In an article titled, “Kaura of Bauchi”, I wrote, “The freedom from the decades of insecurity has enabled Bauchi the luxury of monumental infrastructural developments. Governor Bala Mohammed, Kauran Bauchi, has really been the architect of a new and modern Bauchi state. It is no wonder that despite being in the opposition party, his administration’s strides have been recognised and rewarded by the federal government. Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service organised by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, recognised him as the best governor in rural development in 2022, best in Urban Renewal in 2024, and as a distinction governor in good governance and regional growth in 2025”.
In an article titled, “The Urban Renewal of Bauchi”, I covered a lot of his ambitious projects that have transformed Bauchi state within just six years. Many years ago, before the advent of Kaura as Bauchi state governor, some family friends chided my neighbourhood, cheekily tagging it a getto! Well, not anymore as my street now has finely tarred roads and well built drainages along with solar lights and a primary healthcare centre across my street just adjacent a well articlated roundabout with a garden in the middle of it. Flyovers have been planted around Wunti Market and at my area, the Central Market area. These were made to ease traffic congestions within the metropolis. We have already started witnessing seamless movement of vehicles as bypasses have been developed across the borders of the state capital thereby easing traffic jams across the city. My ‘formerly getto’ is not only urbane and beautiful, it is also safer now”.
I offered the above accounts despite party differences with my governor, at a time when accusations or speculations were rife in the media that Kaura was a terrorism apologist or sponsor. As a patriotic citizen and an indigene of Bauchi state, I found that quite inaccurate and disturbing and made efforts as a public affairs analyst to x-ray the situation and separate the politics from the facts of the said terrorism allegations. The article quoted above was my contribution towards assessing the facts and arriving at the truth of the matter no matter what.
Therefore in the said article, based on my realities as a resident of Bauchi, an indigene and a community leader, I concluded that, “My ‘formerly getto’ is not only urbane and beautiful, but it is also safer. Kaura has not taken security for granted at all. Just the way; with a vengeance, he took infrastructure to a new height, he has in the same manner immensely improved on Bauchi’s security. Vigilante groups along state security agencies were merged into teams, and mobilised with all they’d need to fight insecurity in the state. The security teams took the battle to the terrorists hibernating around the outskirts and forests in the state. These teams and security agencies are seen constantly patrolling the state, while other groups are stationed strategically across the state.
Terrorists that had camps around the Yankari/Ashaka axis have been taken head-on on innumerable occasions. These terrorists are mostly foreign and their battles with the security teams and how the security teams eventually dislodged them are widely known in Bauchi state. These courageous vigilantes along with the security forces lay down their lives daily for our safety. Our governor has lived up to the true calling of his traditional title, KAURA. That is why it is quite absurd as I’ve heard from news outlets, that Kaura and insecurity are even mentioned in the same sentence aside one that connotes his courage in the face of it. In fact, when I heard recently that the Northern Governors Forum was putting up a security fund to position it towards fighting insecurity more decisively, I thought to sound out to the forum, the idea of adopting Kaura’s methodology because It has helped restore peace in Bauchi state greatly.
Not long after the said write up, security developments in the state swelled up to a concentration of bandits at the Alkaleri local government area. The criminality had heightened and Kaura himself cried out that about 10,000 bandits were hibernating in the area around the Yankari Game Reserve, and the Kolmani oil and gas rich fields bordering Gombe state. Our governor sought President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assistance for more federal power to support his local teams of vigilantes who were already working with other state security-architecture components. In a subsequent piece, titled, “Bauchi: rising tensions and the test of capable leadership”, I offered that, “Some may want to politicise the security situation in Bauchi state but indigenes of the state are well aware of the challenges faced in Alkaleri local government area; and the efforts of the state government towards securing the area and containing the threats posed by the bandits.
It is only prudent for the governor to seek federal power as the bandits grow in size and ammunition”. I said that I was certain President Tinubu, GCFR; will support Governor Bala Mohammed’s quest to restore peace to the area. Even though the two have had quite a pragmatic relationship which is usual with politicians from different political parties, I maintained that the two will be working together for the interest of the number one priority of government which is the security of life and property. Political rumours and whispers also had it that My President was wooing Governor Bala Mohammed into the APC in the build up to the 2027 elections. I then felt that the recent security collaboration between them would hasten and smoothen the ‘woo’ and the ‘I do’ process.
Fast forward to a month ago, during the Eid el-fitr celebrations, my governor in his Sallah speech to Bauchi citizens and the emirs, and district heads of the state, among other messages, started by thanking Mr. President for helping curb the security menace in the state that was burgeoning into a terrorist enclave, around the huge and sparsely governed Yankari/Kolmani/Mansur forests.
He emphasised that the Emir of Bauchi and the Head of the Traditional Institutions or Council of the state, Alhaji (Dr) Rilwan Suleiman Adamu, CFR; should kindly extend his gratitude and that of the people of Bauchi state to President Tinubu. Tinubu has shown that he is a listening president and a true leader of the people without bias. He has not only acceded to our request, but has also 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 also like to thank Mr. President for his efforts towards smoothening the path and the environment that would herald the reception of Governor Bala Mohammed as an APC member and an APC governor. Lest we forget! Governor Bala Mohammed belonged to the ANPP/APP group that was part of the APC merger. It was from that group that he was elected as senator during Yar’adua’s first term. I hope and pray Governor Bala is welcomed home in a most befitting way, amen. Thank you Mr. President for helping in the restoration of our peace and quiet in Bauchi state; and thank you for the harmonisation of the state’s chaotic and unpredictable politics. Ese’ Sir. The Bauchi political rumour mills are filled with genuine appreciation of your efforts in Bauchi alongside the APC leadership structures.
