How Governor Bala is rebuilding PDP
By Bilyaminu Gambo Kong-kol
The journey of Governor Bala Mohammed into PDP began in March 2010 when the then President Goodluck Jonathan appointed him minister of the Federal Capital Territory despite being a member of the ANPP. The appointment followed his brave role in ensuring the ascension of then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to the presidency, following concerted efforts by the cabal of the Yar’Adua government to stop Goodluck Jonathan from becoming the acting president.
Despite the fact that his boss lost in the 2015 Presidential election, Governor Bala Mohammed remains loyal and supportive not only to Goodluck Jonathan but to People’s Democratic Party in general. His loyalty pays and he rose from being just a former minister and a member of the PDP to number one citizen of Bauchi State.
Senator Bala Mohammed had in 2018 emerged as the 2019 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi State. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Mr Mohammed who scored 1,335 defeated two other contestants. Abdul Ningi polled 802 and Adamu Gumba 15, both senators, at the keenly contested primary election.
His Excellency Governor Bala Mohammed went further to unseat incumbent governor. He polled a total of 515,113 votes to defeat Muhammed Abubakar who polled 500, 625 votes.
Having been satisfied with his style of leadership and his commitment to PDP and Bauchi State, the Party at the national level had picked Governor Bala to chair its committee on September 19 governorship primary election in Edo State. He lived above board, conducted the primaries free and fair which produced Godwin Obaseki as PDP’s flag bearer.
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It is good to note at this juncture that Governor Bala Mohammed has become PDP’s game-changer. In his capacity as the chairman PDP 2019 elections review committee, Governor Bala Mohammed has demonstrated his determination to bring his party back to power both at the centre and in other states they party lost in recent years.
Governor Bala Mohammed had in October led the members of the PDP Committee on 2019 General Election Review to visit the Former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
While answering questions from journalists shortly after the visit, Governor Bala said they embarked on visits to critical stakeholders to seek for their inputs on how PDP will take over the mantle of leadership come 2023 general elections.
The committee had also visited Former Vice President Namadi Sambo, Former Ogun State Governor, Mr Benga Daniel, Former Ministers, Jerry Gana and Mr. iyorchia Ayu.
Furthermore, Governor Bala had recently received the audience of the National Chairman of People’s Democratic Party PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, Sokoto state Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, former President of the Senate, Mr. David Mark, the Deputy National Chairman North of PDP, Senator Sulaiman Nazif Gamawa among others. The visit too was not unconnected to the acceptability, reliability and trust the Governor gained from the party leaders.
Prince Secondus was quoted to have described Governor Bala as a hardworking Governor and promised to continue to support him for a better Bauchi state.
Indeed these struggles by the committee would not have been put in place if a person who doesn’t have PDP at heart was heading it. Governor Bala has proven beyond reasonable doubt that he is ready to rejuvenate PDP and make it the largest party in Africa again. And this can easily be achieved if the party follow due processes and produce competent candidates 2023 as Governor Bala Mohammed rightly observed.
Kong-kol writes from Bauchi
Arewa Agenda is a Publication of young writers from Northern Nigeria towards Peaceful Coexistence and National Development through positive narratives.
