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
