Bauchi state came to existence in 1976 from North-Eastern State. When it was a provisional headquarters in colonial administration, it served as the deciding factor in national politics. Politicians of substance, who later played key roles for independence, had political tutorials in Bauchi. The province had the first general-secretary of National Council of Nigeria’s Citizens (NCNC), Sa’adu Zungur when it was under the leadership of a patriot, Herbert Marcauly and later, Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe.
The likes of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka of United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC) and Malam Aminu Kano of Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) were groomed in Bauchi by a Non-Governmental Organization established by the radical Sa’adu Zungur, Bauchi Discussion Circle.
Since then, Bauchi has maintains its position in national politics and produced the first prime minister of independent Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and the first chattered Accountant from the northern region extraction, Aliko Muhammed and other professionals.
Although, Bauchi serves as the bedrock of national politics, it remains under developed with virtually nothing in terms of infrastructure befitting its status in national life.
When States were created in 1976, Bauchi was made the first headquarters of North-eastern State but later relocated to Maiduguri allegedly on the request of powerful indigenes of the State who left threatened by its new status of a state headquarter.
Virtually two years after its creation, the ban on partisan politics was lifted and political associations sprouted for the challenges.
Five of the lot got FEDECO mandate to contest elections. They were; The National Party of Nigeria, NPN, under the leadership of Chief Meredith Adisa Akinloye, Nigeria Peoples Party, NPP, under the chairmanship of Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya, Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, under the armpit of Malam Aminu Kano, Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN under its founder, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo and Great Nigeria Peoples Party, GNPP that had Chief Olu Akinfosile.
The five parties established offices in Bauchi State for the 1979 contest.
From the records, two of the parties (NPN and GNPP) enjoyed better patronage in the State politics.
Despite its financial clout and sizeable membership, GNPP could not stand the expertise of NPN at the elections and the NPN had the day with Abubakar Tatari Ali as the first civilian governor.
All said and done, in 1983, the military interrupted and dismantled all democratic structures and seized power until 1992, when it ushered in a mocked democracy and registered only two political parties out of over 50 associations, National Republican Convention, NRC and Social Democratic Party, SDP. The parties relied on the sincerity of the junta but only to be disappointed by annulling the result of the 1993 presidential election which was said to have been won by the SDP candidate, Chief Moshood Kasimawo Olawole Abiola. That mockery was ended by the appointment of an interim president, Chief Ernest Shonekan. Within three months, the military was back to power through a counter coup.
Nigeria remained under military dictatorship until 1998 when it succumbed to the wish of the people and hurriedly set the machinery in motion to hand over genuine power to civilians in 1999 by lifting the ban on political activities.
As usual, political associations sprouted for registration but only three, Alliance for Democracy, All Peoples Party and Peoples Democratic Party got registered.
APP was first to establish its office in Bauchi while PDP and AD arrived almost the same time under the leadership of new breed politicians with little experience in partisan politics and grass root mobilization.
All Peoples Party had in its fold those considered as the best political experts with several years of experience in the game but unfortunately it lacked the financial clout to lubricate its machinery.
Peoples Democratic Party boasted of its new breed and few money bags that were jittery to finance its operations and lacked technical expertise and ground experience to carry like minds along.
Alliance for Democracy was rated as a sectional party owned by South-west that got registered just to pacify the Yoruba race for the June 12 annulment. AD could not boast of any serious politician in its fold but rabble rousers and turn-coats. Those in AD were in fact tagged as political parasites that depended on crumbs.
When the dice was cast, PDP won the election with comfortable majority in the State House of Assembly and 17 out of the 20 local government councils.
It won the three senatorial seats of the State and majority of members in the Federal House of Representatives. APP was second while AD had only one single member in the State House of Assembly from Shira constituency.
At the beginning, Mu’azu was seen as an inexperienced new breed politician without the required experience to pilot the affairs of a progressing State like Bauchi. In fact, some believed he was a tourist in search of a base.
Opposition was strong in the State with majority of the old breed politicians in the opposition party. He had a tough time to assemble a formidable executive council to support his vision to fruition.
For Mu’azu to move the State forward, he went through the pains to assemble one of the best executive councils ever with only one politician, Umaru Dahiru. The rest, were professionals in different disciplines. He governed the State effectively through the application of the 44 Laws of Power and left his foot-prints on the sands of time.
Isa Yuguda succeeded Mu’azu in 2007 through a bloodless revolution. He is still piloting the affairs of the State to the best of his ability and making desperate efforts to print his name in gold.
Isa Yuguda’s tenure ends on May 29, 2015 precisely by 10.00am and who takes over from the nomad is the question on the lips of Bauchi electorates. Although, it may look too early to kick-start political moves, but there are the over zealous ones that have already pasted posters to signal their interest in the exalted position while others are playing it under ground through nocturnal meetings and contacts. Whatever the case, some of those making the noise are seen as political merchants in search of any position while others are spoilers on a mission.
From the rumor mill, the likes of Senator Babayo Garba Gamawa, Shehu Musa Gabam, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, Barrister Hussain Umar, Maitama Tugga, Barrister Ibrahim Zailani, Abdullahi Adamu Dan China, Bello Ahmed Arabi, Musa Babayo and few others have indicated interest in the contest.
