Now that Bala has won

By winning the Bauchi state gubernatorial elections, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has already found a workable solution to the state’s political problem. He had won the elections convincingly with a wide margin of votes for the PDP against his opponents. It could be recalled that early last year at an interview with a journalist the […]

By winning the Bauchi state gubernatorial elections, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has already found a workable solution to the state’s political problem. He had won the elections convincingly with a wide margin of votes for the PDP against his opponents.

It could be recalled that early last year at an interview with a journalist the governor-elect had made a very inspiring suggestion aimed at resolving the lingering problem of leadership and governance in the state. He had suggested that one way to resolve the political impasse in the state is for his people to ensure that they elected a leader from Bauchi south as the state governor while the speaker of the state house of assembly should come from Bauchi North. This has now been done.

Sen. Bala went further to suggest that to completely overcome the problem appointments should reflect the character of the state by ensuring that even positions of people like the secretary to the state government should come from Bauchi central while the state chief judge should also come from the same Bauchi North. Of course the governor-elect will chose his running mate from Bauchi central just like the way he has already done it. Alhaji Baba Tela is the Deputy governor-elect this time around.

Since all the commissioners and special advisers in the state to be appointed will be chosen by the governor and approved by the state assembly, it is assumed that the required balance and fairness will be achieved.

After a tough battle Sen. Bala Mohammed panaceas for Bauchi’s political problem has now become a reality as he will surely implement far reaching decisions that will surprise many people. He has achieved this type of feat before when after his appointment at the FCTA he introduced enduring and far reaching policies which enabled the FCT administration to achieve a lot during his 5 years tenure of office as the longest serving FCTA Minister.

By their action, his people are now saying that Sen. Bala who is a tested and trusted technocrat should be given the chance to do what he has done at the FCT in Bauchi state. This writer is of the view that with Bala’s election he has already found a solution to whatever problem that is on ground. The elections are over. It is time for serious business. It’s time for Bala to lay solid structure for government work. People’s eye are focused on him and his team that will soon come on board. He should appoint a team that will reflect the character of the state. A team that will be acceptable to the people and would be able to do the type of work he wants.

Sen. Bala should even do more than this. As an articulate technocrat he should bring on board people that will help to properly implement his vision and mission. The state deserves no less from him.

He is a lucky leader. Bauchi state had a peaceful election. There was no problem. Moreover, the state governor has since congratulated him just like the way true democrats usually do. Therefore this writer believes that Sen. Bala will be among the lucky governors that will be able to have around him willing and qualified people who will work with him to actualize his dreams for Bauchi state. I think Bala and his running mate Alhaji Baba Tela should hit the ground running for Bauchi to get the best from them. The expectation is high and nothing less than this is expected from him.

Ibrahim Biu, Abuja