Connect with us

Opinion

Re: Barau and his political strategy

Published

on

 

By Garba Tsoho Dangoro

It is Allah that gives power to whosoever he pleases, and it is only him that possesses the might to take it at any time he deems fit and none can question him – Quran chapter 3, verse 26.

But reading the piece by one Adnan Mukhtar on the above subject matter makes one wonder if the writer and his sponsors appreciate the role of destiny in the affairs of men for them to have made the postulations in the piece where they attributed the attainment of political leadership totally to the schemes of men.

Perhaps it is the fixation on tarnishing the image of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin, CFR, that had made the writer blind to common reasoning. A little due diligence would have saved him from embarrassment and spared us the needless alleged conspiracies about the power tussles he talked about that are, at best, the figments of his imagination.

To the best of my knowledge, all the people he mentioned in the write-up owe their achievements in life to Allah and cannot, therefore, hold any grudge against any man because they know that no man can deny another what is divinely bestowed.

That said, it would be pertinent to address some of the misrepresentations in the write-up so as not to mislead the public or paint certain leaders in a bad light.

Only the most gullible would believe that Senator Barau was behind the removal of Abdullahi T. Gwarzo as a minister, as claimed by the writer, as everyone knows that the appointment of a minister and removal from office is at the discretion of the President.

We witness how many ministers were appointed and relieved of their appointments by various presidents. None has attributed such removals to another person other than the president, who merely exercised his prerogative to choose whoever he likes to work with as provided by our constitution.

Along this line, one can recall how General Abdulrahman Dambazzau was appointed minister by then-President Muhammadu Buhari and replaced with General Salihi Magashi. Former President Buhari also appointed Alh Sabo Nanono but was later relieved of his appointment. Hon. Umar El Yakub replaced him.

Also, one can vividly recall the case of Maryam Shetty who was nominated and was even at the Senate for screening only for her name to be withdrawn at the last minute. Like Shetty, Jemila Salik was nominated by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in February 2014, but she was replaced with Malam Ibrahim Shekarau hours before her confirmation.

In the scenarios mentioned above, nobody attributed the change of those affected to anyone but to the Presidents who reserved their rights to choose whoever they wanted to work with.

The commendations trailing the nomination of Hon Yusuf Abdullahi Ata were not limited to the APC as it was meritorious and done to balance the equation in the Kano State political arithmetic. Everyone was wowed when Senator Rufai Hanga (NNPP, Kano Central) told the world on the floor of the Senate that he was threatened with Ata’s appointment, describing him as a political juggernaut and master of the game.

Senator Barau is a humble, respectful and pro-masses politician; these traits have endeared him to the elites and masses, including traders, artisans, farmers, women, youths, and clerics in Kano and beyond.

It is on record that since he ventured into politics, he has maintained a decent image devoid of rancour, acrimony or ill feelings towards others. That’s his selling point and perhaps what is giving Mukhtar and his sponsors sleepless nights.

Even the average observer of Kano politics knows that Senator Barau’s primary interest is to serve the people and improve the lot of the masses.
He has been doing that very well through his interventions in infrastructural development, education, health, agriculture, power, quality legislation, and outreach to people.

Only a few politicians can match the depth of Senator Barau’s reach, which has touched people’s lives since his days as a member of the House of Representatives to when he became a commissioner, a senator, and now deputy president of the Senate and First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.

That is why many people are defecting to the APC in Kano, not for pecuniary reasons, as mischievously contrived by the writer. Notwithstanding the attempt to downplay such accomplishments by other parties through the sponsorship of a few persons to make spurious claims, one cannot take away the fact that Senator Barau has attracted so much development to not only Kano but to the entire Northwest region as evidenced by in his sponsorship of the North West Development Commission and other bills.

The resort to saying that people are defecting for what they can collect from him is a sign of panic. Still, Senator Barau is not bothered, knowing that Kano is an APC state that only suffered a minor setback in 2023 but is about to be reclaimed.

