By Kabir Nizam Baba
From the onset, let me categorically register my disappointment for the arrant display of nonchalance (not ignorance) to the basic workings of a democracy. It is not a secret that democracy is a game of numbers. And whoever has such numerical strength, naturally calls the shot. Otherwise, elections would make no sense. In addendum, what more could be inimical to multiparty democracy system like ours than to unreasonably fault cross-carpeting and party switching? Okay, hold on…. Is the reader confused by the sudden change of direction (from allegation of alienation to advocacy against party switching)? That’s exactly what obtains in the write-up to which this is a rejoinder. So incoherent and incongruous!
The writer rightly pointed out that there has been an agitation for power rotation in Bauchi state since the return to democratic rule in 1999. How’s that unreasonable in Nigeria where the cries for power rotation permeate into every electioneering season? Besides, the agitations for power rotation in Nigeria and in some of the developed nations had recently gathered momentum beyond regional or racial bases but to gender (like the most recent U.S election) and the hackneyed minority rights (like Barrack Obama’s).
However, the claim that the agitation has been for Azare, the second largest town in the state, under the cloak of power rotation to Katagum zone is utterly misleading. He noted, albeit prematurely, that the current deputy governor is from Azare. Unfortunately, he deliberately refused to give any fair account for those who’ve occupied the deputy governor’s office since 1999. This wasn’t out of ignorance.
To clear the air, the following had spent 13 out of the 20years till the incumbent. Namely: Alhaji AbdulMalik (Barade) from Itas/Gadau LGA since 1999 till 2007, Alhaj Babayo Garba Gamawa (Gamawa, naturally) between 2009 and 2011 and Engr Nuhu Gidado (Jama’are LGA) between May 2015 and May 2018. None of them is from the allegedly selfish Azare.
Further still, the nomination and subsequent emergence of Malam Adamu Adamu as a minister in 2015 had less, if anything, to do with his Katagum LGA indigeneity. His enviable trustworthiness, ingenuity and unshakable loyalty coupled with a top-notch competence earned him his seat. Of course there were persons expected to be on the list. But no one conversant with the then political realities could rule out the chances of Malam Adamu Adamu making it to the cabinet. Yes, the Current minister of Trade and Investment is equally from Azare. But how does that discredit the goodwill of the administration’s efforts at an all-inclusive governance especially bringing to light her professional and experiential pedigree?
Quite sadly, the writer ignored Hamza Sakwa from Zaki LGA and Prof Gambo Laraba Abdullahi from Itas/Gadau LGA who were ministers earlier on. Both from Katagum zone, and not Azare. What about the second Secretary to the Government of the Federation Bauchi State was blessed with? Alhaji Yayale Ahmed was a minister too. He is from Shira LGA.
Yes, Ambassador Adamu Bulkachuwa is the current senator representing Bauchi North. The writer would have bothered to tell us what the Bulkachuwa in the senator’s name meant, and what the Sarkin Bai of Katagum has been to Bulkachuwa- it been not Azare. As if that wasn’t enough, Senators Sulaiman Nazif and Babayo Garba both from Gamawa had spent eight and four years at the red chamber respectively before Bulkachuwa who worries the writer. Pathetically, the internal (party) democracy played at the primary election that produced Bulkachuwa as the APC candidate was not Azare-born. All seven (7) LGAs in the zone participated in the process. The fact that Usman Tugga (Gamawa) was initially held out as the candidate and later upturned is a topic for another day. More so, Bulkachuwa contested against the incumbent senator under the PDP from Gamawa. I wish the writer tells the magic Bulkachuwa employed to win Gamawa LGA itself.
It is disheartening to read that Azare precisely alienated Madara and Chinade in the run for the green chamber seat. All major political parties have been conducting primary elections to sift out a candidate among the many aspirants every 4 years since 1999. The most recent one of the APC, with all its imperfections, inclusive. For the writer’s kind information please, it suffices to say that Madara and Chinade had equal political stakes as Azare.
The mention of Chinade and Madara even reminds me of the many Katagum Local Government (Caretaker Committee) Chairmen we had since the return of democracy. Alhaji(s) Muhammad Hassan (Dan Hassa), Audi Madachi, Dalhatu Chinade, Tijjani Abdu Chinade, Alhaji Daji Wakili (Madara) to mention a few were/are not from Azare. I doubt if the writer is oblivious of this fact. Mamman Magaji (Gambaki) was once in the green chamber while Abba Bidir was in the state assembly.
In 2011, Hon Yusuf Maitama Tugga was the CPC (now defunct) flagbearer. He contested against the incumbent Malam Yuguda of the PDP. Tugga is from Gamawa! In the 2011 election, Tugga was greeted with with more votes from Azare than from Gamawa. This, notwithstanding Senator Baba Tela (Azare) was contesting under the ACN then. In 2015, Rt Hon Auwal Jatau contested under the PDP against M. A Abubakar Esq of the APC in a fresh, fierce political battle. Jatau is from Zaki (now a member of the green chamber representing the Zaki Federal Constituency). As a matter of fact, the first executive governor of Bauchi State Alhaji Abubakar Tatari Ali was from the old Gamawa, now Zaki LGA. Not Azare.
Just by way of a historical recollection, in the 90s during the NRC and SDP days, Katagum green chamber representative- Honourable Magaji was from Chinade and at the Senate was Dr. Bello Katagun. I repeat, Katagun; the reader knows what that means. It is equally pertinent to recollect the consolidated efforts of the said Azare politicians who singlehandedly did anoint Alhaji Tugga Udubo to succeed Alhaji Yalwaji Mansa, the late 20th century construction expert, at the senate. Senator Tugga Udubo, father to Ambassador Yusuf M Tugga was from Gamawa.
I find it hurtful like hot potato in my mouth whenever the writer exaggerates the stature of Malam Adamu Adamu as a leader in the APC while he (the writer) correspondingly insults the party structure in its intirety by condemning it to a sort of “one-man empire”. That one man been Malam Adamu Adamu. As though the said Malam Adamu Adamu wasn’t there when, in 2019, an aspirant from other than Azare, in fact, from other than Katagum zone emerged as the party’s candidate against all odds. Since the inception of The Buhari administration, Rt. Honourable Tugga has been an Ambassador to Germany. Wrong?
I think for the sake of records, Late Malam Adamu, father of the Honourable Minister Adamu Adamu was rightfully from Gamawa. Honourable Minister Maryam Yalwaji and former Deputy Governor Audu Sule are both from Zaki. This makes me wonder what the writer is insinuating.
The write-up in its entirety suffers from an innate disagreement of facts as the spirit behind it is not in conformity with what it depicts just as much as it suffered unpardonable concord blows (of subject-verb disagreement); say, “permutations points…. Adamu Adamu, who always say…” And other deeply ingraved misnomers. But it doesn’t come as a surprise as we know where the can leaks.
This is a mischievous smear campaign aimed at compromising the age long unity being nurtured in Katagum. And under the very nose of naysayers, the unity of Katagum would only escalate and grow exponentially Insha Allah.
Kabir Nizam Baba, Azare
Writes from Kano.
