By Ismail Mudashir
I was overwhelmed with joy when my principal, boss, mentor, and benefactor, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, CFR, PhD, FCNA, paid a visit to the media unit of his office, which I have the honour and privilege of heading by the grace of Allah (SWT) and the confidence of His Excellency.
His Excellency visited the media office at about 6:00 p.m. yesterday while on his way to a meeting at the old chambers of the National Assembly. The parliament had been on yuletide recess since December and is scheduled to resume on January 27.
Although I officially assumed the role of spokesperson to His Excellency on July 23, 2023, our relationship dates back to 2013, when we met at an event at the Kano Government House, during the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC). At the time, I was the Regional Editor of Daily Trust Newspapers in Kano.
Fondly known as Maliya, he was already a key figure in Kano’s political landscape even then. Over the years, our relationship blossomed in the form of a news hunter and a newsmaker.
In 2015, shortly after the election results were announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), he called me and expressed his desire for the poll’s outcome to be published on the front page of the Daily Trust newspapers. I advised him to pay for an earpiece advert, and he bought the idea. Consequently, the results of the governorship election won by Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and the three senatorial districts won by Senator Barau (Kano North), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano Central), and Senator Kabiru Gaya (Kano South) adorned the front page of Daily Trust, courtesy of Senator Barau.
In June 2015, the Eighth Senate was inaugurated, and Senator Barau was one of the 109 Senators who were sworn in. By providence, a month later, in July, the management of Daily Trust redeployed me from Kano to Abuja as the head of the company’s National Assembly team.
Upon my assumption of duties at the National Assembly, Senator Barau saw me and was visibly delighted, as I was. Holding my hands, he said, “You are going to be my press secretary.” I thanked him and responded, “Insha’Allah.” Since then, anytime we meet, he either calls me press secretary or editor.
Throughout the eighth and ninth Senate sessions, I served as his unofficial media aide. In 2016, when he became the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, he introduced me to the clerk, Mrs Ngozi Nkemdirin, as his media aide with a directive that all his adverts be routed through me. Mrs Nkemdirin is now the Special Adviser (Administration) to Senator Barau.
The relationship endured even after I was redeployed to the State House in 2018 and later to the headquarters of the Daily Trust newspapers in 2019, where I served as Group Politics Editor. There has been no break in our association since our first meeting in 2013.
When I was appointed Deputy General Editor of Daily Trust Newspapers, he phoned me and said, ” Place a full page coloured advert for me congratulating you.” I respectfully advised against it. He is always there for everyone, irrespective of their status, faith, ethnicity, and other differences.
Eight years later, I formally assumed the role of his media aide, a position I had, in essence, performed informally for eight years.
If being a workaholic, meticulous, and deeply committed to national development are qualities to be measured, then few can rival Senator Barau. He is a democrat to the core, a patriotic and pan-Nigerian par excellence, a man of his word and humility personified, who is committed to the plights of the masses; hence, he is always accessible. Come to the National Assembly or his residence, and you will attest to this fact.
Maliya Ikon Allah, Insha Allah, Sai Kayi Muradinka.