An objective analysis on the credibility of the aspirants reveals that most of them with the exception of Dan China and Barrister Hussain Umar, had once held or are still holding public office.
Babayo Gamawa represented Gamawa constituency in the State House of Assembly (2007 – 2010).
From 2010 – 2011, he was a deputy governor through a circumstance that is still a subject of discourse in national politics. In 2011 he became a senator from Bauchi north senatorial zone from where he plans to occupy Bauchi Government House in 2015.
Although, he is said to have provided economic empowerment materials to a selected few against poverty and idleness but that has not improved his political rating. Majority of the people see him as a political toddler that is just seeking for relevance as a shield.
Senator Bala Muhammed came into partisan politics in 2007. He was instrumental to the success of the revolution that brought Yuguda to power in 2007 and won his senatorial election. He represented Bauchi south in the senate diligently before his appointment as a minister in 2010. It is from his Garki Area 11 office he plans to take over from Yuguda.
Barrister Ibrahim Zailani has been an active politician since 1999. He was in the Federal House of Representatives representing Toro, 1999 – 2003. He attempted a return in 2003 but was schemed out in the election before he became a member of the state executive council until its terminal end in 2007. In 2007, he was a special assistant to the president on national assembly liaison until and later appointed an executive director of NIMASA.
Zailani is rated as a good material on the platform of any party for Bauchi Government House based on his past records in service and acceptability. In fact many opine that he is the most vibrant legislator ever from Bauchi state that served with pride.
Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi is the oldest members of the PDP and longest serving legislator from Bauchi state. After his exit from First Bank, he represented Ningi/Warji federal constituency from 1999 – 2007 before he was temporarily phased out by the Yuguda revolution in 2007. Through the court, he regained his seat and returned to the House. In 2011, he won Bauchi central senatorial seat where he is today. Ningi is seen by many as a political opportunist that may find it tough to even return to the senate in 2015. His problems may not be unconnected with poor constituency projects and inaccessibility. He is one of those rumored to be warming-up for the gubernatorial race from the three arms zone.
Senator Suleiman Nazif Gamawa has been in active politics since 1999. He was in the Federal House of Representatives from 1999 – 2003 on the ticket of PDP. In 2003, he returned to the House on the ticket of ACN. He dumped ACN for ANPP in 2007 to the senate before he dumped the ANPP to the PDP. But in 2011, having woefully failed to stand the heat of a primary election in the PDP, he defected to the ANPP for the 2011 gubernatorial election and lost.
He is presently, in the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC where he intends to retry his luck in 2015. Majority rate Nazif as an inconsistent politician that can hardly be trusted.
Shehu Musa Gabam shot his way to the political arena in the Yuguda revolution of 2007 as Chief of Staff. He established a good political relationship with the electorates across party divide and justified his appointment before his relationship with Yuguda got soar. Many see him as a reliable politician that can be trusted with leadership on the platform of any party.
Maitama Tugga was a beneficiary of the Yuguda revolution to the Federal House of Representatives in 2007. He was one of those that refused to endorse the return of Yuguda to the PDP in 2009. He remained in ANPP up to 2011 and defected to CPC where he contested the gubernatorial election and lost.
Tugga is seen as an inaccessible politician, better referred to as ‘Abuja’ politician that only surfaces at the scene when the time is ripe. He is said to be eyeing Bauchi Government House on the platform of CPC.
Barrister Hussaini Umar is a new entrant into politics. Little was known or heard of him until he got the PDP ticket to the Federal House of Representatives in 2011 from Toro federal constituency. He got defeated by the CPC might and returned to his Abuja base. He is rumored to be warming up for the plum position in 2015.
Dr. Musa Babayo has all along been an Abuja based politician that fires the shot when the time is ripe. He has all the requirements to occupy Bauchi Government House but lucks a political base. Majority of the electorates consider him a mean politician and a sectional leader that cannot be trusted.
Abdullahi Adamu (Dan China) appeared on the scene in 2011 and was instrumental to the establishment of CPC in Bauchi state. He supported the party to attain greater heights but was never considered as the serious politician he portrayed himself. The party denied him its platform for 2011 gubernatorial race. He may retry in 2015 depending on how he plays his cards.
Bello Ahmed Arabi has been in politics since 1999. He supported the candidature of Ahmadu Mu’azu to fruition and remains relevant in politics since then. He was chairman of Alkaleri local government council in 2004. In 2007, the wind of change carried him to oblivion until 2011 when he bounced back in the Goodluck/Sambo campaign train. He was later a member of Yuguda’s executive council before they parted ways.
Bello is a rural politician and a grass root mobilizer. He is now warming his way to Bauchi Government House on the platform of CPC.
Whichever way, Bauchi state electorates are carefully monitoring and watching how the players play the game. The serious ones from an opinion poll are yet to surface from all indications but definitely, imposition would be resisted. History may repeat itself once a level playing field is denied.
Muhammad is of the Northern States Governor’s Media Forum, Kaduna
