.  We partnered with the FG, state Governments and the international development agencies with a view to achieve the sets objectives and targets of the programme as to meet the millennium development goals (MDGS). The priorities of YKS LEEDS are in tune with SEEDS, NEEDS, 7 points agenda, and NEPAD which are all directed towards sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction. The programme captured Agric, Education, infrastructure and basic health.


You can also find more about me:
@ My website: https://niimabatali.websites.co.in
@ Wikedepia User: Niima Batali
https://www.linkedin.com/in/niima-batali-878733101?trk=contact-info
           https://about.me/Niima Batali
           https://twitter.com/@niimabtl
           https://www.quora.com/profile/Niima-Batali?q=Niima

Thank you all!