A group the Civil Society Nexus for Credible Leadership in Nigeria, CSNCLN, has stated that former FCT Minister Senator Bala Mohammed remains a credible option for the 2019 Presidential election. In statement issued by the group, it said; “The foregoing instances, and more not mentioned here, are part of the reasons why the Civil Society Nexus for Credible Leadership in Nigeria (CSNCLN) has deemed it necessary, if not pertinent, to utilize the enabling space presented by the seeming leadership impropriety of the present to begin this early to prepare the mind of Nigerians, towards a positive leadership attitude, for the character and person of Senator Bala Mohammed – who, fortunately enough, belongs to the class of experienced leaders of a younger generation.
“Our decision to indicate and suggest Distinguished Senator Bala Mohammed as a veritable Presidential candidate for the 2019 general elections stems mostly from:
According to group it said; “His wealth of experience. It could be recalled that Senator Bala Mohammed was a well-known figure in the media industry as an accomplished journalist. He remains a leading figure and veteran par excellence coming from the northern divide of the country. An accomplished writer and media expert whose works inspired many and made lasting impressions on his generation. He is well informed and has fair, if not adequate knowledge of the Nigerian political terrain.
Distinguished Senator Bala Mohammed’s foray into politics remains not just rewarding but also a remarkable one. He made a straight away victory from his Bauchi state zonal constituency because of his ranking popularity and very large acceptability. He is an accomplished Distinguished Senator of the federal republic on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He is a politician with large following and quality clout.”
More so, it said; “Bala’s appointment as the Honourable Minister of the Ministry of federal capital territory (MFCT) was yet another feather on his cap of political glory. His merit for the job as the Minister of MFCT records from his great sense of loyalty, calmness, and willingness to serve the nation at whatever level he is called upon to do.
“His unalloyed loyalty and great sense of selfless service earned him indisputable appointment as the FCT Minister by the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan administration. The idea was because of hius demonstration of true ‘Nigerianness’ at the floor of the Senate. There was no reason to stop a good work, but every reason to encourage him by giving him more chance and opportunity to serve.
Distinguished Senator Bala Mohammed is a detribalized Nigerian whose sense of patriotism is of superlative essence. His journalistic trade had exposed him so much in knowledge other parts of Nigeria and the diverse cultural endowments. He virtually knows how to say greetings in almost all the vernacular all over the country. He has no difficulties pronouncing Nigerian names irrespective of the ethnic bearings. His journalism background must have enjoyed and bequeathed him with good research of the peoples of Nigeria.”
“He is an easy going Nigerian with large heart and accommodating spirit. He used his position as the Minister of MFCT to further strengthen the bond of friendship and social integration among the peoples of Nigeria. It was under his tenure as the Honorable Minister of the MFCT that estate building enterprise and intensive housing program received highest boost in the Federal Capital Territory. This was his way of encouraging Nigerians and the entire society to acculturate with cohabitation and interaction with people of all tribes, sections, and tongues. He is nondiscriminatory in his administrative and leadership style.
Under his tenure as the Honourable Minister of the MFCT, every other Nigerian gained access to his office; and the desire for land allocation received adequate attention, no matter whom it was or which part of the country anybody came from. He used his position to further build and strengthen friendship across board. Distinguished Senator Bala Mohammed was often called “the bridge builder” by those who understood his large heartedness so very well.”
Read The Full Statement Below
Towards 2019 Presidential Election: Former FCT Minister Distinguished Senator Bala Mohammed – An Invaluable Leadership Asset – As A Credible Option
Introduction
The Civil Society Nexus for Credible Leadership in Nigeria (CSNCLN) is a civil activist body comprising several Non-governmental organizations and civil society groups in the country. It is a common front through which the leaders of the various activist groups rally together for serious deliberations aimed at taking position on issues of great national significance.
In the meantime, concern for credibility in leadership has occupied the front burners of our national discourse. The fact that Nigeria’s problem had, for long, been located at the doorstep of the ‘leadership question’ is enough to stir concern from the civil society angle, for the simple reason that it is in our national interest and desire to engender quality leadership at the center.
Moreover, in our duties and responsibilities as watchdogs of the society, the Civil Society Nexus for Credible Leadership in Nigeria (CSNCLN) deems it worthwhile to ‘begin the search for the proverbial black goat while the day lasts, because it would amount to foolhardiness to begin such search for a black goat when it is already dark’. So, in less than two years from this time Nigerians would be on the march for another general election. We are of the opinion that the reason for which the ordinary Nigerian citizens have always been at the receiving end of bad leadership is because of our flair for spur – of – the – moment action and ‘fire brigade’ approach to finding solutions to our national questions.