Moreover, the people of Kano would ultimately decide who governs them in 2027 based on their assessment of those presented to them and not on the bias of a few selfish individuals who may want to sacrifice merit for their gains.
Kano voted for Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso from Kano Central in 1999, for Malam Ibrahim Shekarau from the same zone for two consecutive terms, and for Kwankwaso back for another four years, giving the zone 16 years.

It is the same people who would again decide what is best for them in 2027 and would not be blackmailed into sacrificing merit to please a few self-centred individuals.

For the information of Mukhtar and his sponsors, the position currently occupied by Senator Barau, the Deputy President of the Senate, is higher than a governor’s seat. The people of Kano State, across the 44 local government areas of the state, are clamouring for him to come and govern the state to change the developmental trends based on his antecedents and sterling service to the people.

Allah SWT will shame Mukhtar, his sponsors and co-travellers when Barau becomes the governor of our beloved state, Kano, Insha Allah, come 2027.

Amin Ya Allah.

Garba Dangoro is of Kumbotso LGA of Kano State.

#

Opinion

How To Stop USAID and Other Foreign Agencies From Clandestinely Funding Terror and Destabilisation in Nigeria

Published

on

 

With the recent revelations about the Obama and Biden administrations funding Boko Haram through USAID, if Nigeria really wants to defend her territorial integrity and ensure her internal security, the National Assembly must without delay pass a law that all Non-Governmental Organisations in Nigeria that receive funding from foreign governments, agencies and individuals must declare such monies.

If they do not declare such funds, their registrations should be reversed and their licenses revoked. Any such funds traced to them will be forfeited to the Federal Government.

If we do not do this, Nigeria will continue to be vulnerable to external forces who use money to induce unpatriotic citizens to wreak social havoc and undermine our government through activities that weaken the moral fabric of our society, unnaturally change our culture, and create divisions and mutual suspicions amongst the various ethnic nationalities that make up Nigeria.

#EndSARS was funded from abroad. Look at the damage it did to Nigeria. According to the private ratings firm, Financial Derivatives Company, the infrastructural damage to Lagos State alone was ₦1.5 trillion.

The Lagos State Government built the best forensic laboratory in Africa, and that facility was burnt to the ground after Nnamdi Kanu’s broadcast to his supporters where he instructed them to “burn Lagos to the ground”.

#

That forensic investment, along with other multibillion Naira public infrastructure, including eighty BRT buses and several courthouses and police stations, was razed during the #EndSARS protests. That was why MohBad’s autopsy had to be done in America rather than Nigeria.

And then last year’s Days of Rage protest inflicted damage worth ₦200 billion on Northern Nigeria, and almost destabilised Nigeria to the point where Russian flags were being paraded to instigate a Burkina Faso/Mali/Niger type regime change in Nigeria.

Many foreign intelligence services are using religious cults and NGOs to further their devices in Nigeria, and we must lift the veil on them by making the funding of these groups transparent.

We saw the nationwide damage done in Kenya during last year’s protests, which, according to President William Ruto, were funded by the Ford Foundation, based in the U.S.

If we do not learn from Congressman Scott Perry’s revelations on USAID’s funding of Boko Haram, we may end up being the next Kenya. Or even worse, the next Somalia!

If the National Assembly does not act or is dragging its feet on this matter, President Bola Tinubu may want to borrow a leaf from President Trump, the action man, and use executive orders to achieve this in the short to medium term.

Let it be known that in the United States, Russia, and China, you cannot receive foreign donor funds as an NGO without first registering with the government for that purpose. Therefore, those nations and others ought not to do in Nigeria what they will not tolerate in their homeland.

The national mood is right and ripe for such an intervention. Nigerians would be united behind the President if he took such action. But if it is not taken now, our people are notorious for their short memories. We will move on to the next beef between Wizkid and his lesser-status Afrobeats wannabe rivals, who have repeatedly suffered frustration in their quest to be Grammy-rated like the 001 of music in Africa.

