Kaura: Thank You, Mr. President

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. Gov. Bala Mohammed, Kauran Bauchi has really been the architect of a new and modernised 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 Govt. 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 within just 6 years. Many years ago, before the advent of Kaura as Bauchi Gov., some family friends chided my neighbourhood, cheekily tagging it a ghetto! Well, not anymore as my street now has finely tarred roads and well-built drainage along with solar lights and a primary healthcare centre across my street just adjacent to a well-articulated roundabout with a garden in the middle of it. Flyovers have been built around Wunti Market and in my area, the Central Market area. These were made to ease traffic congestion 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, but 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, 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 accessing 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 with 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. 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, to hear that Kaura and insecurity are even mentioned in the same sentence aside from 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 greatly”.

Not long after the said write-up, security developments in the state swelled up to a concentration of bandits at the Alkaleri local govt 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 Axis, and the Kolmani Oil and Gas-rich fields bordering Gombe state. Our governor sought President Tinubu’s support 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 but indigenes of the state are well aware of the challenges faced in Alkaleri LGA; and the efforts of the state govt. 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 Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, would support Gov. Bala Mohammed, Kauran Bauchi’s quest to restore peace in 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 the government, which is the security of life and property. Political rumors and whispers also had it that My President was wooing Gov. 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 smooth the ‘woo’ and the ‘I do’ process.

Fast forward to a month ago, during the Eid-el-fitr Sallah celebrations, my governor in his sallah day speech and message 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 sparcely governed Yankari/ Kolmani/ Mansur forests. He emphasised that the Emir of Bauchi and the head of the traditional institutions or council of the state, Alh. (Dr) Rilwan Suleiman Adamu, CFR; should kindly extend his gratitude and that of the people of Bauchi, to President Tinubu. “The President has shown that he is a listening President and a true leader of the people without bias, and he has not only acceded to our request, but has ensured that the bandits hibernating in our forests have been vanquished and their remnants have been chased to the border forests of Taraba and Cameroon”. I hereby enjoin our governor to express 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 smoothing the path and the environment that would herald the reception of Gov. Bala Mohammed as an APC member and an APC governor. Lest we forget Gov. 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 Gov. Bala is welcomed home in a most befitting way, amen. Thank you Mr. President for helping in the restoration of our peace in Bauchi; and thank you for the harmonisation of Bauchi’s chaotic and unpredictable politics. Ese’ Sir. The Bauchi political rumor mills are filled with genuine appreciation of your efforts in Bauchi alongside the APC leadership structures.