In an article titled, “Kaura of Bauchi”, I wrote, “The liberty from the many years of insecurity has enabled Bauchi the posh of monumental infrastructural developments. Governor Bala Mohammed, Kauran Bauchi, has actually been the architect of a brand new and fashionable Bauchi state. It’s no marvel that regardless of being within the opposition occasion, his administration’s strides have been recognised and rewarded by the federal authorities. Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service organised by the Secretary to the Authorities of the Federation, recognised him as one of the best governor in rural improvement in 2022, finest in City Renewal in 2024, and as a distinction governor in good governance and regional progress in 2025”.
In an article titled, “The City Renewal of Bauchi”, I lined lots of his bold tasks which have remodeled Bauchi state inside simply six years. A few years in the past, earlier than the appearance of Kaura as Bauchi state governor, some household pals chided my neighbourhood, cheekily tagging it a getto! Properly, not anymore as my road now has finely tarred roads and effectively constructed drainages together with photo voltaic lights and a main healthcare centre throughout my road simply adjoining a effectively articlated roundabout with a backyard in the midst of it. Flyovers have been planted round Wunti Market and at my space, the Central Market space. These had been made to ease site visitors congestions inside the metropolis. We’ve got already began witnessing seamless motion of automobiles as bypasses have been developed throughout the borders of the state capital thereby easing site visitors jams throughout town. My ‘previously getto’ is just not solely urbane and exquisite, it is usually safer now”.
I supplied the above accounts regardless of occasion variations with my governor, at a time when accusations or speculations had been rife within the media that Kaura was a terrorism apologist or sponsor. As a patriotic citizen and an indigene of Bauchi state, I discovered that fairly inaccurate and disturbing and made efforts as a public affairs analyst to x-ray the scenario and separate the politics from the details of the mentioned terrorism allegations. The article quoted above was my contribution in direction of assessing the details and arriving on the reality of the matter it doesn’t matter what.
Subsequently within the mentioned article, based mostly on my realities as a resident of Bauchi, an indigene and a neighborhood chief, I concluded that, “My ‘previously getto’ is just not solely urbane and exquisite, however it is usually safer. Kaura has not taken safety with no consideration in any respect. Simply the way in which; with a vengeance, he took infrastructure to a brand new peak, he has in the identical method immensely improved on Bauchi’s safety. Vigilante {groups} alongside state safety companies had been merged into groups, and mobilised with all they’d must struggle insecurity within the state. The safety groups took the battle to the terrorists hibernating across the outskirts and forests within the state. These groups and safety companies are seen continuously patrolling the state, whereas different {groups} are stationed strategically throughout the state.
Terrorists that had camps across the Yankari/Ashaka axis have been taken head-on on innumerable events. These terrorists are largely overseas and their battles with the safety groups and the way the safety groups finally dislodged them are broadly identified in Bauchi state. These brave vigilantes together with the safety forces lay down their lives every day for our security. Our governor has lived as much as the true calling of his conventional title, KAURA. That’s the reason it’s fairly absurd as I’ve heard from information retailers, that Kaura and insecurity are even talked about in the identical sentence apart one which connotes his braveness within the face of it. Actually, once I heard lately that the Northern Governors Discussion board was placing up a safety fund to place it in direction of combating insecurity extra decisively, I assumed to sound out to the discussion board, the thought of adopting Kaura’s methodology as a result of It has helped restore peace in Bauchi state significantly.
Not lengthy after the mentioned write up, safety developments within the state swelled as much as a focus of bandits on the Alkaleri native authorities space. The criminality had heightened and Kaura himself cried out that about 10,000 bandits had been hibernating within the space across the Yankari Recreation Reserve, and the Kolmani oil and fuel wealthy fields bordering Gombe state. Our governor sought President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s help for extra federal energy to help his native groups of vigilantes who had been already working with different state security-architecture parts. In a subsequent piece, titled, “Bauchi: rising tensions and the take a look at of succesful management”, I supplied that, “Some might wish to politicise the safety scenario in Bauchi state however indigenes of the state are effectively conscious of the challenges confronted in Alkaleri native authorities space; and the efforts of the state authorities in direction of securing the realm and containing the threats posed by the bandits.
It’s only prudent for the governor to hunt federal energy because the bandits develop in dimension and ammunition”. I mentioned that I used to be sure President Tinubu, GCFR; will help Governor Bala Mohammed’s quest to revive peace to the realm. Though the 2 have had fairly a realistic relationship which is common with politicians from completely different political events, I maintained that the 2 can be working collectively for the curiosity of the primary precedence of presidency which is the safety of life and property. Political rumours and whispers additionally had it that My President was wooing Governor Bala Mohammed into the APC within the construct as much as the 2027 elections. I then felt that the current safety collaboration between them would hasten and smoothen the ‘woo’ and the ‘I do’ course of.
Quick ahead to a month in the past, in the course of the Eid el-fitr celebrations, my governor in his Sallah speech to Bauchi residents and the emirs, and district heads of the state, amongst different messages, began by thanking Mr. President for serving to curb the safety menace within the state that was burgeoning right into a terrorist enclave, across the big and sparsely ruled Yankari/Kolmani/Mansur forests.
He emphasised that the Emir of Bauchi and the Head of the Conventional Establishments or Council of the state, Alhaji (Dr) Rilwan Suleiman Adamu, CFR; ought to kindly lengthen his gratitude and that of the folks of Bauchi state to President Tinubu. Tinubu has proven that he’s a listening president and a real chief of the folks with out bias. He has not solely acceded to our request, however has additionally ensured that the bandits hibernating in our forests have been vanquished and their remnants chased to the border forests of Taraba and Cameroon.
I hereby enjoin our governor in expressing our gratitude to our president. I, Tahir Ibrahim Tahir, Talba of Bauchi, and a legacy member (CPC base) of the APC since inception, would additionally wish to thank Mr. President for his efforts in direction of smoothening the trail and the surroundings that may herald the reception of Governor Bala Mohammed as an APC member and an APC governor. Lest we overlook! Governor Bala Mohammed belonged to the ANPP/APP group that was a part of the APC merger. It was from that group that he was elected as senator throughout Yar’adua’s first time period. I hope and pray Governor Bala is welcomed dwelling in a most befitting approach, amen. Thanks Mr. President for serving to within the restoration of our peace and quiet in Bauchi state; and thanks for the harmonisation of the state’s chaotic and unpredictable politics. Ese’ Sir. The Bauchi political hearsay mills are crammed with real appreciation of your efforts in Bauchi alongside the APC management constructions.