By Umar Ibrahim Sade
As we move toward 2027, the good people of Bauchi State are confronted with a fundamental question: who do we trust with the future of our state? Providence places leaders in our path for a reason, and in times like this, experience, character, and tested integrity matter more than promises. That is why I call on Bauchi people to look back with honesty and look forward with wisdom.
In Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar SAN, Makama Babba of Bauchi, we have a leader who has already walked the path, felt the weight of governance, and governed with patience, principle, and fear of Allah. He is not new to the job. He understands the machinery of government and the heartbeat of our people. That is the kind of steadiness Bauchi needs now.
Faith teaches us to submit to Allah’s decree while also acting with purpose. Elections are part of that purpose. As the APC prepares for 2027, Bauchi cannot afford to gamble with experiments when we have a proven alternative. Makama Babba governed in difficult times and still chose the path of prudence. Workers were paid. Waste was cut. Projects were prioritized to touch ordinary lives. That record was not built on noise but on discipline. In 2027, Bauchi needs a leader who will not be learning on the job, but one who will hit the ground running from day one to restore confidence, attract investment, and stabilize governance.
Leadership without conscience is dangerous. During his first tenure, Governor Abubakar showed us what public service should look like. He cleared salary arrears that were weighing down families. He ran a lean government that respected public funds. He invested in agriculture, rural roads, and programs that put food on tables. He did this not because it was easy, but because it was right. A clear conscience was his compass, and the people felt it. In 2027, we need that same integrity again, a governor who will put the interest of teachers, farmers, health workers, and students above personal comfort and political convenience.
History remembers those who serve with commitment. Today Bauchi’s story is at another turning point. Makama Babba has stepped forward again, not in pursuit of titles, but to complete what was started and to deepen it with the wisdom that comes with time out of office. The years away were not wasted. They brought reflection, consultation, and a clearer roadmap. He returns with more preparation for the challenges of insecurity, unemployment, poor health facilities, and declining school standards. Bauchi needs a leader who has learned from both success and setbacks, and who is ready to build on a foundation he already understands.
A nation or state without purpose drifts. Governor Abubakar has always had a clear purpose: Bauchi. His approach was simple and direct frugality in government, investment in farms and infrastructure, and respect for the dignity of labor. In 2027, that same purpose must drive our agenda for food security, job creation, and basic infrastructure. Our youths need work. Our mothers need functioning primary healthcare. Our farmers need roads to market and support to produce more. These are not new problems, but they require a leader who already knows where the levers of government are and how to pull them for the benefit of the masses.
Beyond projects, Bauchi needs healing. Politics in recent years has left wounds and divisions. Makama Babba carved a reputation for politics without bitterness. He practiced probity, transparency, and inclusion. Even those who disagreed with him could not question his civility. In 2027, that unifying spirit is critical. We need a governor who can sit with all stakeholders elders, youth, women, traditional institutions, and the opposition and bring them to one table for the sake of development. A divided state cannot develop. Bauchi needs a bridge-builder, and his record shows he is one.
Trials reveal the true metal of a leader. After the APC’s electoral setback, many retreated. Governor Abubakar stood firm like the Rock of Gibraltar. He absorbed attacks, insults, and pressure without losing his calm or responding in kind. That resilience is rare and it is needed now. The next four years will demand tough decisions on security, finances, and social services. Bauchi needs someone who will not panic under pressure, who will listen, consult, and stay the course. That temperament is what guarantees stable governance and investor confidence.
Faith and gratitude defined his time in office. He often said he sleeps with a clean heart because he trusts Allah’s decree. That was not rhetoric. It reflected in how he governed avoiding arrogance, avoiding waste, and remaining accessible. He also taught us to focus on today’s work while leaving tomorrow to Allah. 2027 is therefore not a gamble. It is a deliberate choice between continuity of values and uncertainty. The wise choice is a leader who plans, delivers, and accounts to the people. Makama Babba has shown he can do all three.
Forgiveness, humility, and strength of mind are virtues that prepare a leader for higher service. These are the qualities stakeholders across Bauchi are seeing in him today, and that is why there is a growing rallying around his candidature. History has already recorded his achievements: restoring workers’ pay, supporting agriculture, and running government with discipline. In 2027, we have the opportunity to add another chapter, one of rebuilding, consolidating, and moving Bauchi forward. Let us not allow sentiment or short memory to erase the lessons of the past. Let us vote with our eyes open.
To live with honour is to be consistent in public and in private. Governor Abubakar has remained the same man in office and out of office. In an age of political packaging, that sincerity stands out. He returns in 2027 with deeper preparation and a clear agenda for agriculture, education, health, and security. May Allah continue to bless Bauchi with courageous leaders who do not abandon their people in difficult times. The task ahead is great, but the man is ready. For the progress of Bauchi, for the dignity of our workers, for the future of our children, I urge the good people of Bauchi State to massively vote for M.A. Abubakar SAN, Makama Babba*, in the next elections. He is not just a candidate. He is on a mission for Bauchi’s progress.
. Umar Ibrahim Sade is a former Commissioner for Information, Bauchi State (2015-2019)
