CONCERNED with the internal rivalry among leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano state, the Deputy Senate President, Distinguished Senator Barau I Jibrin, met with party juggernauts from Kano, in his office, at the National Assembly, yesterday Tuesday.
This, is just a fraction of his efforts towards mending fences among party leaders and members in recent time. I learned that, his covert efforts across the state have started yielding fruits, as some volunteer groups started going round in search of the soul of the party, not only in Kano, but across North West region.
I know of some professional platforms who, for the past few months, have been going round touching their other professional colleagues, searching for saner and healthier corridor for the victory of the party, APC, in Kano and at national level. All courtesy Senator Barau. In all the 44 local governments in Kano and across all the 7 states of the North West. We all know that he does not limit himself to North West alone. He also touches other communities across Nigeria.
Meaning, the Distinguished Senator is more concerned with the victory of the party, across the country, than his political future. Leadership by example. An embodiment of courage, commitment, honesty, genuine engagement, faith, political maturity, noiselessness and humility. DSP’s faith, loyalty and commitment towards President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and performance across all facets of his administration, are some of the reasons behind his (Barau) unwavering engagement.
On his official Facebook page, yesterday, Tuesday, Senator Barau disclosed that, ‘Earlier today, I received stalwarts of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), from Kano State, led by Malam Hamza Darma, in my office at the National Assembly in Abuja.’
Looking at the composition of those who participated in the meeting, as stakeholders, we can understand that, DSP’s commitment is unwavering, genuine, honest and with full force.
Amongst them were serving and former lawmakers, former local government chairmen, and party executives and many others.
He said, ‘Among the stakeholders were serving and former lawmakers, former local government chairmen, and party executives, among others.’
Genuine and open discussions centred around how to refocus, re-engineer and redefine faithful loyalty, patriotic commitment and energetic solidarity, for unity and survival of the party, as 2027 elections are inching closer. While his focus is beyond Kano, he still believes that, Kano’s unity within the party, is tantamount to unity of the party across other North West states. His intent is the overall strength and survival of the party in Kano, North West and the nation in general.
He noted on his page that, ‘The unity and success of our party took centre stage during the fruitful meeting, which lasted over an hour. We unanimously agreed that with unity, our party will continue to grow stronger and victorious in all elections. At all times, the success of our party and the welfare of our people are top on our agenda.’
For proper understanding of the move, that the meeting is part of the many plans and strategies designed to aid the survival of the party, not for his individual interest, he made it categorically clear to all the participants that, they were all on board to bring the flesh and the blood of the party together. Infusing new life of hope, hardwork, commitment, endearing foresight and united front.
He attests to this in his posting as he urged, ‘Join us on this train to move our state and country forward for the benefit of all.’
What is more fascinating and encouraging is the kind of comments, likes and shares he got few minutes after his post. At the time I examined that, he got Likes of over One Thousand Five Hundred (over1.5k), Comments of multitude of dozens and Shares of over One Hundred and Sixty (over 160).
The engagement alone gives a clue that many people within the rank and file of the party, are not happy with the unnecessary discord among leadership and among followership. The kind of praises Senator Barau gets from those who visited his page speaks volumes about how people are eager to see his political progress and development.
Some of the comments are quoted below. And all are free to go and visit his page and see how genuine are the quotations. We are in an advance stage of human development, where information is always confirmed to be accepted, for its truthfulness or rejected for its baselessness.
One Haroun Ukashatu says,
‘It was an immense pleasure to receive the esteemed APC stalwarts from Kano State, led by the dedicated Malam Hamza Darma. The diversity of the delegation, from lawmakers to grassroots executives, was a powerful testament to our party’s strength.
The wisdom of the late Speaker Tip O’Neill that ‘all politics is local’ was vividly embodied in this meeting. Malam Darma and his team represent that crucial grassroots foundation, reminding us that true and lasting victory is built from the ground up, in our local communities. This is the unity that will propel our party and our people forward. I remain one of your foundational ambassadors in the movement.’
For Abdurrahman Aminu, he accepts that, ‘Actually this is what I have been harboring since before now. There should be unity and concerns for party members who sacrifice their energies for the party to grow. But unfortunately a lot of us were sidelined due to the fact that we don’t have Godfathers who can cater for our interest. I do hope the meeting will reshape the mindset and also send a signal to anyone who foresees politics as a one man show.’
Another commentator called Eedrith Basheer, praises,
‘Thank you so much sir for your courage and dedication,’ while
Dan Amanar Baffah Alasan, adds up ‘Maliya ba’a ganin karshen ki Allah Ya kara lafiya da Nisan kwana,’ meaning ‘Maliya with no limit, no end. Wishing you more health and prosperity.’ Maliya means Sea, is the political nickname of the Senator in Kano, that his generosity is limitless.
Ya’u Hassan Gambo, noted and prayed that, ‘Good evening Sir. How is the work Sir. Then my next GOVERNOR in kano In Sha Allahu 2027,’ As Aminu Lawal prayed,
‘Allah Ya Yi maka gwamnan Kano daga masoyinka aminu Aminu Lawal daga Malumfashi Katsina state. (meaning may Allah make you the Governor of Kano state. From your ardent well wisher Aminu Lawal from Malumfashi, Katsina state).’
An association called Officers Maliya Karari, simple put it this way, ‘Masha Allah DSP,’ meaning, we thank God, for our Deputy Senate President.’ Another platform called Hasken Kano Ta Arewa, said ‘Good job Sir,’ While Akilu Ishaq Abbas, submissively said, ‘Barau I. Jibrin Barau I. Jibrin the bulldozer.’
Danlami Shu’aibu describes the commitment as, ‘ A remarkable effort,’ as Abubakar Badamasi Karofee, said, ‘The Best senator,’
Justice Rabilu Haruna prays,
‘Allah Ya Yi maka gwamnan Kano, (meaning may Allah make you the Governor of Kano state,’ and Al’Ameen Amjeed Bebeji described him as ‘Alhamdulillahi Sanatan Sanatocin Arewa, (meaning, All Praises be to Allah, the Senator of all Northern Senators).
For IBB Ibrahim, who acknowledged that, ‘Kowa ya bi ka bai bi kaho ba Maliya, (meaning you are reliable to be followed Maliya),’ as Abdullahi Malam Kunya said, ‘Masha Allah always we are together Sir Barau Maliya for Governor Kano 2027 In Sha Allah,’ Abdulladif Yakasai happily said, ‘Barakallah APC one family.’ (meaning, Alas here comes a warner against corruption, a new groom. Lie banishes when he shows up. We are solely behind truth with Maliya as our guide. Abdullahi Salisu Maisudan, our leader is also around live and direct, generous and good at all time. We all belive in Maliya, who can deliver and get us to the promised land.’
Another well wisher called Solomon Istifanus, prayed for the DSP, ‘God protect you from your enemies and give you success amen.’ Another good thing about the DSP’s yesterday’s meeting with those attendees is how spread the composition was the political spectrum they represent. I spotted legislators current and former, former local government chairmen, elders, technocrats and youth.
What was discussed in the meeting gave us a clear testimony that, Barau’s style isn’t a jamboree – looking political gathering. As against what we saw in recent times in some quarters within the APC. Though there were few meetings recently and some going on currently as others are in the pipeline, that are not, in any way, fake. But this type of meeting is very rare, at all levels of the party.