Issue
We have seen that the present dispensation has submitted before us a ‘change’ circumstance and leadership situation quite unfit and inappropriate to our collective expectations. Although this unpalatable leadership happenstance has often been explained away as a result of the unfavourable health conditions of President Muhammadu Buhari, it must be recalled that, even, the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), has not helped matters – with their unending internal party wrangling and gross demonstration of apparent inability to manage electoral success properly.
Soon enough, Nigerians have started worrying about what would be our fate in the next Presidential elections come 2019. This worry ought not to be treated as though it is inexistent. The worry is real owing to the fact that the nation had been through such political wilderness countless times in the past hoping against hope to finally find a way out. More than half a century after independence, good leadership has always remained a major part of our national question. Already, the polity is being inundated with alignments, permutations and outright suggestion of names and personalities for the 2019 presidential race. We hold the opinion that as much as Nigerians have the right to make suggestions in that direction, we must be fair and objective. Experienced political actors and key players in the direction of national rebirth and politico-social reengineering of the younger generation should be taken seriously along the consideration line.
Position/ Recommendation
The foregoing instances, and more not mentioned here, are part of the reasons why the Civil Society Nexus for Credible Leadership in Nigeria (CSNCLN) has deemed it necessary, if not pertinent, to utilize the enabling space presented by the seeming leadership impropriety of the present to begin this early to prepare the mind of Nigerians, towards a positive leadership attitude, for the character and person of Senator Bala Mohammed – who, fortunately enough, belongs to the class of experienced leaders of a younger generation.
Our decision to indicate and suggest Distinguished Senator Bala Mohammed as a veritable Presidential candidate for the 2019 general elections stems mostly from:
His wealth of experience. It could be recalled that Senator Bala Mohammed was a well-known figure in the media industry as an accomplished journalist. He remains a leading figure and veteran par excellence coming from the northern divide of the country. An accomplished writer and media expert whose works inspired many and made lasting impressions on his generation. He is well informed and has fair, if not adequate knowledge of the Nigerian political terrain.
Distinguished Senator Bala Mohammed’s foray into politics remains not just rewarding but also a remarkable one. He made a straight away victory from his Bauchi state zonal constituency because of his ranking popularity and very large acceptability. He is an accomplished Distinguished Senator of the federal republic on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He is a politician with large following and quality clout.
His appointment as the Honourable Minister of the Ministry of federal capital territory (MFCT) was yet another feather on his cap of political glory. His merit for the job as the Minister of MFCT records from his great sense of loyalty, calmness, and willingness to serve the nation at whatever level he is called upon to do.
His unalloyed loyalty and great sense of selfless service earned him indisputable appointment as the FCT Minister by the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan administration. The idea was because of hius demonstration of true ‘Nigerianness’ at the floor of the Senate. There was no reason to stop a good work, but every reason to encourage him by giving him more chance and opportunity to serve.
Distinguished Senator Bala Mohammed is a detribalized Nigerian whose sense of patriotism is of superlative essence. His journalistic trade had exposed him so much in knowledge other parts of Nigeria and the diverse cultural endowments. He virtually knows how to say greetings in almost all the vernacular all over the country. He has no difficulties pronouncing Nigerian names irrespective of the ethnic bearings. His journalism background must have enjoyed and bequeathed him with good research of the peoples of Nigeria.
He is an easy going Nigerian with large heart and accommodating spirit. He used his position as the Minister of MFCT to further strengthen the bond of friendship and social integration among the peoples of Nigeria. It was under his tenure as the Honorable Minister of the MFCT that estate building enterprise and intensive housing program received highest boost in the Federal Capital Territory. This was his way of encouraging Nigerians and the entire society to acculturate with cohabitation and interaction with people of all tribes, sections, and tongues. He is nondiscriminatory in his administrative and leadership style.
Under his tenure as the Honourable Minister of the MFCT, every other Nigerian gained access to his office; and the desire for land allocation received adequate attention, no matter whom it was or which part of the country anybody came from. He used his position to further build and strengthen friendship across board. Distinguished Senator Bala Mohammed was often called “the bridge builder” by those who understood his large heartedness so very well.
We, therefore, proudly advance distinguished Senator Bala Mohammed to Nigerians as a most qualified and suitable to run for the Presidency come 2019. We enjoin all Nigerians of goodwill to shun unprofitable sentiments and unrewarding politicking so as to see the overriding human value element in the person and character of Distinguished Senator Bala Mohammed, to lend voice in encouraging him to appreciate the fact that Nigerians want him to contest the Presidency in 2019.
We make this press conference knowing very well the enormous responsibility we have taken upon ourselves, and also knowing full well that Distinguished Senator Bala Mohammed is a man overflowing with milk of human kindness. He is friendly and accommodating. He is accessible and very unassuming. He is liberal. He is a humanist.
Long Live Democracy!
Long Live Federal Republic of Nigeria!!
