Ibrahim Shekarau
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Ibrahim Shekarau (b. 1955) has been governor of Kano State in Nigeria since 29 May 2003. He is a member of the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP).
Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was born and bred in the heart of the ancient city of Kano. He was born in Murmawa quarters on the 5th of November, 1955. He hailed from Giginyu village in Nassrawa local government area. H e was educated at Gidan Makama Primary School (1961-1967), then at Kano Commercial College (1973-1977) and finally at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1973-1977) where he bagged a Bachelor in Education (B.Ed) in Mathematics/Eduaction.
Malam Ibrahim Shekarau came from a humble background. His father was a renowed, honest, police officer, who was able to instill in the young Ibrahim and his three other children the discipline of modesty, respect for elders and dedication to their studies at school and to their duties at home. Although today, the mind ot Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has expanded and his experience deepened through the rhythm of life, he has managed to cling tenaciously to those teachings he received from his father. Needless to say, they bcame ingraind traits of his character. They remain the torchlight that illuminates his path as he pursues his career in life.
God destined Malam Ibrahim Shekara to go into the civil service. While in the civil service, Malam served his state diligently. He started his career as a Mathematics teacher at Government Technical College, Wudil in 1978. Two years later he became Principal at Government Day Junior Secondary School, Wudil. In 1980 he was transferred to Government Secondary School, Hadejia, then to Government College Birnin Kudu in 1986, then to Government Secondary School, Gwammaj and then to Rumfa College in March 1988, all as the schools' principal.
Malam Ibrahim Shekarau became Deputy Director of Education in charge of Bichi Zonal Education Area in 1992. One year later, he was promoted to Director Planning, Research and Statistics in Ministry of Education. Two year later, he became Director General (Permanent Secretary), Ministry of Education and Youth Development.
In January, 1995, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was transferred to Ministry of Water Resources, Rural and Community Development, then back to Ministry of Education in January – May 1997 before he was asked to moved to General Service Directorate of the Cabinet Office, all as Permanent Secretary. By February 2000, Malam was on the move again to Civil Service Commission, where he stayed for only four months before the Government of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso decided to send him back to classroom as Chief lecturer (Mathematics) at the Department of Physcial Sciences, Kano State College of Arts, Science and Remedial Studies (CASRS) in May 2000. The reason for Govenor Shekarau's open support of the people's clamour for the implementation of Shari'ah, much to the chagrin of the then administration in the state. Malam remained in this post for 17 months before he voluntarily retired from the services of Kano State Civil Service from the 2nd of October, 2001.
SHEKARAU AND THE 2003 ELECTION
Mallam as he is popularly called, was not mentioned or even considered by anyone as a front runner in the gubernatorial
elections of 2003 in Kano State. He was overshadowed in his party by the very rich Ibrahim Ali Amin a.k.a Little the chairman of the party in the state until a few
days before the election. He assumed the chairmanship of the party after having almost solely funded the party out of his own pocket. When the primaries were
held, Ali Amin as expected emerged the winner. However, for fear that he may not beat the incumbent governor Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the leaders of the
party who Ali Amin had installed, disqualified him on the ground that he did not resign the leadership of the party as early as was recommended by the constitution
of the party before entering the governorship race. There was a second round of voting and somehow, Mallam Shekarau won. He now had the uphill task of beating
the serving Kwankwaso of the PDP who was being openly backed by the Federal Government of Obasanjo. Another very influential man in Alhaji Yakubu Dan-
Hassan who had just resigned as the accountant general of the state was running for the governorship on the platform of the PSP. Ali Amin decamped from the
ANPP and formed yet another party (PRP)in the state. He hoped to capitalised on the legacy of Mallam Aminu Kano to win the general elections on the PRP platform.
In the end, Mallam Shekarau beat all the others to the seat with the masses showing that he was their preferred candidate. The poor people in Kano fiercely fought
all attempts by the others and the PDP controlled Federal government to rig the elections. They rejected the monetary gifts of the other candidates and elected
Shekarau who had to rely on the goodwill of friends to purchase the nomination form for the governorship race. His Deputy governor is Engr. Magaji Abdullahi. Another veteran in the political terrain of Kano state.
