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Ambition or Betrayal? Senator Barau Jibrin’s Role in Tax Reform Bill

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Garba Ubale

The Senate’s passage of the controversial tax reform bill past its second reading has sparked widespread discontent, particularly regarding Senator Barau Jibrin’s role in the process. Many view his actions as a betrayal, raising concerns about his commitment to the interests of Northern Nigeria and the masses at large. The events at the Senate plenary on Wednesday and Thursday laid bare the deep divisions between senators prioritizing public welfare and those seemingly driven by personal ambitions.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a known master strategist, has a reputation for using political surrogates to achieve his goals. In this case, Senator Barau played the role of Tinubu’s stooge, pushing the contentious tax reform bill forward despite vocal opposition from Senator Ali Ndume, who stood firm in defense of the people’s interests. Barau’s actions raise the specter of manipulation, where loyalty to political benefactors outweighs allegiance to the electorate.

Senator Ali Ndume’s lone battle on behalf of the masses highlighted the glaring contrast between the two senators. Ndume epitomized principled leadership, rejecting policies that would exacerbate the plight of Nigerians. Meanwhile, Barau aligned himself with an agenda many view as anti-people. The question looms: Is Barau willing to sacrifice the North’s interests for personal political gain?

Barau’s actions bring to mind the infamous third-term agenda during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. Then, influential Northern senators like Nasiru Ibrahim Mantu, Omar Abubakar Hambagda, and Jonathan Zwingina were instrumental in pushing the agenda, only to face public disgrace when the ploy failed. Barau risks treading the same path, where short-term gains lead to long-term repercussions. History teaches us that betraying one’s people for political expediency often ends in disgrace and irrelevance.

Speculation abounds that Barau’s support for the tax reform bill is tied to his ambitions to run for governor in Kano State. By aligning with Tinubu’s administration, Barau appears to be securing favor and resources for his future campaign. However, such political maneuvering comes at a high cost. The tax reform bill, widely regarded as an anti-masses policy, threatens to deepen the financial burdens on Nigerians already struggling with economic hardships. Barau’s willingness to prioritize his ambitions over the welfare of his constituents is a troubling indication of his political ethos.

This episode underscores a recurring theme in Nigerian politics: the North often sabotages its own interests. Barau’s actions are a stark reminder of this reality. By championing policies that undermine the economic well-being of the region, he has joined the ranks of Northern leaders who prioritize personal gain over collective progress. His betrayal is likened to selling the North for a “pot of porridge”—a short-sighted decision that will have lasting consequences for his people.

If it were Senate President Godswill Akpabio leading the charge for this tax reform bill, the narrative would likely have been different. Akpabio’s Southern roots and the optics of his leadership would have been scrutinized in ways Barau seems to have escaped. This double standard reveals an uncomfortable truth: the North’s political elite often fail to hold their own accountable, paving the way for continued exploitation and marginalization.

Senator Barau Jibrin’s actions in advancing the tax reform bill highlight a disturbing trend in Nigerian politics, where personal ambition supersedes public service. His role as a willing tool for Tinubu’s agenda casts doubt on his loyalty to his constituents and raises questions about his suitability for higher office. As Northern Nigeria grapples with poverty, insecurity, and underdevelopment, leaders like Barau must be held accountable for their actions. The people deserve representatives who will stand firm against policies that harm the masses, not those who sell out their region for political expediency.

Garba Ubale Kankarofi wrote this piece from Kano – Nigeria

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Senator Barau mourns Galadiman Kano, attends burial in Kano

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Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin, has mourned an elder statesman, Galadiman Kano, Alhaji Abbas Sunusi Bayero, who died on Tuesday night.

The late prince, who is the father of the Kano State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Abdullahi Abbas, died at the age of 92 in Kano.

He held Galadiman Kano’s most senior title and had been a member of the Kano Emirate Council for several decades.

Senator Barau, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alhaji Ismail Mudashir, described the deceased as an elder statesman par excellence whose contribution to the growth and development of Kano emirate and Kano State cannot be overemphasised.

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He enjoined the family of the late prince to find solace in the fact that the deceased was a devout Muslim who spent his life and resources worshipping Allah SWT and assisting humanity.

” The demise of our father, Galadima Kano, is a great loss that creates a huge vacuum that cannot be easily filled. He played a pivotal role in the development and growth of the Kano emirate, Kano State and the entire north. We have lost a father, a mentor and a role model,” he said.

He prayed to Allah SWT to forgive his shortcomings, grant him Jannatul Firdaus, and give his family, associates, and the entire Kano emirate the fortitude to bear the loss.

” Our thoughts and prayers are with the immediate family of our late father, especially the chairman of our party, APC in Kano, Prince Abdullahi Abbas, Kano emirate, Kano State and all the members of the family. May Allah SWT grant him Jannatul Firdaus and give all those he left behind the strength to bear this loss,” he said.

The Deputy President of the Senate arrived in Kano around 9:40am today (Wednesday) and proceeded to the funeral ground at the Gandu cemetery in the Kano State metropolis.

 

 

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DSP Barau Jubrin’s donation sparks off crisis amongst Kano NLO clubs, Abba Gida Gida fc boss suspended

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By Abdulgafar Oladimeji

Nationwide League One, NLO clubs under the aegis of Nationwide League Clubs Kano Forum are engulfed in an affray over the intervention funds doled out to clubs affiliated to the Forum by Deputy Senate President, DSP senator Barau Jubrin.

