Bauchi 2023: Why desperation even before pinning to the mat?

In a democratic setting like ours, leaders are expected to set guiding principles from which followers are expected to learn good conduct and moral behaviour. Sadly, the Bauchi state government is setting a bad precedent, which won’t augur well for the unborn generation.

I was compelled by a video going viral on the internet at the instance of the Bauchi state governor, his commissioners, and top government appointees watching as a car painted with the pictures of APC presidential candidate Bola Ahmad Tinubu, the Bauchi state APC governorship candidate, Ambassador Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar rtd. CFR, as well as his deputy, Aliyu Musa Barden Gabas, was destroyed while they are watching with admiration.

The increased volatility of
electoral markets makes them susceptible to negative campaigns since “voters have loosed their ties with their party.” Not only that, the people of Bauchi are tired of the misrule of the PDP, yet they resort to diverting attention to their abysmal failure. Education is comatose, infrastructure decay, salary has now become a privilege, pensioners are crying wolf, etc.

We, as patriotic citizens of Bauchi, condemn in strong terms the abysmal attitude of the ruling party. However, it’s expected that they set a pace for the younger generation while noting that Bauchi as a civilised state is much aware of the happenings in the city. What we desire is a rancour-free campaign, and we, therefore, urge the APC not to tear the line of the ruling party; let us emphasise to our supporters to shun violence in whatever guise, while at the same time, mobilising people to turn out em masse to vote for the APC at all levels.

As a people-focused grassroots party, APC has continued to champion the cause of issue-based politics while snubbing every temptation by the PDP to lower our standards by joining them in their infamous style of uncouth politics fraught with crass incivility. To put the records straight, Sadique has never been found wanting in such negativity.

As the leading opposition in Bauchi state, we are conscious of the responsibility vested in us to be law-abiding and concentrate on issue-based campaign, and we shall do everything possible to discharge that responsibility with full commitment to the rule of law and the sanctity of our nascent democracy. Often, we call on Bauchi state not to be deterred by the lawlessness of the PDP; it’s imperative to use our PVC and send them out of Ramat House for the simple fact that this irresponsibility has no place in our nascent democracy.

The many ills that bedevilled our state is including corruption, economic underperformance, object poverty as well as a dysfunctional educational system which are well derived from the action of the ruling PDP. How come a government that benefited from the system of freedom of expression and association to rise to the highest echelons in the state becomes so insensitive and uncaring to free campaigns? 2023 we need a government that is purpose-driving and visionary with a mission to transform the state for the benefit of all and sundry. With Sadique as the 2023 governor, the above is assured.

Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani,
Galadima Mahmoud Street,
Kasuwar Kaji, Azare, Bauchi state.