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Meet Former Akara-Seller, Cattle-Rearer & Bus-Conductor That Have Become Governors-Elect In Nigeria

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Twenty-six governors have been declared elected by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the April 11, 2015 elections. Out of this number, some governors have been in the public glare over the years. Others are just emerging from a long history of life’s struggles. In this special report, our reporters have unearthed some previously unpopular details about some of these governors-elect, culminating in their journeys to the top in their states.

Bagudu: ‘Kosai’ hawker takes over mantle of leadership in Kebbi

The governor-elect of Kebbi State, Senator Atiku Bagudu sold bean cake, popularly known in Hausa as ‘kosai’ while he was growing up. A former Commissioner for Finance, Mr Garba Muhammad Dandiga, who was a classmate and a childhood friend of the governor-elect, revealed this to our reporter when he spoke on the governor-elect’s background last week in Birnin Kebbi.

Making bare some of the unknown story of the governor-elect, Dandiga said “Just like the governor-elect has been saying, as a struggling child, he used to hawk kosai (bean cake), panke (fried flour balls (kpof-kpof) in a motor park in Karaye, Maiyama Local Government Area of Kebbi State, where he grew up.”

He was born in 1961 into a reputable family of a seasoned educationist, Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim Bagudu, who was the headmaster of Karaye Primary School and taught in many primary schools. The former commissioner said Senator Bagudu is the second child in the family. His elder brother is Bello Bagudu. His other younger brothers are Farouku Bagudu, Ibrahim Bagudu, Shehu Bagudu and his other younger sisters.

“His elder brother, Bello, was actually my mate before Senator Bagudu got accelerated promotion due to his outstanding performance. At the end of the day, we became classmates. We took school leaving exams together. He also attended same Government Secondary School, Kontagora in Niger State,” he added.

He said the governor-elect became lecturer after his first degree at the Department of Economics, Usman Danfodio University (UDU), where he graduated because of his excellent performance. But later went into banking.

He added, “From the banking job, he travelled abroad for further studies and returned to become the special assistant to a finance minister during General Sani Abacha’s reign. He worked closely with the late head of state’s children. That was his last stint in government service and continued to be an economic consultant.”

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