Reno Omokri

Continue Reading

Opinion

How Barau Empowers Humanity:A Deserving Soliloquy

Published

on

By Abba Anwar

Not until now, when the Deputy Senate President, Distinguished Senator Barau I Jibrin, CFR, distributed 61 vehicles and 1,137 motorcycles, to party leaders and elders across all the 44 local governments of Kano State, alongside former Councilors and Local Governments Secretaries, he takes it upon himself, that, so long as he remains in the public domain people will continue to be enjoying goodies. No matter what.

His political journey is full of paying attention to human existence, humane approach to issues at hand and issues in mind, his strong understanding of existing political practice and special interest in uplifting people, especially the downtrodden elements.

Evidence of this was his previous intervention in the establishment of Federal Polytechnic, Kabo, in his Kano North Senatorial Zone, his role in upgrading the status of Federal College of Education, Kano, to Federal University of Education, Kano and his unwavering conception and effort in bringing National Open University of Nigeria’s Campus in his constituency.

Others, but not limited to, is his recent effort in sending 70 students for Postgraduate programmes in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Robotic Science, abroad. So also his sponsorship of 300 students to study in Nigerian Universities for 2025/2026 academic session. All these academic programmes are executed under Barau I. Jibrin Foundation.

Under this 2025/2026 study in domestic Universities, selection of the institutions in itself is something of greater substance. Under this we have Bayero University, Kano, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, among other prestigious universities of repute.

All the fields of study chosen for these prospective candidates are science and technology based programmes. That was what necessitated me to call this special intervention as Barau Community of Modern Scholars.

To also tell my reader how challenging matching Senator Barau’s development posture is, within the circle of other people’s representatives in different offices across the country, he singlehandedly conceived the idea of pushing for the creation of North West Development Commission, which has recently been inaugurated.

A Commission that will be like another government, within the space of a government. While it will optimize federal government presence in the region, the Commission will consolidate democratic benefits for the region and its habitat.

Not only that and beyond local politics, while from the scratch, the Deputy Senate President, Barau I. Jibrin was elected to represent his constituency, Kano North, his engagements in the Red Chamber, before now and recently, indicate the heavy load on his shoulder from West African sub – region down to his constituency.

Even understanding the interwoven relationship between his constituency and geo-political spaces, is in itself commendable and brilliance at play. It is indeed clear to all that, – or at least as a Muslim I know that- perfection and infallibility are only found in the Holy Prophets and Messengers of the Almighty Creator,The Most High.

With clear understanding of distasteful polity and politics simmering around the entire West African sub – region, with a lingering hunger crisis, which destabilizes economy, political practice and peaceful coexistence, Barau I. Jibrin Foundation (BIJF), conceived, midwifed and gave birth to Barau Initiative for Agricultural Revolution in the North West, his geo-political zone on Nigeria’s scale.

Just few days back, in order for him to immediately kickstart the agricultural project, he received in his office, the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Alwan Ali Hassan, with the top management staff of the Bank. Where all plans were perfected for proper execution of the people – oriented programme.

When hunger strikes, political stability, peace and tranquility remain in limbo. So going beyond promotion of unity, tolerance and togetherness, Barau believes agricultural intervention has a big role to play in addressing political challenges and economic inequality.

As Barau believes in the development of his primary constituency, he finds it extremely necessary to empower his people from many fronts. As a unifying political force in his own right, he makes things happen in a way that his constituency truly appreciates his forward thinking posture. Depicting the character of all-embracing political leader.

Is just like what happened today, Sunday, 23rd February, when he distributed vehicles and motorcycles, as mentioned above. During the occasion he made it categorically clear to all that, “We will be doing this up to the end of this year. We are only starting with party leaders and elders now.”

That does not mean, he has only party leaders at heart. All his interventions in the education sector, have never been for the benefit of his party, APC, alone. It is an effort purposely for the entire population across Kano North, Kano State, North West and the country in general.

