Bauchi State is one of the most politically sagacious states in the entire northern region of this great country and one of the most politically volatile.
This is due to the kind of politically exposed persons the state had during the pre-independence era. Political historians will attest to the fact that the politically enlightened Malam Sa’adu Zungur is from Bauchi State, one of the Northern elites who helped usher Nigeria into independence before his death in 1958.
Bauchi State is blessed to be the first state in Nigeria to produce the country’s first Chief Executive, who happens to be the golden voice of Africa, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, of blessed memory. Notable personalities like the late eloquent Talban Bauchi Dr. Ibrahim Tahir, the late Governor Tatari Ali, and the late Governor Dahiru Muhammad Deba, who passed away when Nigeria was about to enter the Fourth Republic in 1999, also hail from Bauchi.
The politicians mentioned above, who made Bauchi State proud in the murky waters of Nigerian politics, have spread their blessings to young and emerging political juggernauts who are today making Bauchi State proud in terms of good representation and accommodation of all politicians without considering political differences.
While composing this write-up as a passionate political commentator and writer, I pondered and concluded that the most popular politician Bauchi State is proud of today is Senator Shehu Baba, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Intelligence and National Security.
No one who relates with Senator Shehu Baba doubts his capacity when it comes to human relations and good representation of the Bauchi people at the National Assembly.
Even the doubting Thomases of Bauchi politics, like the incumbent Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad Kauran Bauchi, are wary of the soaring political popularity of Senator Shehu Baba, who is well-prepared to unseat the PDP government of Bauchi State in 2027, by the grace of Almighty Allah.
The reason why Senator Shehu Baba’s popularity is gathering momentum by the day is his grassroots leanings and alignments. He started in politics at the grassroots level as Chairman of Toro Local Government, unlike some politicians in Bauchi State, like the incumbent Governor, who were propelled to the national level without sweating at the grassroots. Luck has its own advantages and disadvantages, but the best kind of luck is the one that is earned through serious effort, like Senator Shehu Baba, who started as Chairman of Toro Local Government Area.
His grassroots orientation made him the darling of the Bauchi people right from his time as Toro Local Government Chairman. This enabled him to extend help to people at the grassroots level, not only in his senatorial district but throughout Bauchi State. Many people have since called for his election as Governor in 2027 to put an end to PDP’s misgovernance of the state because they believe he is the only one who can defeat the PDP before noon if Almighty Allah spares our lives to witness 2027 in good health.
One thing that interests Bauchi people most in calling on Senator Shehu Baba to come to the aid of the state is the misplacement of priorities by the present administration, where state resources are wasted in sectors that will never impact the people.
One would cry upon seeing the comatose nature of education in Bauchi, as exposed by Danbello in his recent investigation.
As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Security and Intelligence, Senator Shehu Baba has consistently succeeded in recording achievements in the ongoing war against bandits in the Northwest region, particularly in Zamfara and Katsina States. This may be connected to the bandit tag given to him, because when one is fighting an enemy, especially the killer bandits, the only way to blackmail and frustrate that person’s efforts is to label him with a criminal tag.
Apart from his efforts in building bridges across the Niger, he has also fostered relationships with Islamic clerics, irrespective of their sects and creeds. I am referring here to the Sheikhs of Sunnah and Tariqah.
Malam Nasir Umar wrote this from Bauchi State.