Alh. Mohammed Uba Kari was turbanned as the new Waziri of Bauchi by the Emir of Bauchi, Alh. (Dr). Rilwanu Suleimanu Adamu. Alh. Uba Kari was the Garkuwa of Bauchi, before his ascension to the throne of the Waziri of Bauchi. He is The son of the Late Garkuwa of Bauchi, Alh. Ahmadun Kari. Alh. Ahmadun Kari was the younger brother to the wife of Nigeria’s only Prime Minister, Sir. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. She was knows as Hajiya Inni. Ahmadun Kari grew up with his late sister, in the care of the late Prime Minister, and served as his domestic assistant. He took care of the Prime Minister’s errands, travelling between Lagos and Bauchi on a regular basis. The Late Prime Minister, Sir. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was instrumental in installing the then Wazirin Bauchi, Alh. Adamu Jumba, in becoming the Emir of Bauchi. Sarki Adamu Jumba is the grandfather of the present Emir of Bauchi. It was Sarki Adamu Jumba, that turbanned Ahmadun Kari as the Garkuwa of Bauchi. He was one of the most successful farmers in Bauchi of his time. He was into large scale farming and had huge harvests of grains. The renown Shata, legendary musician of Hausa Kings sang sons of praise for him.
Alh. Uba Kari, son to the Late Garkuwa Ahmadun Kari, inherited his father’s title as the Garkuwa of Bauchi, after his father’s demise and has been the Garkuwa, until his recent turbaning as the new Waziri of Bauchi. The title of Waziri of Bauchi is the most powerful seat in the Emirate of Bauchi, next to the Emir’s throne. He is The Chief Adviser to the Emir and a Council Member. He may not necessarily be a kingmaker, but partakes in the proceedings of kingmaker duties as a secretary and observer. The Waziri is usually an elder of repute and great accomplishments. He is either a seasoned civil servant or a businessman of great laurels, or even both.
Alh. Uba Kari, The new Waziri of Bauchi was born on the 28th of August, 1959. He attended Government Secondary School Bauchi from 1971-1976. He then proceeded to the Bauchi College of Art and Science from 1976-1977. He furthered his education at Ahmadu Bello University from 1977 to 1979. From there, he travelled abroad to Glasgow College of Technology from 1981 to 1984. Starting a very glorious career in Insurance, he was an Asst. Superintendent, Accident Underwriting, at Royal Exchange Assurance, from 1979 to 1981. He went on to become an Asst. Manager, Underwriting, Yankari Insurance Company from 1984 to 1989. He then became The Director Technical, at Niger Insurance Plc from 1982 to 1992. He became MD and Chief Executive Officer at the same Nigeria Reinsurance Plc from 1992 to 1993. From there he became the MD/CEO of NICON Insurance Corporation from 1993 to 2000. He then moved to Kapital Insurance Company Limited in year 2000 as MD/CEO. Alh Uba Kari was later appointed as The Deputy Commissioner, Technical, of the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, and was later appointed as its Commissioner. He stepped down in 2019 to end a glorious career in Nigeria Insurance.
The Emir of Bauchi, Alh. (Dr). Rilwanu Suleimanu Adamu, after turbaning Alh. Uba Kari as the new Waziri of Bauchi, in his remarks, said that, “just a few days ago, you came here and we were discussing on how to move Bauchi forward through various schemes and programmes you propositioned. Little did we know that a few days after, you would become the new Waziri of Bauchi. May Allah be praised. What has been read hear of your very vast CV is what we hope to benefit from you as the Waziri of Bauchi. It is our prayer that you would bring to bear on our Emirate and on Bauchi State, your wealth of experience and knowledge.” Alh. Uba Kari is widely traveled and has friends from across the globe, not in Nigeria alone. He has years of service in the country’s financial capital of Lagos. It is in no doubt that Bauchi will gain from this very illustrious son of theirs in his capacity as the new Waziri.
–Tahir is Talban Bauchi.