Going upward, to global space, being the Deputy Speaker of Economic Community for West African States’ (ECOWAS) Parliament, his attention and indelible presence are not only needed within the geography of his constituency alone. His attention and its chemistry look beyond his Kano North Senatorial District, he is needed at much higher sub-regional geopolitical space, West Africa, to be precise.

Anwar, was Chief Press Secretary to the former Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CON, and can be reached at fatimanbaba1@gmail.com

#
Continue Reading

Opinion

Autobiographies as Constructed Narratives: Reflections on General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s _A Journey in Service_

Published

on

*_By Ibraheem A. Waziri_*

23-02-2025

Tags: #IBB, #BookLauch, #Autobiographies, #AJourneyInService

On February 20, 2025, Nigeria marked a pivotal moment in its historical and literary landscape with the launch of *A Journey in Service*, the autobiography of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, the nation’s former Military Head of State. Held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel’s Congress Hall in Abuja, the event drew an illustrious crowd: President Bola Tinubu, former Presidents Yakubu Gowon, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and Goodluck Jonathan, alongside business magnates Aliko Dangote and Abdulsamad Rabiu. Beyond the fanfare and the nearly N17.5 billion raised for the IBB Legacy Centre—mistakenly dubbed a presidential library in early reports—the memoir’s released, reignites a profound discussion about autobiographies. Far from being vessels of absolute truth, such works are meticulously crafted narratives, designed to logically articulate an author’s perspective while justifying their actions and thoughts—past, present, and future. Babangida’s *A Journey in Service* embodies this, offering a lens to explore the constructed essence of autobiographical storytelling.

Autobiographies are, by design, subjective endeavors, distinct from impartial chronicles. They weave personal accounts from memory, intent, and selective disclosure, often prioritizing coherence over unvarnished fact. Babangida, who governed Nigeria from August 27, 1985, to August 26, 1993, remains a divisive figure. Known for deft political maneuvers—earning monikers like “Maradona” for his agility and “evil genius” for his cunningness—he oversaw a tumultuous era marked by economic upheaval and democratic setbacks. His most infamous act, the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election—widely deemed Nigeria’s freest, at that time, won by Moshood Abiola—has haunted his legacy for 31 years. Nigerians anticipated *A Journey in Service* as a chance for clarity or confession, yet its launch reveals a narrative sculpted to reflect Babangida’s self-perception. He acknowledges Abiola’s victory, a move Tinubu hailed as “unusual courage,” but frames the annulment as an unauthorized act by General Sani Abacha and other officers while he was in Katsina, sidelined by circumstance. This selective disclosure suggests not a full unveiling but a justification, repositioning him as a leader constrained rather than complicit.

This subjectivity underscores a broader truth: books, especially memoirs, filter reality through hindsight, bias, and audience expectation. Babangida’s 420-page work, reviewed by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, promises insights into his eight-year tenure—economic reforms like the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), infrastructure feats, and banking deregulation—yet sidesteps a complete reckoning. Critics highlight glaring omissions: no confession regarding the October 19, 1986, assassination of journalist Dele Giwa by parcel bomb, widely linked to his regime; no accounting for the $12.4 billion Gulf War oil windfall, per the 1994 Pius Okigbo report; and no remorse for the executions of coup plotters like Mamman Vatsa in 1986 and Gideon Orkar in 1990. Babangida’s claim that he feared Abiola’s assassination if he took office—a speculative justification—casts him as a reluctant actor amidst a military cabal, absolving himself of agency. These silences, as much as the revelations, illustrate how *A Journey in Service* constructs a narrative that defends rather than fully discloses, a deliberate choice aligning with autobiographical norms.

