Bala Mohammed for President? By Adnan Mukhtar Tudunwada
POLITICS DIGEST– Three weeks ago, I’ve come across the news of different pro democracy groups issuing statements that are calling on Bala Mohammed, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State to contest for President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The news has never come to me as a surprise, many people have wondered on why the call for a Bala Mohammed Presidency at a time when the governor and former Minister is in his first term in office. Isn’t he not going to contest for second term as governor of his state? These are so many questions that people keep asking.
Calling to serve as President of this country is a duty to the nation and only patriotic citizens of the state will be willing to answer such a clarion call.
In 2019, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State contested for the President of this country only for him to lose at the PDP primaries in Portharcout to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President of Nigeria.
Governor Tambuwal made a good outing by coming second in the Primaries but had to immediately go back to his state for the next Political move. The person that won the governorship primaries then Muhammad Mannir Dan Iya had to step down for Tambuwal where he was made the running mate.
Bala Mohammad exceptional track record as Senator of the Federal Republic and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory was superb to the extent that he’s contesting for a job that he’s well qualified for.
He is a nationalist and Politician of note with network across the country, the first group to endorse him for presidency came from the southern part of the country before some Northern Groups took over.
Though he is yet to answer the clarion call to serve his nation at a time Nigeria is bedevilled with a lot of challenges, including inept leadership, socio-economic problems, making life difficult for the people, insecurity, secession agitations, economic recession etc.
For us as a people to overcome all these challenges, we need a leader, who is detribalised and can harness the abundant resources (both material and human) Nigeria is blessed with for the betterment of all and Bala Mohammed is in possession of these qualities.
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Bala’s patriotism was amply demonstrated in 2010 when despite being an ANPP member, he put party politics aside for Nigeria’s interest to prevail when he moved the “Doctrine of Necessity” Motion on the floor of the Senate which eventually paved the way for the then Vice-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to emerge acting President when the then President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was incapacitated.
His doggedness and ability to fix the numerous challenges confronting the nation was seen in his outstanding and impeccable performance as FCT Minister for consecutive years, which is yet to be surpassed till date, years after he left office.
Senator Bala Mohammed is a detraibalised Nigerian devoid of nepotism and has been able to build bridges across the country over the years. His appointments as FCT Minister reflected this, with people from every parts of the country given the opportunity to serve their Fatherland. As a Governor today, he still does this.
I’m of the strong view that age is on his side, he is a politician without extra baggage, competent, transparent and resourceful. He equally possesses the political sagacity and will to not only confront but also successfully tackle the problems bedevilling the country today.
As a sitting governor, Senator Mohammed is currently demonstrating this in Bauchi State where he has been able to bring development to state and making it most peaceful state in the North-East, despite the zone being the hot bed of insurgency in Nigeria today.”
The Peoples Democratic Party should zone its presidential ticket to the North East and having tried Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who is from the region in 2019, the party should recognise Mohammed from the zone, the former FCT minister is one competent, transparent and immensely resourceful leader that the country needed and can replace the former Vice President who will be 78 most especially on age ground.
The former newspaper reporter was born on 5th October 1958 in Alkaleri. He attended University of Maiduguri (1979–1982), where he received a bachelor’s degree in English In 1983, he joined The Democrat as a reporter, then joined the civil service as an administrative officer from 1984 to 2000.
A Bala Mohammed Presidency will bring rapid and positive development to the problem of insecurity, education and enhance the economic development of the country.
Adnan Mukhtar Tudunwada is a University Lecturer and Political Commentator, he writes from Kano
