By Abba Anwar
Today’s piece looks into some parts of the finding of a study recently conducted by a teamwork of experts, who specialize in the study of political risk framework and development, over some key political personalities from Northern Nigeria. The study was conducted on state by state basis.
The one that is readily available now, is that of Kano state and other few states. In the report, the Deputy Senate President, Distinguished Senator Barau I Jibrin, CFR, is seen as one of the leading political figures from North, one of the pillars, who suffers too much political persecution from within his party and from without.
Be that as it may, the years long orchestrated ploys, designed framework for political fall down and display of open hatred to the identified individuals included in the study, differ from an individual politician to another across the states.
“What is more fascinating about our findings, is the fact that, all those targeted for disruptive political life, across our states of study, Northern Nigeria, are waxing stronger day in day out. In real term, some of their detractors have started diminishing down the ladder,” the study reveals.
The study further reminded that, “The political challenges of the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin started since during his membership of House of Representatives, from 1999 to 2003, from Tarauni federal constituency. Under the banner of People’s Democratic Party (PDP).”
Referring to the time when Right Honourable Ghali Umar Na’Abba, was the Speaker House of Representatives. While Barau was the Chairman House Committee on Appropriation.
Looking back to history, the report reminded all that, Barau was confronted with internal political blackmail, harassment and intimidation from PDP circle. Then, he was one of the closest, members to Speaker Na’Abba. When the then President Olusegun Obasanjo fought Na’Abba’s re-election in subsequent election, through the state governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, Barau also falled victim as Na’Abba.
As returning match, during the same election, Na’Abba, Barau and other strong minds, put heads together and pushed Kwankwaso aside in 2003 general elections. Then the debut of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, under All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) platform.
While acknowledging that, throughout the political history of Kano, in recent political development, it was only Senator Barau who, switched from one Senatorial District to another entirely different District, vied for an elective position, which was higher, than the one he left, and emerged victorious.
Do you remember that? After the return of democracy in 1999, Barau contested for the House of Representatives in Tarauni federal constituency, which was under Kano Central Senatorial District, from 1999 to 2003. As a result of distortions, persecution and manipulations he suffered from his party men, he joined his ancestral space, Kano North, where he contested for a Senatorial seat and got it.
His political relocation to Kabo local government, of Kano North, created another corridor for his elevation to higher position of a Senator of the Federal Republic and now Deputy Senate President in the 10th Assembly.
The authors of this study, know clearly how and where Barau started from, the faces and manifestations of persecutions he suffered, unwanted display of bitterness by his long standing detractors and largely internal hatred, which all culminated into his elevated position. With the socio-historical and political background of the DSP, as understood by the study, he could be called the last man standing, in that arrangement, since the return of democracy after prolonged military rule.
“Distinguished Senator Barau I Jibrin is also the first Deputy Senate President from Kano state. This also places him above many of his contemporaries. We are also aware of how he has been getting his tickets for the seat he is occupying now, in previous and last elections. We all believe that it is Almighty Allah Who Guides his path,” according to the study.
Many qualities of the DSP’s political life and positions, are soundly acknowledged in the study, that I cannot discuss them here. But people will get to know more when the result of the study is released.
Senator Barau’s interventions across the spectrum are well acknowledged and appreciated by the study. Ranging from his constituency projects, genuine and meaningful empowerment and other interventions since when he was a Member of House of Representatives from Tarauni federal constituency, up to the feats he achieved as a Senator.
They include his scholarship programmes, in local and foreign universities. Commending the choice of courses of study and schools selected. Like in the Nigerian universities, students were sent to study degree programmes in some of our premier universities, like Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Bayero University, Kano, University of Lagos, alongside other universities.
While a lot is said on the DSP, the study believes that, he won’t panic, no matter how deeper machinations he could face, as build ups to 2027. Assuring that, “… after our research we have come to realize that, Distinguished Senator Barau is not an ordinary politician. While his political fortunes are waxing stronger, his influence, is covering larger geo-political spaces.”
In the case of Honorable Alassan Ado Doguwa, member representing Tudunwada/Doguwa federal constituency, in Kano South the study enlists him as second to Senator Barau in the face of stiffer political persecution and repression. Yet, he, like Barau, is waxing stronger, day in day out and year in year out.
With all the stiffer and enhanced political persecution, within and outside his political base, Doguwa was the ONLY House of Representatives contestant who won his election in 2023, under the banner of All Progressives Congress (APC), then. Yes he was faced with so many challenges and opposition, without any good backing and support from his APC base, then, yet with Allah by his side, he emerged victorious!
This study appreciates Doguwa’s political maturity and strength in slugging it out almost alone, for his image, his constituency and his party, at large. Signaling that, “Honourable Alassan Ado Doguwa, is another Barau in disguise. Many at times he is left with weak support from his party, at the state level, yet his influence, followership and strength are inching forward. At a speed that only Divine view can explain.”
Anwar writes from Kano
Saturday, 15th November, 2023