#

The memoir’s role as a legacy-building tool further amplifies its constructed nature. Launched as Babangida, now 83 (born August 17, 1941), nears life’s twilight and Nigeria approaches the 2027 elections, the event doubled as a fundraising spectacle for the IBB Legacy Centre. Billion-naira pledges from Dangote, Rabiu, and others—totaling N17.5 billion per ThisDay—underscored Babangida’s enduring clout, 31 years after stepping down. The title *A Journey in Service* reframes his rule as a patriotic endeavor, softening the authoritarian edges of his “evil genius” persona. By admitting Abiola’s win while distancing himself from the annulment’s execution, he crafts a complex portrait: a transformative leader navigating chaos, appealing to admirers who credit him with modernization while mitigating critics’ ire over economic hardship and political repression. This duality reflects a narrative engineered to reconcile his past with the statesman image he seeks today, extending its influence beyond the page into Nigeria’s political present.

The historical context of Babangida’s tenure enriches this analysis. His regime followed a series of military coups, inheriting a nation battered by oil-dependent economics and factional strife. The SAP, intended to liberalize the economy, sparked inflation and unrest, while his annulment catalyzed protests and deepened ethnic divides, paving the way for Abacha’s reign. *A Journey in Service* likely glosses over these ripple effects, emphasizing achievements—like the Third Mainland Bridge or Abuja’s development—to counterbalance failures. This selective memory mirrors how autobiographies prioritize legacy over accountability, inviting readers to weigh Babangida’s narrative against Nigeria’s collective experience.

Reactions to the memoir underscore its status as perspective, not fact. Tinubu, a June 12 activist turned president, praised its candor as setting “records properly,” perhaps reflecting political pragmatism. Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba group, rejected it as too late to mend the annulment’s “ogbonge damage,” echoing Yoruba grievances. Activists accused Babangida of exploiting Nigeria’s accountability vacuum, a sentiment rooted in decades of unresolved justice. Literary scholar Pius Adesanmi, were he alive, might have called it a “textual performance,” blending truth and theater. These responses reveal a fragmented reception: the book’s narrative is interpreted through readers’ biases, not universally embraced as truth, highlighting the elusive nature of autobiographical authority.

Yet, this constructed nature does not diminish *A Journey in Service*’s value—it enhances its complexity. It offers a window into Babangida’s mind: his rationalizations, regrets, and aspirations amid a career of calculated risks. Goodluck Jonathan, at the launch, urged preserving such narratives to enrich Nigeria’s political archive, a call to institutionalize personal histories. Readers, however, must approach it skeptically, recognizing it as one voice in a cacophony of perspectives—those of June 12 activists, SAP victims, or silenced journalists. Its significance lies not in claiming absolute truth but in sparking reflection and debate, forcing Nigerians to confront their history’s ambiguities. For youth, as commentators suggest, it provides leadership lessons—resilience, adaptability—albeit through a self-justifying lens that demands critical parsing.

Comparatively, *A Journey in Service* fits a global tradition of autobiographical narrative-building. Nelson Mandela’s *Long Walk to Freedom* blends triumph with curated humility, while Barack Obama’s *Dreams from My Father* navigates identity with selective introspection. Babangida’s work, with its wit (per Osinbajo’s review) and strategic candor, joins this lineage, tailoring Nigeria’s military past to a personal saga. Its launch timing—amid economic woes and democratic flux—amplifies its relevance, positioning Babangida as a commentator on leadership in crisis, a narrative thread justifying his past while influencing future discourse.

In conclusion, autobiographies like *A Journey in Service* are not absolute truths but woven narratives serving their authors’ ends. Launched on February 20, 2025, Babangida’s memoir—through selective revelations, strategic omissions, and legacy-driven intent—justifies actions like the annulment while shaping his present stature and future remembrance. As Nigerians grapple with its contents, it stands as a testament to storytelling’s power: not a final word, but a provocation to question, analyze, and seek broader truths it skirts. In a nation wrestling with its past—where military rule, economic policy, and democratic betrayal remain raw—such narratives are vital, not for certainty, but for the conversations they ignite, urging a deeper reckoning with history’s many voices.

Continue Reading

Trending