Major sports platform were awash with the news of the good will by the senator representing Kano north, who had out of philanthropy resort to pay the 2025 NLO registration fees for the supposed member clubs affiliated to the forum.

The chairman, Abba Gida Gida football club , Mustapha Tiyya last Monday night fired the first salvo that ignited the dispute that is roaring to consume the forum.

Tiyya released a voice note on the official platform of the forum, where he accused the leadership of the forum of alleged breach of trust and cheating.

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Tiyya who made the outburst in local parlance said “ the leadership of this forum has breached the trust of we members of this forum.

He further alleged that “ you the leaders of our forum travelled to Abuja to collect monetary donations from DSP Barau Jubrin, on our behalf, you betrayed our trust and also betrayed yourselves .

Mustapha accused the leadership of the forum of collecting N20 million from senator Barau, out of the amount collected he alleged that the sum of N4million was diverted to personal use by the forum’s exco .

Tiyya, who claimed to be speaking on behalf of the aggrieved NLO clubs, said their intention from now hence is to engage and expose the misdeeds by the leadership of the forum in what he described as the mother of all battles against injustice, and breach of trust.

“for years, we spent heavily to run our clubs, who gave us the money we have to use to run our clubs, now you went to Abuja to collect the donation on the behalf of us all and shared it in an unjustifiable manner.”

In a swift reaction, the Public relations Officer, PRO, Nationwide league Clubs Kano Forum, Ibrahim Usman Arzai, a.k.a Na’alungu dismissed the allegations as baseless and lacking in facts and substance.

He explained that the monies donated by senator Barau to the clubs was meant and was given to those clubs whose club league registration with the Nationwide league One, NLO is up to date.

Arzai said “ it is a law that once you fail to register with the league or let me put it that once you fail to meet your obligations to feature in the league for one season, you lose your registration and your validation to benefit from any gesture of such nature, in cases like the situation we found pursleves regarding the donation from DSP Barau Jubrin.” .

He pointed out that “ any club that did not benefit from the intervention funds from senator Barau Jubrin did not fulfill the requites to be considered , which includes having an up to date registration with the Nationwide League One. NLO.”

“20 clubs had failed to meet the requirements to benefit from the Barau largesse, because they failed to meet their obligations, such as failing to play in the league last season, the donor opted to consider only clubs that were up to date with their NLO registration.”

He affirm that, disciplinary measures have been slammed against Mustapha Tiyya the chairman of Abba Gida Gida football club , he said Tiyya allegedly resorted to the use of abusive language and committed acts that were considered as unsporting against the regulations that regulates the affairs of the forum.

Arzai then said “during the administration of governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, we received N96 million as support funds and it was shared equally to all Nationwide League clubs, this really helped the clubs , but since the coming of the current NNPP government under his Excellency, Engineer Abba Kabir Yusuf, we have written severally to his government to support us, two years down the lane, we have been rejected and dejected..

“this time we approached senator Barau, he came to our rescue and all the clubs that deserve to benefit from the intervention funds from DSP Barau have gotten theirs without political biase, including Kwanklwasiyya fc were given their share .”

“For Tiyya fc to now claimed that they were excluded due to biase or alliances is a ruse, I rather challenge those of them that have an NNPP or Kwankwasiyya alliances that they should proceed to convince the incumbent Kano state , NNPP government to support NLO clubs , as was the tradition before the arrival of the present Kano state government.” Arzzai stated.

It would be recalled that, Ismail Mudashir Special Adviser to the Deputy President of the Senate on Media and Publicity on Tuesday March 25, 2025, Senator Barau Jibrin had paid the NLO registration fees for 52 clubs in Kano .

DSP Barau is quoted saying ” Nothing is too much to engage our youths. I’m paying the registration fees for all the 52 clubs today. The more, the merrier. Let them all participate in the NLO. As a footballer and a midfielder while growing up, I know the importance of participating in competitions like this.

“Aside from my club – Barau FC, I will continue to support other clubs to succeed. Football has many benefits, and it is very lucrative. We know how footballers are building health facilities, educational institutions, and places of worship, among others,” said Barau Jubrin.

*… SAHEL SPORTS NEWS*

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Galadiman Kano Alhaji Abbas Sanusi Dies At 92

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The most senior councillor and oldest member of Kano Emirate Council, Abbas Sanusi, has died aged 92.

The late prince, who held the most senior title of Galadiman Kano, died on April 1 in Kano after a protracted illness.

Abbas Sanusi, who had been a member of the Kano Emirate Council since the late 50s, was first appointed as Sarkin Dawakin Tsakar Gida and the district head of Ungogo by his father, Emir Sanusi I, in 1959.

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He became Dan Iyan Kano in 1962 during the reign of Emir Muhammadu Inuwa, and later during the reign of Emir Ado Bayero, became the Wambai of Kano.

He was elevated to the most senior title of Galadiman Kano during the first reign of his nephew, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II.

Born in 1933 in Bichi, the late royal started his education at the Kofar Kudu Elementary School in 1944 and later attended the Kano Middle School (Rumfa College today) in 1948.

Among his children is Abdullahi Abbas, the present chairman of the Kano chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

His funeral prayer will hold at Emir’s Palace, Kofar Kudu, Kano at 10am on Wednesday.

Daily Nigerian

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